About

Lajkonik was established on 31 January 1990 by a group of enthusiastic parents and Ursula Lang. The first group comprised of about 20 young children between the ages of 6 and 11. Currently the group comprised of about 50 dances between the age of 4 and 50. Lajkonik’s first performance was in Jindabyne in February 1990, at the Blessing of the Strzelecki Statue during the Strzelecki Festival of that year.

Since establishment, Lajkonik has participated in every PolArt Festival (1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018) in Australia, and 5 consecutive Rzeszow  Festivals  in Poland (1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2019). Performed in New Zealand concerts in 2017. It has been the primary performing Ensemble at 4 Kosciuszko Festivals (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2017) (now known as K’Ozzie Fest) which promote knowledge about General Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki. Lajkonik is believed to be the FIRST AND ONLY dance ensemble in history known to perform on the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (February 2007).

Lajkonik is an Ensemble of people thoroughly passionate about Polish dance, music, folklore and tradition. It strives for performance excellence and professionalism, even though it is an amateur troupe based largely on volunteering. Its repertoire is diverse, exciting and colourful.

Lajkonik’s Repertoire

National Dances

  • Polonaises  – Oginski, Military, Kosciuszko and others
  • White Mazurka (Bialy Mazur) – various choreographies and versions, including duet and Mazurka from the Opera “The Haunted Manor” (Mazur ze Strasznego Dworu)
  • Kujawiak-Oberek – various choreographies  and versions, including duet, Kujawiak for Babcia
  • Krakowiak – various choreographies and versions, including duet “Na Krakowskim Rynku”
  • Oberek – various choreographies and versions, including  Obereczek for the junior group

Tance Regionalne

  • Dances from the Zywiec Highlands (Tance Gorali Zywieckich)
  • Dances from Sacz (Tance Sadeckie)
  • Dances from Kurpie (Tance Kurpiowskie)
  • Dances from Opoczno (Tance Opoczynskie)
  • Dances from Rzeszow (Tance Rzeszowskie) – 3 choreographies
  • Dances from Lublin and Peasant Mazurka (Tance Lubelskie and Mazur Chlopski)
  • Dances from Podlasia (Tance Podlaskie)
  • Dances from Chelm (Tance Chelmskie)
  • Dances from Orava (Tance Orawskie) – Junior Group
  • Dances from Silesia (Tance Slaskie) – Junior Group

Other Dances and Compositions for Stage

  • Dance of the Falcon (Sokoly)
  • Dance of the Quail (Przepioreczka)
  • Picnic at Bielany (Piknik na Bielanach)
  • Going back to Old Times – Polish Retro (Powrocmy Jak Za Dawnych Lat – Polskie Retro)
  • Various Dances from Warsaw (Rozne Tance Warszawskie)
  • Various Polkas (Z Miasta, Kominiarska, Polka Parasolka, etc,)
  • The Goodnight Ballet (Balet na Dobranoc) – junior group
  • Australian Medley
  • Interpretive Religious Dances

The Artistic Director, Ursula Lang, has led development of the Ensemble from its establishment in 1990. She actively manages the Ensemble with the assistance of a Committee of supportive parents and senior dancers. Ursula has a Diploma in Polish Folk Dance from the UMCS University in Lublin, Poland, a life-time of experience in a diverse range of dance forms, and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning. Both areas of expertise involve spatial planning, and so she blends the two – both on stage in the form of choreography for Polish Folk Dance, and in urban space as a town planner. Urszula is very active on a range of fronts in the Polish Community, and the Vice President of Pol Art Incorporated, an umbrella organisation for all Polish Dance Ensembles in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2014, the Ensemble relocated to Marayong, a move which has served Lajkonik well as the Ensemble currently has over 50 dancers. The Ensemble is flourishing in Marayong, which we are proud to call our base and home, and where we are an integral and active part of the Polish parish community.

WE CAN ALSO BE BOOKED FOR WEDDINGS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND EVENTS, AND FESTIVALS.

To develop further and fulfil our ambitions, in terms of our artistic team, our costumes, music, choral and dance repertoire, costume storage facilities and group activities for children and youth, Lajkonik needs sponsorship. This can either be of a private nature or corporate and business-oriented. Both types of sponsorship express support for what we do, and we are deeply grateful for all support from the community which we receive.

We believe our beautiful, athletic and performance loving youth and children can offer promotional opportunities for the right corporate sponsors. Happy to talk to appropriate Companies about this!

We will acknowledge any support we receive if this is the wish of the donor.
If you would like to make a donation to Lajkonik, please contact us for bank details.

The Ensemble is much-appreciated by both Polish and Australian audiences.

We welcome new members and new talents!