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The Polonaise is a ceremonial processional dance, danced today mainly at proms. The steps of the polonaise make up an arrangement full of various figures with the participation of many couples. Since the nineteenth century, this dance has been considered a symbol of Polish national culture, expressing the former noble ethos. Learn the history of the polonaise, the basic steps and figures of this dance.

Polonaisetonational dance , which takes its name from the Polish name of the French adjectivepolonaise, meaning "Polish". Indeed, the polonaise is a dance that the Polish nobility liked and whose steps also gained popularity at European (including German) courts - hence the strong identification of the polonaise with Polish culture.

Contents:

  1. Polonaise - description of the dance
  2. Polonaise - history of dance
  3. Polonaise - basic step
  4. Polonaise - figures and patterns
  5. Polonaise - dance outfit
  6. Polonaise - music. Polonaise by Ogiński and Kilar

Polonaise - description of the dance

Polonaiseis a processional dance in triple time. The Old Polish name of the polonaise is "walking" and accurately reflects its character - this dance consists in dignified walking in pairs on straight and straight lines marked by the teacher.

The steps of the polonaise are sliding, fluid, moderate or slow. The silhouettes of the dancers should be upright and their heads raised proudly to emphasize the solemn, solemn style of the dance.

Polonaise - history of dance

The Polonaise is a refined version of a folk dance known as "chodzonym". The first accounts of the existence of a "chick" come from the second half of the 16th century. In the 17th century, this dance was taken over by magnate courts. At that time, diplomats and courtiers from Western Europe were the first to describe the "walking" dance in their messages - interestingly, according to their accounts, the polonaise was then danced in unmixed pairs (two women and two men).

In the 18th century, the style of the polonaise with a characteristic "Polish step" crystallized, and thanks to the Polish throne of the Wettin dynasty, this dance became popular also in the West. It was practiced not only during official court ceremonies, but also in compositional works (polonaises were created, among others, by JanSebastian Bach, Georg Friedrich Handel). The first detailed description of the steps of a polonaise dates back to 1755.

Today, the polonaise is danced at the ceremonial opening of the prom.

In the nineteenth century, with the decline of the Napoleonic era, the polonaise lost its popularity. The nobility did not dance it that often, usually limiting themselves to the most popular polonaise figures at the beginning of the ball. At the same time, this dance began to be perceived as a national symbol - it is not without reason that the heroes of "Pan Tadeusz" dance the polonaise at the end. The status of the national Polish dance is preserved to this day.

Polonaise - basic step

What is the basic step of a polonaise? Partners stand sideways to each other. The partner takes his partner's left hand and supports it. They stretch their clasped hands a little forward. They both hold their right hand slightly back, pointing down.

At "once" the partners slightly bend the knee and put their right (female) or left (male) foot forward. The first step in a bar is to be the longest, strong, with a definite weight shift. The remaining two steps ("two" and "three") are shorter, smoother.

See the basic steps of the polonaise in the video

Polonaise - figures and patterns

The steps and figures of the polonaise applicable today were finally established in 1987-1989 by the Folklore Experts Council of the Ministry of Culture and Art.

The basic step of the polonaise is diversified with numerous figures that the dancers perform as a team to create an arrangement. The more famous figures of the polonaise include: setting in fours, dancing in a circle, a snake, a spiral, a passing game, a tunnel and a procession. During them, the dance pairs separate, join, walk in the snakes, pass each other in rows.

The most recognizable figure is the tunnel, in which the dancers, while standing in the procession, raise their hands up, and the couples at first bend down and go down.

See what the team figures of the Polonaise look like

Polonaise - dance outfit

The polonaise is nowadays danced in evening costumes. During stage performances, dancers can wear noble clothes (men wear a belt, zupan and a robe, while women wear long dresses and a so-called kontusik) or refer to the period of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Worth knowing

Bows are an essential element of the polonaise. It is a nod of the head performed by the dancer and the dancer simultaneously, usually "at the same time" in a bar. They can be used in every part of the dance, but most often when individual pairs separate, when dancers and dancers join pairs, and when passing each otherrows or rows.

Polonaise - music. Polonaise by Ogiński and Kilar

Until recently, the most popular piece to which polonaise was danced at proms was the polonaise in A minor, composed by Michał Ogiński, known as "Farewell to the Fatherland". However, since the screening of "Pan Tadeusz" directed by Andrzej Wajda (1999), the polonaise by composer Wojciech Kilar has been more popular.

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Category:

Dance