Krakow Main Square Final Performance Court Dance Festival [FULL VIDEO]

The final performance in Krakow this year at the 25th Jubilee Court Dance Festival Krakow 2024 - on the Main Square.
"**25th Court Dance Festival "Cracovia Danza"**
Nature, parks, gardens, and court dance - this is the theme of this year's 25th jubilee edition of the Court Dance Festival "Cracovia Danza," which took place from July 13-20. The festival, conceived and artistically directed by Romana Agnel, has been organized in Krakow since 2000 by the Cracovia Danza Ballet, an institution of Krakow's cultural community, and is the only event of its kind in Europe.
In celebration of the jubilee, this year's edition was very diverse. There were performances, shows, workshops, and even two balls: the "Krakow Royal Ball" and the final "Polonez Unites," during which Krakow's Main Square became the largest dance floor in Europe. For the first time in Poland, dancers from the famous group from Versailles, L’Académie de Danse Baroque de l’Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles, performed. The Indian group from New Delhi, Kathak Sanskriti Alaknanda, and Capella Antiqua Bialostociensis also danced. Additionally, there were performances by the hosts, the Cracovia Danza Ballet."

[@POLMAZURKA]

It is amazing to me that so few people write about this!!

[@Bo-tz4nw]

Thanks for doing those updates on what s going on here. Keep up the good work! / Bo

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

@@Bo-tz4nw most welcome!

[@POLMAZURKA]

it is in the nature of the halka mazur to be frenetic......

[@POLMAZURKA]

...and frantic

[@POLMAZURKA]

nice

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

@@POLMAZURKA thank u 😀

[@POLMAZURKA]

THAT ROCOCO - CLASSICAL POLONAISE RE-VISITED
Why re-visited? Because, quite by serendipity, we were able to identify the original painting which was the bases for our description. Not only do we know the artist but have a beautiful copy shown below. Since this Rococo-Classical Polonaise today exists primarily on the stage as the work of some particular choreographer, it is rich in figures. (Individuals with this Rococo-Polonaise feeling can actually dance this variant in the Social Ballroom of today-it depends upon the actual music played.) We pick two as fitting this type of Polonaise but here we deal with only one. This does not mean that they are in any way authentic for this variant. (Keep in mind that this variant itself may only be a figment of the present author’s imagination.) All of these stage-born elements may also be used for all of the stage variants of the Ułański and Polonez of the 19th and 20th centuries.
THE CURL-UP
Here is a figure action for which there is iconographic evidence which is presented below.

We see that it is a variation of the standard “arch” or “gate” figure whereby couples pass under the joined up-raised hands of another couple. (Do you recall how Petrovski complained about this?) It was done and is done because it is such a pleasure to do. Full information about this painting is lacking. We do not know who painted it or its exact date. It is an 18th century painting. What is striking about it is its depiction of the people. Their elongated, elastic bodies are done in the Mannerist Styłe of Painting-similar to that of Bottocelli. The overall atmosphere is Watteauian in feeling. Note the bending of the body as was mentioned previously.
Choreographically speaking, as a Social Ballroom Figure, it speaks clearly to us. Note that before “entering” the gate the couples are on opposite sides of each other (than for the usual couple position) but with the same handhold. When the couple comes through they resume their ordinary positions. Before entering, the man leads the woman into a crossing-over-half-turn. Also note that the man removes and waves his hat. The men are also wearing their swords. They are dancing out-of-doors. The diagram shows the action.

Look again at the painting. Note the couple about to go under the arch. The woman has her right hand joined with the man’s right hand. (This is another Historical Variation!) Perhaps this was done to ensure that his sword does not encumber the action-but note here that the man is not holding his sword. Look at the relative positions of the various parts of the woman’s handhold. There are almost three angles: one at the elbow, one at the wrist, and one at the knuckles.
Now let us see the beautiful copy of the paining.

It is beautiful, isn’t it? The artist is Korneli Szlegel (1819-1870) and the painting is entitled “Polonez pod gołym niebem.”
© R. Cwieka 2014. Although copyrighted by the author, Mr. R. Cwieka, (me), he hereby gives you permission to make copies of the said discs and distribute them to your dance friends, and the general public. Would anyone or group of dance-lovers like to make a video record of these complete choreographies? Or donate copies to your local library. Or place any of the works on your web-site OR make computer-animations. Feel free to do so.

[@POLMAZURKA]

Suggest that you offer a workshop for this suite/just the polonaise and mazur -mazurka , as shown here,....during the Christmas vacation time 2024 -2025.

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

@@POLMAZURKA I found some groups offering already such a dance classes :)

[@POLMAZURKA]

..........@@WhatsUpKrakow ........with this rococo-high-style of mannerism....not folk dance ?

[@POLMAZURKA]

1:12 men's side kick...nice....

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

@@POLMAZURKA oh ya,tricky haha

[@POLMAZURKA]

The "rococo - classical polonaise re-visited" is from an essay. Isn't the opening Polonaise danced in this video a good example of a sub-specie of the Polonaise...A ROCOCO POLONAISE??

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

hhmm, honestly Im not sure :(

[@POLMAZURKA]

"should smile" not "say" ...error.....

[@POLMAZURKA]

green kontusz best................

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

@@POLMAZURKA love it too

[@POLMAZURKA]

woman say smile and show teeth...men not so much,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@WhatsUpKrakow]

@@POLMAZURKA guess women in Poland are more happy than men hahha