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Costumes are an integral part of the show. The White Eagle Polish Song and Dance Ensemble maintains a diverse repertoire and wardrobe of Polish folk and court dances. The dynamic rhythms and movements of dances are accentuated by the richly embroidered authentic national and regional costumes, which are of exceptional historical and ethnographic value. There are over 300 lavish costumes that have been presented by our ensemble. Collected over the years, these costumes are made of pure wool, linen, cotton and silk that feature finely hand-embroidered colourful designs and are handcrafted by the best masters of folk art.

Welcome Dance - Chodzony Przywitalny

Niechaj Bedzie Pochwalony Jezus Chrystus Nasz ...

Dances from the Chelmskie Region:

	Chelm is geographically located in the eastern part of Poland and the music costumes, dialect and dance of the area is heavily influenced by the Byelorussians, Jews and Ukrainians but retains a unique Polish character.

Dances from the Czadeckie Region:

Unavailable	These highlanders, forced to emigrate from Poland due to religious persecution, fled to Csadsa in the Czech Republic and settled as far as Bukovina in Romainia. While the dance, music, and costumes show elements of the folklore of their adopted homes, in their language and cultural traditions they remain true to their Polish roots.
	Lyrics:	Czadeckie (pdf format) Czadeckie (word format)

Dances from the Cieszyn Region:

	The region around the city of Cieszyn is located in southern Silesia bordering the Czech Republic. It is a semi-mountainous region traditionally known for it's pastoral area. It is a lively stylized Cieszyn dance inspired by the late Elwira Kaminska debuted in Amsterdam 1992.

Dances from the Detva Region (Slovak dance):

	more to come !!!
	Lyrics:	Oci Oci Cierne Oci (pdf format) Oci Oci Cierne Oci (word format)

Dances from the First Nations Region:

Unavailable	more to come !!!

Dances from the Gorale Zywieckie (Pasterskie, Hajduk) Region:

	The unique white voice singing of the girls echoes from the pastures attracting the shepherds boys. All join in quick paced spinning dances "Obyrtka" and the athletic shepherds' dances "Pasterskie." Hajduk, the pride of the mountaineers and the show piece of Zywiec folkdance.
	Lyrics:	Zywiec (pdf format) Zywiec (word format)

Dances from the Goralskie Region:

	These are highland dances of the inhabitants of the Tatra mountains, full of temperament, energy and vigor. Intricate and precise steps are characteristic in these dances. In these dances the Goral men impress their women and display feats of skill and strength to impress the ladies in Zbojnicki dances.
	Lyrics:	Goralskie (pdf format) Goralskie (word format)

Dances of the Roma/Gypsy Region:

	The Roma are descendants of nomadic tribes that come from India and settled throughout all of Europe, bringing with them exotic melodies that influenced folk music in Poland.
	Lyrics:	Gypsy (pdf format) Gypsy (word format)

Dances from the Jaslisk (Czardas z Jasliska) Region:

Unavailable	In 1996, the folklorist, Stanislaw Lorenc introduced himself to Ted Zdybal while Bialy Orzel was on tour in Poland. This lead to a field study of the villages of Jasliska, as well as dance workshops for the Intermediate Group during their premiere tour of Poland. This collection of songs and dances comes from one of the southern most villages in the Pogorze region and is dominantly influenced by the surrounding ethnic enclaves of Germans, Lemkos, Slovaks and Bojkos.

Dances from the Kaszubskie Region:

	The region of Kaszuby in north-central Poland is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The original inhabitants of this region, the Slowinski people, were related to the Latvians and Lithuanians. During the domination of the Teutonic knights over the region from 1226 to 1466, the Kaszubians saw influences of the Germanic culture permeate their traditions. Consequently, their dances also changed and today they display a rich mixture of Polish, German, Latvian and Lithuanian elements. Since the region is in a maritime region, the Kaszubski Suite also displays influences introduced by the fishermen.

Dances from the Krakow Region:

	The city of Krakow in southern Poland in the ethnocentric area of Malopolska has had a rich history and was the old national capital of Poland. One of these comes to us in the form of the Krakowiak costume, which dates back to the 14th century when it arrived from Persia. In the 18th century, the costume was used as a military uniform by General Kosciuszko. Today, the Krakowiak is one of the five national dances of Poland, but developed from humble roots in the villages surrounding Krakow. Eventually, it assimilated various elements from other regions of the country as well as military influences in the form of gallops imitating horsemen. The men wear red and white striped pants. The metallic disks, which are strung to the men's leather belts, come from armor. The tassels on the blue, sleeveless coat come from Napoleonic times, imitating military decorations. The outfit is topped with a four-cornered red hat, ornamented with ribbons and peacock feathers. The women wear beautifully embroidered and beaded velvet vests, and floral challis skirts, which can be made from any color. A single woman wears a wreath of flowers, while the married woman wears a white kerchief. Ribbons are worn on the right shoulder and hang loose.

