Dance Workshops in the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius

For the duration of the summer holidays the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius has prepared an interesting offer for children and young people – art workshops. Dance classes for the younger group, for children aged 7 to 11, have already started. Under the watchful eye of choreographer from Warsaw, Piotr Skawski, children learn basic dance steps.

“There are already first impressions: children are well-disciplined, obedient, do everything they are asked to and they do their best. For some of these, these are completely new things, but we get to know each other, and I think that there will be the fruits of that cooperation” – said Piotr Skawski, who normally is a dance instructor in Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Warsaw University “Warszawianka”

“The reason why “Warszawianka” is a professional level band is that we begin working with children at the age of 6-7 years. At the beginning the classes are of classes are the introduction to music and dance. I think it’s worth it to work with such young children, who at this age are eager to all forms of movement and can thus somehow fulfil themselves. Moreover, they learn how to behave in a group, learn to cooperate – these are the things that are useful in adulthood”-  said Piotr Skawski in an interview with” Wilnoteka “.

Piotr Skawski during the workshops in Vilnius applies the methods tested on Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Warsaw University “Warszawianka”. “First, there are some small movements, I try to connect it with the music to make them more sensitive to music. Later we move forward to more complex contortions, from which the kids can already get some satisfaction, because the constant repetition of one exercise can discourage. During the four days of the workshop participants will learn how to dance cracovienne and they will learn the steps that are available to them, such as gallop. Kids have already started dancing klapok. They will take part in rhythmic games, which will help to integrate the group “- said the instructor of the dance workshops Piotr Skawski.

The dance classes for the youngest will run until 25^th July. Next week there will be the dance workshops for young people at age from 12 to 16. From 4^th  to 8^th  August are scheduled the workshops for children from 7 to 11 years, which will be run by the  artist painter from Warsaw – Joanna Rodowicz.

The interest in the artistic workshops exceeded organizer’s expectations. “We had a lot of applicants. We chose participants relying on the date of application, according to the principle of” first come, first served “.  The dance workshops will be attended by 80 people  and 20 in the arts workshops” – said the coordinator of cultural projects in the House of Polish Culture in Vilnius  – Irena Brazis.