Syrenka is a Sydney based Polish youth group whose aim is to promote Polish culture through song and dance to its members and the Polish and non-Polish general public. Learn more about what we do and contact us today if you have any questions.
In the beginning
Teresa Perłowska-Adamska arrived in Australia as a young child with the first families that came from Europe after WWII. It was through her involvement with Polish Scouts that she started teaching the older girl scouts rhythmic movement and dance. At the same time, Koło Polek (The Polish Ladies’ Association) organised successive annual debutante balls, for which Teresa taught the Polonez to the young people being presented. From these young people, a more formalised, serious dancing group was formed in 1968 and held regular practices in the Dom Polski (Polish House), Ashfield, under the auspices of the Polski Związek. Its name was No To Co. It included original members such as Ewa Andrusiewicz, Marek Urbański, Komorowski, Kogiert and Damian Habijanec. Later additions were Zbyszek Grabowski, Ed Pazderski and Andrew Pasternacki. Their repertoire included the Krakowiak, Kujawiak and dances from Łowicz. Costumes were borrowed from Chór Echo. Teresa taught all of those years without payment and we are indebted to her love of Polish dance and culture. Thanks to her, that her group was the beginning of Syrenka as we know it today.
Junior Group
The junior group of Syrenka was started in 1978. Lessons were conducted after classes at Polish school on Saturday afternoons – at the Polish House (Dom Polski) Ashfield and then at St Vincent’s Ashfield Parish hall. The group consisted of around 20 children. In 1979, Halina Borysiewicz was asked to teach the junior group of Syrenka. Fortunately, St Vincent’s Parish Church hall had a piano, so junior group lessons were conducted with Eliza Budniak as the pianist. In the late 70s Syrenka’s funds were limited, and the junior group only had one set of incomplete Krakowskie costumes. In 1980 boys Podhalańskie costumes were purchased by Syrenka. In the 80s, there were periods in Syrenka’s history when the junior group was disbanded and reformed a few months later. Today, lessons are conducted by Halina Borysiewicz on Wednesday evenings in the Ashfield Polish Club, and by Halina Borysiewicz and Ania Kulesz on Saturday afternoons at North Ryde Polish School. The junior group now has complete sets of Krakowski, Góralski, Poleczka, Kurpiowski , Beskid Sląski, Kaszubski and Rozbarskie costumes. The majority of these costumes have been made here in Australia by dedicated volunteers, mainly Halina Borysiewicz who sews in her spare time. Where possible, the fabric is imported from Poland, this ensures the authenticity of the costumes.
Over the years many people have made a significant contribution to Syrenka’s thriving junior group. At times the group has numbered over 40 dancers. Preparation of costumes for this large group is always a huge undertaking. We would also like to thank all the children, their parents and grandparents who have supported the junior Syrenka journey.
Intermediate Group
The intermediate group of Syrenka was formed in 1977 to accommodate the younger dancers who had joined Syrenka. This original group was quite small, with about 10 members. Lessons were held on Saturday afternoons in St Vincent’s Parish hall in Ashfield. When dancing teachers began arriving from Poland on 12-month contracts to teach the older group, these teachers also taught the intermediate group. There were times when Syrenka was between teachers as the new teacher from Poland had not yet arrived, in these times the intermediate group was taught by Halina Borysiewicz. The dancers in the original intermediate group were very good singers with strong voices, for this reason, the bulk of the dances that the middle group were taught incorporated a fair amount of singing. From 1996, Mrs Genia Budniak and Mrs Helena Żebrowski actively recruited young people attending the Polish Church in Ashfield and the Ashfield Polish School. With these new dancers, and some advanced, older members from the junior group, a new intermediate group was reformed. This group comprised of seven girls and three boys. It was the basis for the group that went to Melbourne PolArt in 1997.
There was a new influx of youngsters in the intermediate group for the Brisbane PolArt in 2000. At PolArt, they danced Krakowiak and Kaszuby, and the Polish Charleston choreographed by Iwona Kower. At Brisbane PolArt four intermediate boys made their debut as fantastic acrobatic clowns in the Wilamowice dance which was performed by the Senior group. Eventually, there was migration of the older intermediate group dancers to the older group, and younger siblings took their places in middle Syrenka. At the Sydney PolArt in 2003, a combined intermediate and senior group danced the Żywiec at the Opera House. The intermediate group also danced Kurpie at other venues. The bulk of this group were the group that stayed together from their early days at Polish primary and secondary school. They were such a close knit group, that although sick of dancing Kurpie and Krakowiak non-stop, they did not want to progress to the senior group when they were old enough. Eventually, one year before the Hobart PolArt in 2006, they advanced into the senior group. This move resulted in Syrenka’s senior group doubling in size. Our current intermediate group is growing from its long-standing junior members with the welcome addition of new arrivals.
Senior Group
In 1971, Syrenka became formally, independently constituted as the Polish Folkloric Ensemble Syrenka, with Józef Walczak as the choreographer. After his departure, there was a series of instructors until in 1980, when Stanisław Paduchowski, a former member of the State Folkloric Ensemble Mazowsze, became teacher and choreographer, remaining with the group until 1995. For the next 10 years, former dancer Iwona Kower returned, introducing countless new and exciting choreographies, as well as upholding the older, traditional Syrenka favourites. Jerzy Ścisłowski also joined the group in 1980 as musician and musical director; to this day he still works in this capacity. Syrenka is thankful to not only have a live musician at every rehearsal, but also to have a kapela that accompanies the dances at major performances. In 2017, Robert Grochulski became the senior group choreographer and still is today. He has implemented his own style of high energy, exciting choreography, and passion for the group.
