October is Polish American Heritage Month and National Arts & Humanities Month. To honor Polish Americans' values, culture, and contributions, join Broadway Stages in learning more about the Polish American Folk Dance Company and its efforts to preserve and perpetuate the spirited songs and dances of Poland.

Renowned Polish dancer Marie Rambert once said, "We want to create an atmosphere in which creation is possible." Frances Wesołowska-Popławska was of a similar mind when she created the Polish American Folk Dance Company (PAFDC) in New York City in 1938. As this was during the Great Depression, she needed the help of sympathetic friends. She found such friends in the Polish Workmen's Aid Fund.

The group's original members were the young adults and children of the Polish-American Aid Fund's managing board, who were soon joined by new members. Wesołowska-Popławska wanted to preserve Polish folk songs and dance among Americans of Polish descent. But she put her signature on the group's repertoire by combining traditional folk dances with the technique of classical ballet. This legacy remains to this day.

Today, the PAFDC's performances pull from multiple arrangements of all five Polish national dances and over 25 folk dance suites from various regions of Poland. Central to their catalog are dances from ancient Polish tradition. These dances include the Dożynki (harvest festival), Andrzejki (St. Andrew's Eve), and Jasełka (Nativity scenes). But with the spirit Wesołowska-Popławska infused initially in the group, they also perform authentic and stylized interpretations of the dances, each dynamic and unique to the region of its origin.

A story about the PAFDC must mention the costumes. Polish folk costumes play an essential role in the country's culture. The variety of designs, decorations, and embroideries can tell a lot about the person in the traditional outfit. Today, the company owns over 600 individual costumes, many made in Poland using traditional methods and materials.

But in the beginning, Frances Wesołowska-Popławska started with nothing. With financial and research assistance from the Kościuszko Foundation and the Polish-American Aid Fund, she could outfit dancers. Over time, the costume collection grew with the help of dedicated PAFDC mothers and volunteers. Cecelia Pelc was especially noteworthy for her hard work in this regard. Today, dancers continue to lend their time and energy to assist with repairs and upkeep.

The PAFDC enjoys a reputation as one of the world's premiere Polish folk dance groups. The company is proud to work with multiple workshops across Poland to build the collection and ensure its authenticity and lasting beauty. The company has attended nine World Festivals of Polish Folk Song & Dance in Rzeszow, Poland. It is one of the founding members of the Polish Folk Dance Association of the Americas. They have even performed for such dignitaries as Pope John Paul II, Princess Grace of Monaco, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Lech Walesa.

If you want to participate in this rich tradition, you can join by clicking here. No experience is required! You can also learn more and find places and times for their performances by following them on Instagram and Facebook.

Broadway Stages feels a kinship with the Polish American Folk Dance Company. We use the arts to practice steadfast values based on decades of experience and a heritage steeped in principled tradition and community focus. We encourage you to attend one of their performances and support their efforts to preserve and perpetuate Poland's spirited songs and dances in the melting pot of America. And when you go, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

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