1. POLONAISE NATIONAL DANCE OF POLAND

2. The Polonaise or Polonez, evolved from a dance called the Chodzony (Walking Dance) in the 15th century. As you might guess from the description the dancers walk around the dance floor. It was danced even by royalty and nobility.

3. The dance has been used in formal contexts and during public ceremonies and festivities, particularly at weddings, or, recently, as the first dance of a formal ball. Dancing the polonaise requires a straight, upright posture with no movement of hips, smooth and elegant hand gestures, and the head held high, with pride, as it were. "the man should display dignity and polite attentiveness not only to his partner, but to others around. The woman should carry herself with grace and a certain timidity" Old Traditional Polish wedding The first dance of Prom

4. COSTUMES Because this dance has become known as one of the "gentry" or "nobility," the most appropriate costumes are those from 17th-century Poland which did not yet follow international fashions in clothing, but featured different costumes for members of each social class

5. The costume for the polonaise dates back to the Napoleonic wars and the French/military fashions. The men wear the uniforms of the Polish legion: tight navy pants with red stripes at the sides, short jackets with decorative button- fastenings, high square hats with the national emblem on the front. In some versions of the dance they also carry weapons at their side (szabla); they use them to create a "bridge" above the women's heads in one figure of the dance. The women wear decorative civilian clothes, i.e. the low-cut, short- sleeved, flowing dresses of the Empire period, introduced at the Napoleonic court in France and exported with his rule throughout Europe. Their heads are uncovered, the hair is bound at the top of the head in a French imitation of ancient Greek styles

6. MUSIC The greatest composer of polonaises in classical music was Fryderyk Chopin, whose works for piano made this dance the musical symbol of Poland and Polishness. Polonaises also appeared in chamber music, concertos and opera, often with the title Polacca.

7. THE DANCE It is a slow, walking dance, danced at 3/4 time. It is characterized by fluid and graceful motions, straight upright positions of partners and bows of the partners toward the public and toward each other.

8. ENJOY WATCHING OUR STUDENTS DANCING POLONAISE