"Sources and symbolism of the Polonaise"
(Romana Agnel)
Dating back to the 16th century, the Polonaise was performed both in courts and in noblemen's houses during family events and state celebrations. It became popular at the French court in the first part of the 18th century, after which its fame quickly spread to other European courts. As a dance, it was full of dignity and solemnity. It helped educate young people to become noblemen, presented an opportunity for them to learn a proper way of behavior, bowing, the rhetorics of gesture and movement - all underscoring nobility and honour.
In its formalized form, the Polonaise was made up of two parts: the theme at the beginning and end of the music, and the trio in the middle. Performed in couples one behind the other, holding hands in different ways, the figures of the dance are initiated by the leading couple. The first measure is composed of a sequence of three steps which make up the basic step of the Polonaise.
The Polonaise also expressed patriotic elements and still represents Polish culture through the works, for example, of many composers, both foreign and Polish. Not only an historic dance, the Polonaise still opens the most important social and family celebrations. Because these traditions are kept alive it is possible for us to reconstruct old steps and combinations of this special dance.
Romana Agnel, Kraków, Poland:
Romana Agnel – dancer, choreographer, art historian, founder of the only professional Court Ballet in Poland – Ardente Sole, currently the Managing and Artistic Director of the “Cracovia Danza” Court Ballet. Romana Agnel is an alumna of the Community Ballet School (studio of Prof. Marta Mirocka) in Kraków, Poland. She acquired her skills in the area of character dance as well as historic dance in Paris (Le Ballet Légendaire d’lle de France, Le Bal Paré, 7th Conservatory, Thěâtre Baroque de France). She is also a dancer of Bharata Natyam classical Indian dance, which she became acquainted with in the studio of Smt. M. K. Saroja in Madras. She completed a degree in the art history faculty at the Sorbonne in Paris. As choreographer and dancer she works with Krakow theatres, the Warsaw Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Castle in Warsaw and many other institutions in Poland and abroad. She teaches classes in historic dance at the Academy of Music in Krakow, as well as many courses in her areas of specialization. In 1992 Romana Agnel received 2nd prize at the Parisian La Scéne Française competition. In August 2000, at the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, she organized the world’s first Court Dance Festival, which was included in the artistic events of “Krakow 2000 – the European Capital of Culture” project. Since that time the Festival has been held annually.
