One-hundred-four students in seven different groups, which include “Małe (Little) Zajączki” and “Young Adults”, is a very impressive head count for a dance group. And this year, for the first time ever, “Zajączek” Group 2, has more boys than girls: 11 boys altogether!
Founded in 2005 by Colleen Bonkowski (director) and two choreographers, Rachel Kasperek and Tricia (Zając) Dennis – all three ladies are still among the pillars of the group – Zajączek Dance Ensemble has been bringing fun and joy as well as an immersive Polish cultural experience to kids of different ages for 20 years.
During the anniversary recital held on Saturday, March 15 and emceed by Rachel, Tricia and Colleen, “Zajączek” students danced their hearts out performing Polish folk dances from the Łowicz, Śląsk, Nowy Sącz and Kaszuby regions as well as many very vigorous Polish American polkas.
As was fitting for the anniversary, in the second part of the recital entitled “Glory Days”, different age groups performed a selection of the most memorable dances from previous years (the first recital was in 2006). These modern dances, set to popular American music, allowed the young dancers to impress the audience with cartwheels and splits, and wear sequin dresses and shorts, as well as cute costumes (bees and postmen, worn by the youngest ones, were especially adorable.)
Speaking about the costumes: all of the Polish folk costumes looked amazing, and one can only imagine what a challenge it has to be to provide so many pieces of wardrobe for so many dancers. A lot of credit for accomplishing it goes to Donna Jaczkowski, the group’s costume director who since 2008 has been making sure that the dancers look good and – as we read in the program – “no costume pieces fly off during the recital!”
Very meaningful parts of the recital were the presentation of the 2025 Zajączek Graduates, who this year were Evalyn Frederick and Hannah Saunders (multi-talented and already very accomplished 17-year-olds) and a polka performed by former Zajączek graduates together with some graduates from other PRCUA groups (such as Tatry, for example). That these dancers came together to perform, some of them after more than 20 years, speaks volumes about the family-like atmosphere of the group.
The recital was attended by families and friends of the dancers, who filled up the Warren Middle School Auditorium and with exuberance and pride reacted to each of the dance numbers, cheering the dancers, who in turn waved to them and on occasion, reluctantly left the stage (the tiniest “Zajączki”). Many guests supported Zajączek by buying tickets for basket and 50/50 raffles, which allowed the lucky winners to leave with opulent baskets or cash prizes in the amounts of $400, $300 and $182.
We congratulate the entire “Zajączek” family on their splendid anniversary and wish them many more years of dancing and bringing beautiful Polish culture to youth and adults!
