Wawel Folk Ensemble

Wawel will hold a Bowling Fundraiser on July 31, 2009 at the Regal Lanes in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Cost is $20.00 and includes: 3 games, shoe rental, pizza and pop. Check in time is at 7 pm with bowling beginning at 8 pm.

For additional information, please contact 586-758-6083.

Summer 1998, maybe you were sitting back and listening to Next’s Too Close, or listening Brandy and Monica fight it out in The Boy is Mine, but in the summer of 1998, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble were most likely listening to polkas as the traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in Polish Fest, the largest Polish Festival in the United States.

Fast forward to June 19, 2009 and members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble were listening to polkas again as the traveled to Milwaukee for Polish Fest. The 2009 edition of Polish Fest, marked Wawel’s tenth appearance at the event (Wawel did not perform at Polish Fest in 1999 or 2005 because of its participation in the triennial Folklor Festival in Rzeszów, Poland).

Members of the Ensemble arrived in Wisconsin on Friday June 19, 2009 to walk the festival grounds, check out the vendor’s wares, hear national and internationally renowned bands and to check out the performance venues for the Saturday performances.

On Saturday June 20, 2009, Wawel participated in a program on Polish Fest’s Cultural Stage with the Lajkonik Polish Folk Ensemble from Chicago, Illinois. The two ensembles are quite familiar with one another as they were in the same group during workshops held at the 2007 Polish Folk Dance Association of the Americas (“PFDAA”) held in Chicago, Illinois. During the performance with Lajkonik, Wawel debuted its brand new Sieradz suite and also presented its Podlasie suite – also a newer addition to the Ensemble’s repertoire.

Later on Saturday evening, Wawel participated in a gala concert of Polish dance featuring PFDAA member groups from throughout the Midwest, including other groups from Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee. Wawel presented its Sieradz and Podlasie suites during the PFDAA gala. The 2009 gala was extra special for members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble because the group’s director, Tom Skurski, is currently serving as the president of the PFDAA. In his capacity as president, Mr. Skurski acted as the master of ceremonies and narrator for the gala concert.

As is Wawel’s tradition since 1998, on Sunday morning members of the Ensemble attended the Polish Fest mass attired in Polish folk dress. After mass there was time for a group photo, and a quick pass through the festival grounds. Members of the Ensemble then headed toward their cars for the long trip home – happy with the weekend’s results and looking forward to the next set of performances during the summer.
Wawel’s next public performance is July 12, at the American Polish Century Club’s Polish Festival held in Sterling Heights, Michigan. On July 31, 2009, the Ensemble will host a bowling fundraiser at Regal Lanes located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

It’s hard to believe that May will start this week. 2009 has really been flying by. Members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble have been busily preparing for the start of the 2009 Festival Season, learning new dances and preparing existing numbers for performances this spring, summer and fall. Here’s an update of all that’s been going on so far:

March 2009

March 21, 2009 – Wawel participated in the Second Annual Polish Folk Dance Festival at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan. This event featured Polish Folk Dance groups from throughout the Metro Detroit area, and was well attended by members of Polonia. Wawel presented its Podlasie, Cieszyn, and Sącz suites. The group received many compliments for the precision and synchronization of its performance.

March 22, 2009 – Wawel participated in the annual Blessing of the Polish Folk Dance Ensembles at St. Hyacinth Parish, in Detroit’s Poletown area. Wawel has participated in this event since it began in 2002. The idea was conceived by St. Hyacinth’s former pastor, Fr. Francis Skalski.

April 2009

April 12, 2009 – Sweetest Heart of Mary – Detroit, Michigan – Resurrection Mass. 2009 marks Wawel’s 31st year participating in Sweetest Heart’s Easter mass. Sweetest Heart and Wawel have a long standing tradition. Many current and alumni members of the Ensemble are parishoners at the parish.

April 25, 2009 – Transfiguration/Our Lady Help of Christians parish festival – Detroit, Michigan. An annual event for the Wawel Folk Ensemble and also the kick off to the summer season. Wawel has a long standing tradition with Transfiguration and is happy to be a part of their annual festival.

April 25, 2009 – St. Tecla Polish Night – Clinton Township, Michigan. Wawel participated in this event several years ago, and was thrilled to be invited back. Wawel presented dances from Nowy Sącz, Podlasie, Cieszyn and the fan favorite Karolina Polka at this event.

April 26, 2009 – St. Louise Mother Daughter Breakfast – Warren, Michigan. Wawel presented its Cieszyn, Nowy Sącz, and Polasie suites as well as the Karolina Polka.

