Polish Dances

Kujawiak

The kujawiak is a Polish folk dance. It is one of the five national dances of Poland, the others being the krakowiak, mazur, oberek and polonaise. The dance usually involves couples moving in a circle. Women's kujawiak dances are also performed.The kujawiak originates from the region of Kujawy in central Poland. The music is typically in triple meter.

Kujawy - is a lyricism that is present in a tender, moody, bleeding heart kujawiak. This dance likes the acceleration and release, and variable accents. During the dance rhythm becomes sharper, faster, and suddenly it appears that the impressive dance is no longer kujawiak but ....

Oberekalso known as obertas (common in the 19th century), or ober (the name used less frequently), is - in its stage versions performed by Polish folk dance ensembles - the most vivacious and acrobatic of the so-called five national dances (with polonaise, mazur, kujawiak, krakowiak). The oberek originated in the villages of Mazowsze in central Poland; it is danced by couples to instrumental music in triple meter. The name oberek is derived from the verb obracac się - to spin. The dance's main movement is rotational: the dancers spin and twirl around the room.

Kujawiak with Oberek

„Mazowsze” dancing the oberek, 1964.

instrumental oberek transcribed by Oskar Kolberg, 1885.

Music: Kujawiak "Ornamental beads" and "Sandomierski Oberek" performed by a team of Thaddeus Wesolowski

The whole prepared - Anna