Saturday, November 17, 2007
Labor Day 2007
As summer wraps up, Labor Day weekend is often a busy one. Picnics, back to school and parades dot everyone's calendars. The same held true for members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble this Labor Day weekend.
Sunday, September 2, 2007 featured the Polkapalooza event at the annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival in Hamtramck, Michigan. The event began with a Polka Mass featuring music by Big Daddy Lackowski and celebrated by Ks. Bogdan Milosz. After the mass, the Polkas began. The bands included in the lineup were the Kielbasa Kings, Big Daddy Lackowski, and the Misty Blues.
In addition to the bands, Polkapalooza featured the first annual Polka with the Stars - Polka Competition. Many current and alumni members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble participated as "Polka Professionals." Also participating as Polka Professionals were Rachael Kasperek of the Zajaczek Folk Ensemble, Basia Grabas of the PRCUA Gwiazda Dancers and Nick Modelski from Lajkonik. Each Polka Professional was paired with a "Polka Star" from Hamtramck. The Polka Stars included:
Karen Majewski - Mayor of Hamtramck
Rachel and Andrea Karpinski - From the Polish Sea League
Nate Bonkowski - Warren City Council Candidate
Chester Kristy - Hamtramck Business Owner
Raymond & Kathleen Bittner - From the Polish Art Center
Larry Liszewski - Editor of the Main Street Newspaper
Tim Nowakowski - Former Hamtramck City Council Person
Andrew Oleksiak - Hamtramck Firefighter
A Giant Yellow Chicken - From The Hamtramck Chicken Shack
The Polka with the Stars Competition consisted of three rounds followed by the judges' scoring the rounds and then the elimination of some participants. In the final round, the judges asked that the audience vote by clapping for their favorite final couple, which was factored in with the judges' score. The judges were: Tom & Donna Skurski, Director and Artistic Director of Wawel, and Cindy Cervenak, director of the PRCUA Gwiazda Dancers of Hamtramck.
After the three rounds a winner emerged...Rachel Karpinski from the Polish Sea League and her partner Wawel member Chris Ozog.
Both audience and participants in the event had a wonderfull time. Discussions have already taken place about the 2nd Annual Polka with the Stars event for the 2008 Labor Day Festival in Hamtramck. Hopefully Chris and Rachel will return to defend their Polka Crown.
On Monday, September 3, 2007, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble marched and Polkaed down the streets of Joseph Campau in Hamtramck, MI during the annual Polish Day Parade.
Sunday, September 2, 2007 featured the Polkapalooza event at the annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival in Hamtramck, Michigan. The event began with a Polka Mass featuring music by Big Daddy Lackowski and celebrated by Ks. Bogdan Milosz. After the mass, the Polkas began. The bands included in the lineup were the Kielbasa Kings, Big Daddy Lackowski, and the Misty Blues.
In addition to the bands, Polkapalooza featured the first annual Polka with the Stars - Polka Competition. Many current and alumni members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble participated as "Polka Professionals." Also participating as Polka Professionals were Rachael Kasperek of the Zajaczek Folk Ensemble, Basia Grabas of the PRCUA Gwiazda Dancers and Nick Modelski from Lajkonik. Each Polka Professional was paired with a "Polka Star" from Hamtramck. The Polka Stars included:
Karen Majewski - Mayor of Hamtramck
Rachel and Andrea Karpinski - From the Polish Sea League
Nate Bonkowski - Warren City Council Candidate
Chester Kristy - Hamtramck Business Owner
Raymond & Kathleen Bittner - From the Polish Art Center
Larry Liszewski - Editor of the Main Street Newspaper
Tim Nowakowski - Former Hamtramck City Council Person
Andrew Oleksiak - Hamtramck Firefighter
A Giant Yellow Chicken - From The Hamtramck Chicken Shack
The Polka with the Stars Competition consisted of three rounds followed by the judges' scoring the rounds and then the elimination of some participants. In the final round, the judges asked that the audience vote by clapping for their favorite final couple, which was factored in with the judges' score. The judges were: Tom & Donna Skurski, Director and Artistic Director of Wawel, and Cindy Cervenak, director of the PRCUA Gwiazda Dancers of Hamtramck.
After the three rounds a winner emerged...Rachel Karpinski from the Polish Sea League and her partner Wawel member Chris Ozog.
Both audience and participants in the event had a wonderfull time. Discussions have already taken place about the 2nd Annual Polka with the Stars event for the 2008 Labor Day Festival in Hamtramck. Hopefully Chris and Rachel will return to defend their Polka Crown.
On Monday, September 3, 2007, members of the Wawel Folk Ensemble marched and Polkaed down the streets of Joseph Campau in Hamtramck, MI during the annual Polish Day Parade.
