One of the UK's longest standing Polish folk dance groups is appealing for new members
18.06.2022 - 19:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
One of the UK's longest standing Polish folk dance groups is appealing for new members. And it hopes to attract new dancers while it performs at Góbéfest later this month.
Asia Cullinan runs Polonez Manchester with help of Alex Gaffey, Marylka Steadman and Kasia Jasicka, which has been active since 1949. Based in Moss Side, the troupe performs at events all over the country, and around the world, and boasted around 40 members in the 1950s but now only has around 25 dancers at its weekly sessions - almost a 40 percent drop in numbers.
Kasia puts this decline in numbers down to the fact that folklore is not seen as fashionable and traditional dancing is perceived to be outdated. And though Manchester's Polish population has burgeoned since the country joined the EU in 2004, Kasia says recruiting members in the 2020s is much harder than in previous years.
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She says that the majority of members are from Greater Manchester, but that a few dedicated dancers travel from the south to attend weekend workshops as well as festivals and performances. Kasia says: "It does seem like it was easier to recruit people in the 20th century rather than 21st.
"I feel like people do not perceive folklore as a fashionable hobby, thus the number of members is a little bit lower nowadays. The age range is from around 24 to 50+ and we currently have two generations of the same family dancing with us, which is beautiful to see" she said.
"Our members are a mix of Polish expats, children and grand-children of Polish natives, people of Polish heritage who were born in the UK, and those who have married into Polish families.
"Polish folklore and culture