HISTORY OF THE BAND

In 1969, as a result of the establishment

Branch of the Academy of Physical Education in Biała Podlaska , the idea was born to establish a Folk Dance Ensemble.

In October 1970, the Dean of the University,

Dr. Władysław Romanowski , made a proposal to choreographer Helena Januszczyk to undertake

leading the Student Team.

BEGINNINGS OF WORK

70's

80's

"The team worked with great commitment, meeting twice a week for two and a half hours. All members showed a high level of motivation and determination in pursuing their goals. The group included several dancers with experience in other teams, who played this role in mobilising the other members, especially in moments of difficulty. Marian Rzędzicki , a second-year student who previously represented one of the Lublin teams, was one of the key leaders, inspiring them to continue working," recalled H. Januszczyk.

The first concert, danced in borrowed costumes, took place on 21 March 1971 in Janów Podlaski, inaugurating a series of performances on the occasion of folk and national holidays and various celebrations at the university. At the beginning of its activity, the group consisted of only 10 pairs of dancers, but the academic year 1974/75 brought changes in the organizational structure, leading to the creation of two dance groups: "older" (students of the second, third and fourth year) and "younger" (students of the first year) . In 1975, the group participated in the National Review of Artistic Achievements of the Physical Education Academy in Gdańsk, winning high marks from the jury, and on 19 December 1975, the ceremonial 5th Anniversary Jubilee took place .

In 1976, in recognition of the effort and high artistic level, ZTL "Podlasie" had the honor of participating in its first foreign trip to Bulgaria . In the same year, due to poor health, choreographer Helena Januszczyk ended her cooperation with the group, and her place was taken by Ryszard Kapica for two years.

The academic year 1979/80 was started by the ensemble under the direction of Emma Cieślińska, Marian Rzędzicki and Mieczysław Balcerzak . During this period, the university choir merged with the ensemble, creating the Student Song and Dance Ensemble "Podlasie" .

FROM OUR HISTORY

90's

The academic year 1992/93 began with intensive rehearsals preceding the verification, which "Podlasie" passed positively and received acceptance to present Poland at the International CIOFF® Festivals for three years.

In December 1993, the "Podlasie" Dance and Dance Group, under the direction of choreographer Emma Cieślińska and the then band manager Zenon Celiński , recorded a film for TVP entitled: "Polish Dances - Podlasie" . An educational and promotional cassette containing instructions for Podlasie folk dances was released. At the beginning of 1994, the group continued recording for TVP - the second part of the program was filmed in Ciechanowiec.

2000

2008

In the academic year 2000/2001 , Marcin Bochenek , a long-time dancer of the group, joined the team and at the same time began working at the university in Biała Podlaska.

As part of the project "Folk dances and games as a factor of integration of children and youth of the Polish-Belarusian-Ukrainian borderland" carried out in 2006-2008, the group gained its own dressing room and a professional dance hall . In subsequent years, new sets of dance costumes were purchased, including: Beskid Śląski, Lachy Sądeckie, Krakowiaki Wschodnie, etc.

The group develops year by year, and instructors and dancers set themselves new goals and challenges. Since 2008, Podlasie has changed the nature of its musical arrangements. Przemysław Marcyniak (musician, arranger and conductor) began working with the group. The group also recorded its entire program in a recording studio.

A new breath appeared with the creation of new choreographies, and at the same time an unusual combination of folklore and jazz. Since 2010, ZPiT Podlasie has been giving concerts together with Bialski Jazz Trio , combining these two forms on the basis of the native Podlasie.

In the latest activity of the group during subsequent concerts and performances, bold ideas, choreographies, as well as new sets of costumes appear. In addition to Impresje Podlaskie, the group's repertoire, with new versions, included Krakowiak Wschodnie and Księstwo Warszawskie - "Małe Państwo Wielkich Nadziei" choreographed by Marcin Bochenek and arranged by Przemysław Marcyniak. The last presentation was created with a special dedication to Mrs. Emma Cieślińska , and its premiere took place during the Benefis .

2016

2018

In 2016 , after the artistic approval of the programme, ZPIT Podlasie received a certificate granted at the request of the Council of Experts, entitling it to represent the Polish Section of CIOFF® in Poland and abroad for the next 5 years of activity.

The team was joined by Anna Litwiniuk and Damian Jabłoński - long-time dancers from Podlasie, who started working with a group of first-year students (their role was taken over in 2021 for a period of 3 years by Jakub Brzuchalski).

An interesting event in the academic year 2016/2017 was a trip to South America. Argentine tango in Buenos Aires, three international festivals in Paraguay and the Iguazu Falls in Brazil are just the most important attractions. An unforgettable trip, concerts in front of an enthusiastic audience and sometimes almost 2000 spectators in the stands - whoever was there, whoever survived - will remember it forever.

The festival in Belarus (November 2017), numerous concerts in Poland, as well as the promotion of a program combining Podlasie folklore and jazz (Impresje Podlaskie - Podlasie dance folklore in jazz musical interpretations) - made this year extremely intense.

The new year 2018 began with work on the next, third part of Impresje Podlaskich, which premiered in February in Sokołów Podlaski. Two dimensions of Podlasie and a concert with ZPiT Sokołowianie crowned the work on the entire project.

The "Podlasie" Song and Dance Ensemble, combining folklore and jazz in an unusual way, was a guest on TVP Polonia in March 2018 in the live program "Halo Polonia", in which they presented fragments of Impresja: Krakowiak and Kujawiak Podlaski.

The academic year 2017/2018 ended with a trip to the fantastic "Surabaya Cross Culture International Folk Art Festival 2018" in Indonesia. Presenting the native folklore of Podlasie on stages in Southeast Asia, the group also visited the most interesting places on the islands of Bali and Java. The incredible artistic and tourist impressions of this trip can also be followed on our social media channels.