On March 14th the “PRCUA Zajączek Dance Ensemble” celebrated its 21st anniversary at the Warren Woods Auditorium with a beautiful recital attended by close to 300 people, the extended “Zajączek” family. Beaming with pride, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends of families, and “Zajączek” alumni, cheered, laughed and clapped while different “Zajączek” groups performed Polish regional dances from the regions of Spisz, Kurpie, Warmia, Żywiec, Wielkopolska, Beskid, the Polish national dance “Krakowiak”, Polish-American polkas, and a medley of “jazz” dances which this year were inspired by Disney movies.
There was also a surprise, when “the hejnał” – a famous bugle call that is played every hour in Kraków from a tower of the Mariacki Church – signaled the entrance of the Lajkonik, who pranced on the stage followed by the excited youngest “Zajączki”.
“Zajączek’s” choreographers Rachael Kasperek and Tricia (Zając) Dennis introduced the dances, Colleen Bonkowski, the group’s director and PRCUA National Director of District #10 talked about the PRCUA, while the Parent’s Club ran the raffles.
It was an emotional and a bittersweet recital for Jenna Jablonski and Amanda Hess, this year’s “Zajączek’s” graduates. Accompanied by their parents, they were presented with flowers and plenty of good wishes and dressed in white gowns danced a lovely waltz with their escorts. When it was their turn to speak, Jenna, 17, who was with “Zajączek” for 15 years said: “This is where we both grew up, on the dance floor, with the music, and the people who became our second family. Each and every one of you has shaped the person who we are today. Ms. Tricia, Ms. Rachael, Ms. Yvonne, thank you for your patience, your support, your motivation and for believing in us even in the moments, when we didn’t believe in ourselves. You’ve taught us more than just dance, you taught us strength, discipline, confidence and what it means to be a part of a group. And we both love you very much. To my group, friends, on the stage: thank you for the laughter, the memories, the late Thursday rehearsals and all the moments that bonded us together, we truly grew up with you and could not imagine our life without it.”
Long after the recital was over, the “Zajączek” family stayed at the halls of the auditorium talking, taking pictures and savoring what was a wonderful celebration of Polish culture and togetherness which nurtures and uplifts us.
