Our History...
" . . .this company of more than 60 singers and dancers made an
irresistible argument for new comers to delve deeper into that wealth of moving
tradition."
Winnipeg Free Press, 1990
 The history of the Sokol Polish Folk Ensemble
is linked very closely with the Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol, which was established by a small group of Polish immigrants in
Winnipeg in 1906. Although the
exact date of the founding of the Sokol Choir is not known, when the Sokol
Association opened its first quarters in the fall of 1914, the Choir performed
at the official ceremonies. Directed by Kazimierz Sielski, the first recorded
performance in front of the Canadian public was by the choir in 1914 at Winnipeg’s
Walker Theatre.
The beginning of the Dancers goes back to
1925 when Helena Garczynska, a ballet dancer, became the first choreographer of
the dance group. Helena, with her husband Leon, left Lwow to make Winnipeg
their home. Here they formed a small group of dancers, which performed
with the Choir. In 1925 the Choir and Dancers were invited by the Canadian
Pacific Railways to perform at the Canadian Folk Festival in Regina. The
two groups have performed together since, now under the name Sokol Polish Folk
Ensemble.
In 1937,
the ensemble attracted American moviemakers to the Royal Alexandra Ballroom to
film the Polonaise and other songs and dances. In 1952 the Ensemble was filmed
and photographed by the world renowned photographer, Karsh. Under the direction
of Richard Seaborn, the Polish Sokol Choir again gained acclaim by winning
the Lord Tweedsmuir Trophy at the Manitoba Music Festival in 1964. Soon after
the Ensemble performed a series of concerts with the Winnipeg Symphony
Orchestra. In 1976, under the direction of John Standing and long-time
artistic director and choreographer Gladys Kulas, the Sokol Choir took
three top honors at the International Festival of Polonia Choirs in Koszalin,
Poland.
During its long history the Ensemble has toured extensively throughout
Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as well as completed performance tours
throughout western Canada, the United States and Poland. The Ensemble has
participated in festivals including the Canadian Centennial Celebration in
Victoria, B. C., the International Festival of Polish Choirs in Koszalin, Poland
, and the International Festival of Polish Folk Groups in Rzeszow, Poland. We
have also represented Manitoba at Expo ’86 in Vancouver, and World Folkfest
’87 in Springville, Utah. The dance troupe has also participated in the
cultural program at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, and the 1995
festival in Elblag, Poland.
The choir has appeared many times on radio, and has performed with the
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble has also been featured on the CBC
series "Au Coin du Terre" in 1975 and the CTV series "In
Harmony" in 1983. On the occasion of their 70th anniversary the Choir recorded two
albums, one of Polish folk and popular songs, the other of Christmas carols.
In 1999 a third recording was released also of Christmas carols. In 1990, the Ensemble celebrated its 75th
anniversary with a concert with renowned pianist Marek Jablonski and the
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In
addition to the Ensemble’s folk repertoire, the Choir has an extensive
selection of liturgical, serious and classical music.
Today the Ensemble continues to tour and perform both independently and with
guest artists from the world over. The Sokol Ensemble is also the featured
attraction at the Krakow, Poland pavilion in Winnipeg’s annual multicultural
festival "Folklorama".
Although the ensemble is autonomous today, close ties are still maintained with
the founding Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol.
|