Upcoming Events

June - Festival of the Arts - Wayne State University Campus - Detroit, Michigan

June 19 – 21 – Polish Fest – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
July – Polish Fest – Sterling Heights, Michigan
August – Sweetest Heart of Mary – Pierogi Festival – Detroit, Michigan
August – St. Malachy – Summer Festival – Sterling Heights, Michigan
September – St. Athanatious – Fun Festival – Roseville, Michigan
September – Polish Day Parade – Hamtramck, Michigan
October – Oktoberfest – Northville, Michigan

We hope to see you at one (or many of these performances) over the summer. For additional information about the Wawel Folk Ensemble, please check back here or visit our website.

On Saturday, February 14, 2009, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble performed at a Polish night sponsored by St. Clement and St. Dorothy Parish in Warren, Michigan.

The performance was Wawel’s first of 2009 and featured Wawel’s Podlasie and Sącz suites as well as the Karolina polka. After the Karolina Polka members of the ensemble grabbed audience members and danced to the first song (a polka) performed by the evening’s musical entertainment Big Daddy Lackowski and the La Dee Das.

After talking some time off for the holidays, Wawel has been hard at work learning new dances and retooling existing suites as it gears up for the 2009 performance calendar.

Upcoming events include:

March 21 – 2nd Annual Polish Folk Dance Festival (Polish American Cultural Center)
March 22 – 7th Annual Blessing of Polish Folk Ensembles (St. Hyacinth Church)
April 12 - Procession for Resurrection Mass (Sweetest Heart of Mary Church)

Please check back soon for more performance schedule updates. We look forward to seeing you soon!

On Sunday, December 8, 2008, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble performed at the Felician Sisters' Motherhouse in Livonia, Michigan as part of their annual St. Nicholas Day celebration.

The Sisters have had a St. Nicholas Day program at their Motherhouse since 1989 and Wawel has been invited to participate for the past several years. This year's performance saw Wawel present its new Podlasia suite, as well as suites from Rzeszow and Sącz, as well as the Karolina Polka. After the performance, members of the Ensemble joined the Sisters in a holiday sing-along and buffet.

Wawel's next public appearance is on December 24, 2008 at Sweetest Heart of Mary Church in Detroit for its Pasterka Mass at midnight.

On Saturday, October 11, 2008, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble performed at an Oktoberfest celebration in Northville, Michigan.

Saturday's performance marks Wawel's third appearance at this annual event. Wawel performed its new Podlasie suite, as well as its Nowy Sącz and Cieszyn suites, as well as the always crowd pleasing Karolina Polka.

In addition to Wawel's performance, the Oktoberfest featured a beer tent, classic car, show, food, German bands and dancers, and a wide variety of food options.

On Sunday, October 6, 2008, several members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble attended the annual Polish Heritage Mass at historic St. Albertus Church in Detroit, Michigan.

St. Albertus was established in 1872 and was the first Polish parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Although officially closed in the 1990’s St. Albertus has monthly masses and is available for weddings.

This year’s Polish Heritage Mass was celebrated by Fr. Walter Ptak, National Chaplain of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA) and marked the 135th Anniversary of the founding of PRCUA which was founded at St. Albertus. Members of the many PRCUA dance schools in southeastern Michigan attended mass in various national and regional folk dress.

With fall coming today at 11:44 EDT, it’s probably a good time to take stock of the occurrences over the past summer months. For Wawel it was a busy one. Here’s a quick run down of Wawel’s performances these past couple of months:

June 2008

Festival of the Arts – Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Polish Fest – Milwaukee, WI

July 2008

APCC Polish Festival – Freedom Hill County Park, Sterling Heights, MI
Rzeszow Folk Festival – Rzeszow Poland

August 2008

2 Wedding Performances – Metro Detroit, MI
Pierogi Festival – Sweetest Heart of Mary Church, Detroit, MI
Summer Fest – St. Malachy Church, Sterling Heights, MI

September 2008

Hamtramck Polish Day Parade – Hamtramck, MI
Fun Fest – St. Athanasius, Roseville, MI
Centerline Fall Festival – Centerline, MI
International Festival – Port Huron, MI

Upcoming Events:

October 2008

Oktoberfest – Northville, MI

December 2008

Christmas Performance – Felician Sisters’ Mother House, Livonia, MI (Private Performance).

We hope to see you at one of these upcoming performances.

Also, Wawel is currently selling Enetertainment coupon books good for many Metro-Detroit area restaurants, movie theaters and other entertainment venues. If you’re interested in purchasing an Entertainment book, the profits of which will go toward the purchase of new costumes for the group, please email: dntskur@aol.com.