Dances from the Beskid Region:

Unavailable	The Kolomajki is a dance performed by young girls only. It seems it was a way to show men that girls can also perform by themselves and not necessarily as a means to entice a man to dance. The most valued possession of a young highland girl was her long, beautifully braided hair. If a young maiden was not allowed to marry her true love, she threatened to abuse or cut it.

Dances from the Krosno Region:

	Originating in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Krosno dances are composed of a variety of polkas and other dances such as the chodzony or "walking dance". In Jacok the girls nod their heads from side to side to the beat, letting the little head ornament bob back and forth.

Dances from the Kujawiak Region:

Unavailable	The romantic Kujawiak is the most lyrical and gentle national dance, often paired with the lively Oberek. Some of the movements mimic stalks of grain swaying in the wind. The name comes from the region of Kujawy. Because of its beauty the dance became popular with the nobility who spread it throughout Poland and ranked it as a national dance.

Dances from the Green Forest - Kurpie Region:

	The purity and simplicity of the peasant costumes are contrasted in the rich and lively dance culture of the forest dwellers.

Dances from the Lachy Sadeckie Region:

	The Sacz region region lies in the heart of former trade routes between Poland and the Czech and Hungarian regions. The richness of the soil in this area also attracted settlers as far back as 4000 B.C. Over the centuries German settlers and the Ruthenians from the region of Volhinya to the south-east established villages in the area. This richness of influences and traded goods allowed the people of this part of the country to design elaborate costumes with intricate embroidery and a variety of features borrowed from neighboring regions. One of the most visible of these is the 'Parzenice'; a wide leather belt on a man's costume which is typical of the Goral people in the mountainous region of Poland. The dances presented here feature some of the characteristic elements of the region including an all-male dance designed to impress the women. The men wear navy blue long coats, which are heavily embroidered with a floral motif. On the front of the pants are large, special embroidered patterns called parzenice. The white linen shirts are embroidered and are tucked into a large, elaborately tooled leather belt with many brass buckles. Their hats are decorated with flowers or ribbons. The women wear navy blue jackets with the same embroidered floral motif in mind. Their skirts are red and have black embroidery on the bottom. The aprons, worn overtop of the skirt, are black aprons that include needlework on it. Their white blouses and scarves are embroidered as well, and they also wear red coral necklaces.

Dances from the Lasowiak Region:

	The purity and simplicity of the peasant costumes are contrasted in the rich and lively dance culture of the forest dwellers. The music featured is highlighted by an ancient and seldom played folk instrument cymbaly.

Dances from the Lecycze Region:

	With bright costumes and playful choreography, the ensemble shines in this lively suite from the central region of Poland, north of Lodz.

Dances from the Łowicz Region:

	This region in central Mazovia is famous not only for its colourful striped wool costumes but also the spirited Polka's, energetic Obereks, lyrical and witty songs. These beautiful and richly hand embroidered costumes reflect the atmosphere prevalent in the dances. Various floral motifs on the girl's skirts are unique to the different villages of the Lowicz region. Frederic Chopin, the famous Polish composer, was strongly inspired by the folk melodies of this region.

Dances from the Lublin Region:

	The district around the city of Lublin includes most of the people on the eastern side of the Vistula River. Mainly an agricultural area, this part of Poland attracted settlers from a variety of surrounding regions. Their influences over the region are mostly reflected in the costumes worn by the people rather than the dances that draw their roots from earlier times. The dances presented in this suite are performed at weddings. In fact, the suite is a reflection of the rites of a wedding and the celebration of the event. The men's costume is all black, with the pants having a red stripe along the sides. The jacket is decorated with diamond shapes of many colors, along with red trim. The white shirt is embroidered with red and blue geometric designs. The hat is made of straw and can be decorated with flowers or ribbons. The women wear skirts of a solid color, and are decorated with many bands of horizontal ribbons. Over the longer skirt the women wear a shorter skirt overtop that includes the same decorations of ribbons. Their vests are made of velvet with tabs at the bottom and a decorated waistband. The women's blouses also have red and blue embroidered patterns. The women's headpieces are very elaborate and are decorated with many flowers and ribbons.
	Lyrics:	Lublin (pdf format) Lublin (word format)

National Dance Mazur:

	This Polish national dance became very popular throughout Poland in the palaces and courts of Poland as well as in European capitals during the 19th century. Mazurkas are distinguished by the dignity and elegance with which they are performed. One truly discovers the country's’ spirit.

Dances from the Halisko (Mexican) Region:

Unavailable	more to come !!!