The major debut performance for Syrenka was at the National Shell Folkloric Festival, for the opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1973. From 1980, Syrenka performed at every National Shell Folkloric Festival at the Sydney Opera House until 1993, when the festival became known as the Festival of Cultures. Syrenka also participated in the inaugural PolArt Festival in Sydney in 1975, as well as all of the following PolArt Festivals around Australia.
To try and list of all of the major events that Syrenka has performed would be impossible. One of Syrenka’s biggest highlights was to participate in the welcoming ceremony for Pope John Paul II in Sydney in 1986. In 1999, members of the senior group, as part of a combined ‘Sydney’ Ensemble, performed at the 11th International Festival of Polish Folkloric Ensembles in Rzeszów, Poland. The group not only performed traditional Polish dances, but represented Australian culture by performing a contemporary Aboriginal dance, choreographed by renowned Aboriginal choreographer, Matthew Doyle. Another highlight was a number of Syrenka’s members dancing at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, representing Europe.
In 2002, the older group again performed at the 12th International Festival of Polish Folkloric Dance in Rzeszów, Poland. Syrenka attended as an independent entity, having built its membership and repertoire such that it could finance its own trip through an unprecedented fundraising effort. Syrenka’s performance of their trademark ‘Szalony Folklor’ was the highlight of one of the largest open-air concerts even singled out in the city’s leading newspaper.
In 2018, Syrenka grew and had one of its biggest years to date. Having attended PolArt Brisbane, featured heavily on Channel 7’s morning program ‘Sunrise’, which they performed to half a million people nationwide, starred in a music video clip for the song ‘Romani’, which has over 526,000 views on YouTube, performed for the President of Poland and celebrated their 50th anniversary.
In 2019, the older group again attended and performed at the 18th International Festival of Polish Folkloric Dance in Rzeszow, Poland. Syrenka attended with some new choreography, debuting Robert Grochulski’s Rzeszowski and Łowicki. Syrenka took over 30 members to Poland, being one of two Australian group to attend in 2019. Today, Syrenka’s senior group numbers over 40 dancers, some of whom have been with the group for over 20 years. It continues to be a vibrant and exciting group, and is a source of inspiration for the two younger groups. We feel that the best way to teach this to the youth is in a fun and social environment, through the ensemble and its teachings of Polish songs and dances.
Teachers
Junior Group- Halina Borysiewicz
Halina was one of the original teachers of the Syrenka junior group since 1979. She took a break to raise a family before returning to teaching in 2002. Halina not only teaches the children but also sews their costumes and choreographs each of their dances. She is deeply passionate about Polish Folklore and delights in sharing it with the children. Halina has been a member of the Syrenka Committee for many years and she has also managed the garderoba for a number of years too. Her endless dedications and hard work culminated in Halina being awarded Syrenka Life Membership at Syrenka’s 45th Ball in 2013.
Intermediate Group- Iwona Kower
With an international background in dance and physical theatre, and a Diploma in Polish Folkloric Dance from the University of Marie Curie- Skłodowska in Poland, Iwona Kower has created many traditional and contemporary folk dances for Syrenka. Originally a dancer in Syrenka, she re- established the Junior Group in 1995. A year later she was invited to teach the Senior Group. She was instrumental in helping to escort the first group from Australia to the International Polish Folkloric Festival in Rzeszow in post- communist Poland in 1999. She escorted Syrenka to many PolArt festivals around Australia, and was Artistic and Creative Director at PolArt Sydney Festival in 2003 and 2022. She is revered for her unique choreographies such as Szalony Folklor and Cygański, which are still performed today.
Senior Group- Robert Grochulski
Robert’s involvement in Syrenka began when his mother took him to his first practice at the age of 4 and he has been involved with the group ever since. Having previously been the fill-in teacher of the senior and middle group at Syrenka, Robert took the reigns as the permanent teacher of the Senior Group in 2017. Robert completed the 4-year diploma of Polish Folkloric dance and Choreography in Rzeszów Poland, graduating the course with the highest possible mark. Utilising the training he received in Poland, Robert has choreographed a number of dances for Syrenka, including a Hucuł, Żywiecki, Rzeszowski and Kujawiak Oberek. He also choreographed the stunning Mazur ‘Bal Szlachecki’ which will be performed tonight. Robert’s teaching ideology is simple – if you can walk you can dance.
Kapela
Since its inception, Syrenka’s musical accompaniment was provided by various pianists, including Sylvia Huntley and Eliza Budniak. A musical group, under the direction of Marie-Louise Oktałowicz, played items at performances from 1976-78. The Swat brothers, on drums and accordion, provided music for practices and performances from 1978-80. Mr Pawlak played on accordion.
In 1980, Jerzy Ścisłowski, who had years of experience with folkloric ensembles in Poland, came to Syrenka and still remains as accompanist (accordion) and musical director. For special occasions,
Mr Ścisłowski pulls together various Polish musicians, writes their arrangements, and forms the Syrenka band.
Syrenka would also like to thank those musicians who have accompanied Syrenka during their ongoing performances; Jarek Lawonski (Guitar), Monique Menzies (Cello), Adam Jaźwiński (Violin), Sebastian Banasiak (Violin), Paulina Pazdzior (Violin), Beata Stanowska (Violin), Robert Budniak (Double Bass), Piotr Łacek (Double Bass), Andrzej Łacek (Clarinet), Tomek Łacek (Guitar),
Kayla Borysewicz (singing), Joasia Borysewicz (singing), Christopher Kulesz-Spurtacz (singing)
