Last week, the 23rd edition of the two-year Polish Choreographic Studies for the Polish Diaspora was launched at the University of Rzeszów. The programme is organised by the Cultural and Educational Centre “Resovia Saltans” (currently operating under the Faculty of Music), in cooperation with the Rzeszów Branch of the “Polish Community” Association.

During the formal inauguration, thirty-one members of the Polish diaspora and Poles residing abroad received certificates of admission to the first year of study. These were presented by the Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at the University of Rzeszów, Professor Jolanta Szempruch, and the Director of the Rzeszów Branch of the “Polish Community” Association, Mariusz Grudzień. In his address, the Director of the Polish Choreographic Studies, Romuald Kalinowski, highlighted the importance of educating the Polish diaspora in the field of Polish folk culture, particularly in communities spread across the globe.

Among the invited guests were also the honorary director and co-founder of the Studies, Alicja Haszczak, Associate Professor Elżbieta Rokosz, and the Deputy President of Rzeszów, Krzysztof Sieńko.

The artistic section of the event featured performances by: the UR Song and Dance Ensemble “Resovia Saltans”, ballroom dance couples performing Polish dances in the social style from the same ensemble, academic staff from the Faculty of Music including Professor Jacek Ścibor (tenor), Professor Paweł Paluch (piano), the instrumental duet “Paweł and Robert” – Professor Paweł Paluch (accordion) and Robert Mosior, a soloist from the Podkarpackie Philharmonic (clarinet), as well as the chamber orchestra of the “Resovia Saltans” Ensemble.

The Polish Choreographic Studies for the Polish Diaspora is the only educational programme of its kind in the world dedicated to educating members of the Polish diaspora and Poles living abroad who wish to deepen their knowledge of Polish culture and obtain professional qualifications as choreographers specialising in folk dance.

The curriculum has been developed in accordance with European educational standards and principles. Particularly valuable are the practical sessions, during which participants acquire knowledge of folk dances from more than twenty ethnographic regions of Poland, national dances, customs and traditions, ethnography, Polish musical folklore, and dialectal singing. The educational programme is enriched with meetings with distinguished ethnomusicologists and ethnochoreographers, educational trips, and workshops focused on preserving native traditions.

Participants establish connections with renowned and respected experts in regional dance culture across Poland. These specialists teach folk dances in their authentic form, unaltered by artistic adaptations. Graduates of the programme, qualified choreographers, receive official certification issued by the University of Rzeszów. These credentials entitle them to lead folk dance groups and to create choreographies and artistic programmes based on Polish folk culture. The knowledge they gain may also be applied to organising local festivities, national celebrations, and other cultural events aimed at fostering and maintaining emotional ties between the Polish diaspora and the land of their ancestors.

The permanent faculty of the “Resovia Saltans” Studies includes:

• Romuald Kalinowski, Director of the Polish Choreographic Studies
• Marcin Zych, Deputy Director of the Studies
• Dr Jadwiga Bär, Academic Supervisor

Educational sessions are held annually in July and last for three weeks.