National Dance Oberek:

Unavailable	"We greet you traditionally, in Jesus' name. We welcome you with bread and salt; Our symbols of life and health." Great dynamics, spontaneity and imagination of movement; this fiery frenzied Oberek bursts into a kaleidoscope of colors.

Dances from the Opoczno Region:

Unavailable	These dances and songs from central Poland are famous for their dynamic and original dances and tunes, as well as a large variety of dance styles. The suite contains the most typical dances of Opoczno region such as Tremblanka, Oberek and Polkas. These were danced at family and seasonal celebrations, as well as Sunday dances "potancowkas", where no food was served for the sole purpose of satisfying the urge to dance.

Dances from the Podlaskie Region:

Unavailable	more to come !!!

National Dance Polonez:

	Out of the five national dances, the Polonez is the oldest and can be referred to as the "Grand March of Poland". This dance probably dates back as far as the 15th century. Its prototype is a simple peasant-walking dance, the Chodzony, which means to walk. This was a dance of the village folk that was adopted by the gentry of the country. It later moved to the manor houses of the nobility, the palaces of the aristocracy and finally to the Royal court. It became a court dance and it was used to open all great stately balls and other ceremonial occasions. It is danced solemnly and with dignity; with ladies in elegant gowns and the gentlemen in the traditional dress of the Polish nobility, the Kontusz.

Dances from the Przeworsk Region:

Unavailable	Przeworsk is a dance comprised of light hearted polkas and merry dances of eastern Poland. This is a dance from a old town of Przeworsk (21 miles east of the city of Rzeszow) that became popular throughout the entire Rzeszow region. American folk dancers gave it the nickname of “Five-and” for its complicated timing. Also known as wsciekla or wild polka, the tempo quickens as the music progresses.

Przytrampowanie:

Unavailable	Girls' stamping dances from Northern Mazowia.

Dances from the Pszczyna (Silesia) Region:

	Nestled in the green pastures of Silesia, one can find the untapped riches of the Pszczyna region. The pure and sweet melodies that accompany a unique blend of lively and colourful dances.

Dances of the Quebecois (French Canadian) Region:

	This lively celebration of dance showcases the gems of Quebecois folklore: step-dance, jigs, and reels which are traditional at weddings, carnivals, and festivities.

Dances from the Rzeszow Region:

	The Rzeszow region in the south-eastern most corner of Poland has had a great variety of influences. Its geographic location exposed it to migrations, foreign occupation and trading. A beautiful and fertile area, it attracted a diverse group of people such as German, Wallachian, Ukranian, Lemko and Jewish settlers. These people influenced the regions' culture and this permeated to their dances and costumes. The dances tend to be lively and are filled with a variety of steps and formations. The men wear a sleeveless jacket and pants, which are both blue and have red embroidery. The full, white eyelet shirt has a special leather belt hanging over it, which loops around itself and hangs low at the side. The women's skirts can be any color between yellow, green, blue or red. The vests are embroidered in beautiful beadwork, and come in various colors. The aprons and scarves are embedded with eyelet work.
	Lyrics:	Rzeszowskie (pdf format) Rzeszowskie (word format)

Dances from the Shopski Region (Bulgarian Dance):

Unavailable	more to come !!!

Dances from the Slaskie (Silesia) Region:

	The southwestern region of Slask, or Silesia, is culturally one of the richest of all regions of Poland. The division of north and south, mountains and lowlands, plus the influences of Germany, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, has all given this part of the country a varied culture and folklore. One of the most unique dances in Polish folk dances is called Trojak. A man and two women perform this dance. The triplets perform a variety of formations. Traditionally, this dance celebrates the harvest and the hard work of the people.

Sobotki Ritual:

Unavailable	The rituals of St. John's eve date back to pre Christian times. On this most magical night, a young maiden casts a wreath of artemisia and ferns onto the river in hopes that her future husband will catch her wreath down stream.

Dances from the Szczyrzckie Region:

Unavailable	An exciting series of characteristic quick paced polkas and uplifting melodies.

Dances from the Zywiec City (Zywiec Mieszynskie):

	This graceful and dignified dance comes from the Southern Polish town of Zywiec. The Zywiecki costume is very colorful and elaborate. It shows many urban influences in its ornate lace-work and eighteenth-century style. The men's costume is simple but elegant. They wear long brocade jackets buttoned to the top with only the collar of their white shirts visible. The pants are black as are the long coats. A loose velvet rogatywka trimmed with Persian lamb is worn on the head. The woman's dress, is in contrast, is much more elaborate. They wear elegant jackets and skirts. Over this, elaborate aprons of white lace are worn. Of lace too, are the shawls which drape over the jackets. Their lace collars are wide and billowy and at the front they wear a large bow with a necklace of red coral. Sometimes a lace headpiece completes the ensemble.