Last Saturday, 17 May, competitive dance pairs representing the Song and Dance Ensemble of the University of Rzeszów, Resovia Saltans, achieved outstanding results in the nationwide Royal Tournament of Polish Dances held in Wilanów, reaching as many as four finals!

The duo of Michał Deręgowski and Zuzanna Krupornicka, after advancing through the quarter-finals and semi-finals against pairs from eleven dance centres across Poland, secured places in two finals. They claimed an impressive third place on the podium in the IVB age category and fourth place in the highly competitive IV OPEN category.

Another podium finish came from Jakub Zwolak and Maja Szelc, who, having successfully advanced through the earlier rounds, competed in the top final group alongside the best dance pairs in the country and were awarded third place in the VB age category. Their performance also earned them a promotion to the VA class.

Michał Nawojski and Barbara Wojtak reached the final in the VI age category after a successful semi-final performance, ultimately finishing sixth.

The “Resovia Saltans” competition pairs are trained by Dr Jadwiga Bär, choreographer of the UR Song and Dance Ensemble, a former long-standing dancer and soloist, and two-time Polish Champion in Polish dances in the ballroom style.
We extend our warmest congratulations on these remarkable achievements and wish the dancers continued success!

These impressive rankings are a well-deserved reward for the university dancers’ many hours of training, which encompass not only the refinement of dance technique but also the development of artistic expression—living the music and conveying emotion to one’s partner in performances of the characteristically diverse Polish national dances: the krakowiak, oberek, kujawiak, and mazur.

The participation of “Resovia Saltans” pairs in Polish dance tournaments and their consistent success serve as an excellent promotion of the University of Rzeszów—not only within academic communities hosting such events, but also in cultural and educational centres across the country that preserve and promote Polish culture and national heritage.

Text: Jadwiga Bär