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Footage from Warmia Day in Karolin, which took place on 30 Novemeber 2024, and which featured workshops and a social dance centred on traditions of the Warmia region. Events were organised in partnership with the Lidzbark Cultural Centre based in Lidzbark Warmiński and Ania Broda's Trad Trio musicians.  

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

Highland musician, teacher and renowned regionalist Bartłomiej Koszarek-Benkowy from Bukowina Tatrzańska discusses and demonstrates shepherding music and instruments as part of a series of events centred around the folk culture of the Podhale region. 

Photos and editing: Michał Lendzion, Tomasz Ostrowski

On 25 May 2024, Karolin welcomed visitors from the Podhale region - Bartłomiej Koszarek-Benkowy, Bartłomiej Łukaszczyk and Benedykt Koszarek as well as the Bukowianie folk band - for craft workshops and a social dance, bringing the spirit of the highlands to Central Poland. 

Photos and editing: Michał Lendzion, Tomasz Ostrowski

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski

Footage from Silesia Day in Karolin, which took place on 6 April 2024, and which featured workshops and a social dance centred on traditions of the Upper Silesia region. Events were organised in partnership with the Górnośląski Park Etnograficzny w Chorzowie Museum, while the dance was masterfully led by the Fedak Folk Band from Katowice.

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski

The first months of 2024 at the Centre for Polish Folklore in Karolin focused on the distinct traditions of Wilamowice. On 3 February, guests were invited to take part in craft workshops and a talk about formal wear from the region organised by the Wilamowiane Association, while musicians from the Wilamowice Regional Song and Dance Group led an evening social dance. 

Photos and editing: Michał Lendzion, Tomasz Ostrowski, Sylwester Zielonka

In the final episode of the series, Katarzyna Klepacz reflects on her decades of work with Mazowsze's costumes, the people who contributed to their development and memorable moments during her career with the Ensemble.

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

In the fifth episode of the series, Katarzyna Klepacz and Wioletta Milczuk discuss the
costumes which were added to Mazowsze's collection in the decades up to 2010, when Witold Zapała prepared his final piece of choreography for the Ensemble. 

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

In part 4 of this series, Katarzyna Klepacz discusses costumes which were added to Mazowsze's collection in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

In the third episode of the series, we focus on costumes which were prepared for what became known as Mazowsze Ensemble’s “Second Premiere” in 1956.

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

In the second episode of the series, Katarzyna Klepacz discusses the earliest of Mazowsze Ensemble’s costumes – those from the regions of Opoczno, Kurpie, Sieradz and Łowicz.

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

The first in a series of conversations with Katarzyna Klepacz, who looked after Mazowsze Ensemble’s costumes for over 60 years. In it she talks about her time in Karolin and discusses the manner in which Mazowsze Ensemble has acquired and produced its legendary costumes.

Photos and editing: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz

During this year’s Night of the Museums in Karolin we stepped into the thrilling world of Polish folk tales and legends. Take a look at the evening in Karolin Palace!

Photos: Tomasz Ostrowski, Paweł Sobkowicz
Editing: Tomasz Ostrowski

Director: Tomasz Kempski 
Photos: Tomasz Ziółkowski 
Steadicam: Michał Kluszczyński 
Produced by By People Films

Tomasz Kempski specialises in advertising and arthouse films. He is fascinated by contradictions. In art, he seeks out silence and noise. Tomek believes that the best stories are those told by children. He emphasises that less is more.

Mazowsze has been promoting Polish art and culture throughout the world since the earliest years of its existence. The ensemble’s 281st trip abroad was to Iceland. During its first and long-anticipated visit to the island, the choir and orchestra performed a selection of carols as well as their best-known songs, including included Cyt, cyt and the famous Furman.

Written and directed by Paweł Pochwała

This is Mazowsze’s flagship concert, and the essence of what the ensemble has been presenting on the world’s stages for the past seventy years. A whirlwind of colours, song, dance and music which leaves an unforgettable impression, the programme includes the most popular songs and most captivating choreographies from the ensemble’s repertoire. Performers wear beautiful costumes inspired by Polish traditional dress from up to twenty Polish ethnographic regions. The dynamic Oberek from Opoczno is a staple of the programme.

The oberek is one of Poland’s most popular and well-known traditional dances. The music to this oberek was composed by Tadeusz Sygietyński while the dance was choreographed by eminent pedagogue and choreographer, Eugeniusz Papliński. The ensemble performed the Oberek from Opoczno for the first time during their debut performance on 6 November 1950 at the Polish Theatre in Warsaw. A few years later, during their Parisian tour, Mazowsze gave a remarkable performance of the Oberek on the terrace of the Palais de Chaillot.