• April 9, 2013
  • 397

Conjuring spring with dance

fot. wilnoteka.lt

For ages, when nature caused troubles – excessive drought or protracted rainy season – shamans were summoned to help. It was believed that right dance ritual will help to bring the  desired weather. The role of such shaman was played by the Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble “Wilia” which conjured up the coming of spring (being late as never) by means of Polish dances and songs last Sunday, especially in the auditorium in the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius which was full to the brim…

The first part of the concert was “Vilnian”. This time, the spectators had a chance to see timeless choreography from rich repertoire of “Wilia” by Zofia Gulewicz: “Wiec palmowy”, “Kadryla i polka strypuńska” and “Polka sercowa” in which the youngest dancers of the team made their debut. This part was supplemented with three Lithuanian dances and, of course, with beautiful songs performed by the improved vocal group.

The programme of the second part of the spring concert had been taken from the rich treasury of all-Poland folklore. Like in a colourful kaleidoscope sparkled: Kurpian suite, Łowicz and Cieszyn songs, Żywiec highlanders’ dances. The pictures from the concert can be seen in our gallery.

The Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble “Wilia” – which in 2015 will celebrate its 60th anniversary – consists of over hundred dancers, singers and members of folk band at the age of 6 to 60. Renata Brasel is artistic director and conductor, Marzena Suchocka – a choreographer and the youngest dance group is led by Beata Bużyńska.

After the exhausting concert the artists won’t have a long break – next challenges are before them, among other things, the holiday journey to Greece. Maybe that is the place where cursing the rain will be necessary…

 Based on: Inf.wł.

Source: http://www.wilnoteka.lt/pl/artykul/taneczne-quotzaklinaniequot-wiosny

Tłumaczenie Barbara Rożek w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Barbara Rożek within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu. 

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