11 replies to this topic

[Amanda_K]

I'm looking for information on ballet in Poland in general, and more specifically the Warsaw Ballet Company. And the history of Polish ballet, and any more information and resources would be helpful. Thanks!

[Helene]

I would start with the Teatr Wielki site:

http://www.teatrwiel...ex.php?nlang=en

If you scroll down the home page, there is a list of ballets. They seem to reference "Ballet of the Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera," except for Nutcracker, which is performed by students from the "Warsaw ballet school."

In the theater's history page, there is a reference to "The Warsaw ballet company," which seems to be what they're referring to by the ballet company of the theater. (If you lose the English version, you can click the "English" icon in the upper right hand side of any site page.)

[volcanohunter]

Here is the link to the page on the Ballet of the Teatr Wielki:

www.teatrwielki.pl/ludzie.php?action=search&type=all&rodzaj=3&nlang=en

It's a substantial troupe, with close to 90 dancers. Naturally, it performs the 19th-century classics and also has a solid contemporary repertoire. Unfortunately I've never actually seen the company perform, but I saw Izabela Milewska when she was still a member of the Hamburg Ballet, and Maxim Vaitsiul (aka Wojtiul) danced with the National Ballet of Canada for one season, and I was very sorry that he didn't stay. (It was outrageous of artistic director James Kudelka to put him in the corps.)

Vaitsiul/Wojtiul has a personal web site:
www.maksimwojtiul.republika.pl

So does lead danseur Sławomir Woźniak:
www.slawomirwozniak.pl

[Joanna]

I know it's a bit old topic, but if you still has some questions about ballet in Poland, I could help a little, since I live here. The Teatr Wielki is the biggest ballet company in Poland, but also in other cities we have ballet and opera theatres.
Unfortunately, there is a very few amount of Polish sites, books, etc. about ballet.

[carbro]

We don't get enough ballet news from Poland! We're glad you're there. Please tell us, Joanna, what you've been seeing at Teatr Wielki and of any other companies that may be touring there. We'd love to hear.

[bart]

I agree with carbro, joana. The Ballet of the Wiekci Theater has a reputation in Europe and has an interesting repertory. But is almost unknown in the US. Anything you can tell us about the performances you see would be much appreciated. And it's possible that others, reading your reports, will be encouraged to chime in.

I'll be back in Warsaw in early October, but there doesn't seem to be a schedule availble for then. Last time I saw Traviata. I enjoyed the production and loved the theater very much. Maybe this time I'll be lucky and there will be a ballet. Something BIG, full-length, involving the entire company and all its resources. That's my wish, at least.

[Agnes...]

Maxim Vaitsiul (aka Wojtiul) danced with the National Ballet of Canada for one season, and I was very sorry that he didn't stay. (

Maksim Wojtiul has made big progresses since he left Canada.
Now he is the most popular dancer in Poland. People love him. Girls are screaming something like "bravo Max" when he is dancing on the stage... Recently Polish TV has made documentary about his life. We can also see him in many polish commercials (in TV). It is amazing because ballet is not very popular in Poland ...

[volcanohunter]

Maksim Wojtiul has made big progresses since he left Canada.

I'm very pleased to hear it. I thought he was wonderful, but his situation in Toronto was madness. He was already a principal in Warsaw, but the National Ballet of Canada hired him as a member of the corps de ballet. I remember watching him as Benvolio in Cranko's Romeo and Juliet and thinking: No, no, no, he should be dancing Romeo. He was by far the best male dancer on the stage.

[Agnes...]

It is very nice to hear that you know and like one of my favorite dancer . If you want I can write more about Maksim Wojtiul and send same links with his dancing.

If somebody would like to came to Poland to see Polish ballet I recommend “Lodz meeting ballet” (in polish: Łódzkie Spotkania Baletowe (ŁSB)). It is fantastic opportunity to see a lot of ballet companies from Poland, Europe and all over the world (like Cuba, USA, Asia) being in 1 place and 1 time.
This is also opportunity to see a lot of films about ballet (and to visit Lodz… ). LSB has been placed in program exhibitions, film projections, concerts and meetings with choreographers.

LSB are organized every 2 years in Lodz (the second biggest city in Poland). Last time LSB took place in 2009 (the next will be in 2011 (May)).

Last time (in 2009) we invited for example:
1) Michail Baryshnikov and Ana Laguna
2) Wayne McGregor | Random Dance
3) Pietragalla Compagnie
4) Nederlands Dans Theater II
5) Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company
6) Compania Antonio Gades oraz Narodni Divadlo Praga
7) Polski Teatr Tańca from Poznan (the best polish choreographer!!!!)
8) and my favourite polish ballet: ballet from Lodz- Teatr Wielki w Łodzi.

during the LSB you can see continuation and evolution of classic ballet, through dance modern and dance postmodern. So, you can follow technical classic soviet ballets and from the other site admire western classics - e.g. in miniatures George Balanchine and also choreography by: Maurice Béjart, Tyla Tharp, Mats Ek, Hans van Manen, Jiri Kylian, Antonio Gades, de Agnes Mille, john Cranko, Birgit Cullberg, Kurt Jooss.
Next time (may 2011) you would see - among other things-: ballet from Monte Carlo, balet Maurice'a Bejarta, La Scala, ballet from Lodz and others.

[leonid]

Thank you Agnes for all your information.

As someone interested in the history of European ballet I thought the following was of interest in respect of Poland has two celebrations of historical interest to the ballet world in 2010.

Firstly it is the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Frederic Chopin and secondly, it is the 225th anniversary year of the founding of His Majesty’s National Dancers although foreign(Italian especially) had been appearing in Poland supposedly from the 16th century.

Checkout the Polish celebrations at: http://www.teatrwiel...iversaries.html

[Agnes...]

If somebody wants to see same polish ballet I would like to recommend KURT WEILL. It is ballet in two acts by Krzysztof Pastor (2001)

Libretto, musical script, staging, and choreography: Krzysztof Pastor. He is the director of Polish National Ballet.


It is a multimedia show in the form of a collage of dance images.

Taking the music of Kurt Weill, he created a vibrant ballet fresco, inspiring in its dance expressiveness, diversity of music forms and vocal hits, encouraging reflection on the social experience of the composer’s times, the changeable fate of artists, symptoms of intolerance, and constant longing for love.

British critic Maggie Foyer agreed this was a great work by Pastor, demonstrating choreographic and staging talent. The dance and music setting, she added, was extensive, stretching from a Berlin bar to Broadway; a gigantic project by the young choreographer.

This production was hailed as the event of the season in the Netherlands and nominated for the prestigious Benois de la Danse Award.

[innopac]

If somebody wants to see same polish ballet I would like to recommend KURT WEILL. It is ballet in two acts by Krzysztof Pastor (2001)

Libretto, musical script, staging, and choreography: Krzysztof Pastor. He is the director of Polish National Ballet.

Agnes, do you think it is likely that this will come out on dvd?