Polish Dances

Kujawiak
The kujawiak is a Polish folk dance. It is one
of the five national dances of Poland, the
others being the krakowiak, mazur, oberek
and polonaise. The dance usually involves
couples moving in a circle. Women's
kujawiak dances are also performed.
The kujawiak originates from the region of
Kujawy in central Poland. The music is
typically in triple meter.

Kujawy - is a lyricism that is present in a tender, moody, bleeding heart kujawiak.
This dance likes the acceleration and release, and variable accents. During the
dance rhythm becomes sharper, faster, and suddenly it appears that the
impressive dance is no longer kujawiak but ....
Oberek
also known as obertas (common in the 19th century), or ober (the name used less
frequently), is - in its stage versions performed by Polish folk dance ensembles -
the most vivacious and acrobatic of the so-called five national dances (with
polonaise, mazur, kujawiak, krakowiak). The oberek originated in the villages of
Mazowsze in central Poland; it is danced by couples to instrumental music in
triple meter. The name oberek is derived from the verb obracac się - to spin. The
dance's main movement is rotational: the dancers spin and twirl around the
room.

Kujawiak with Oberek

„Mazowsze” dancing the oberek, 1964.

instrumental oberek transcribed by Oskar Kolberg, 1885.

Music: Kujawiak \"Ornamental beads\" and \"Sandomierski Oberek\"
performed by a team of Thaddeus Wesolowski
The whole prepared - Anna