History
The originators of the team were ECK employees: Mrs. Bożena Bieleniewicz and Mrs. Małgorzata Fiborek, who convinced the then director of ECK - Mr. Wojciech Krzywiński to their idea. Recruitment and searching for the staff have started: band manager, choreographer and musicians. In the fall of 2001, Mr. Jarosław Wojciechowski becomes the manager of the team, who holds this position for a year and a half. Mr. Tadeusz Deluga becomes the musical director - a great pianist who for the first years led the folk band MZPiT DZIECI EŁKU. In the spring of 2003, changes take place. The position of the team leader is assumed by Mr. Piotr Witaszczyk, who has been holding it to this day. In the same year, in December, he supplements the staff with a choreographer who becomes Ms Magdalena Witaszczyk, who also holds this position to this day. In the years 2003-2015, the duties of the music director of MZPiT EŁK were taken over by Mr. Daniel Szejda - a great accordionist, who was the "pillar" of the band and accompanying the band for many years to come. The team grows and so does the children. Not only the youngest, but also young and old people dance in the group.
Thinking about the future, the team's staff decides to change the name to the Masurian Song and Dance Ensemble EŁK, in order to celebrate the upcoming first Jubilee - 5 years of operation with this name. In 2015, Mr. Edward Szabat becomes the musical director of MZPiT EŁK - an exceptional musician, clarinetist, composer and lover of folk music, who expands the ensemble's band to a "small folk orchestra". As the team grows by new groups in 2015, dance instructor Monika Kozicka (Wielgat) joins the staff. Previously, a team dancer who takes care of the children's and secondary groups. The team in 2018 is supplemented by Barbara Sosnowska, a dressmaker - dressmaker who not only takes care of the wardrobe and renovation of costumes, which are the priceless property of the team, but also the beautiful appearance of dancers and dancers. Today, the Masurian Song and Dance Ensemble EŁK is a multigenerational ensemble, grouping members in various age categories (children, adolescents, students and adults). During its activity, it gathered dozens of musicians, singers and dancers. Currently, it has nearly 150 performers, and many of the band's pupils are wonderful teachers - instructors who cultivate folk traditions in the EŁK band and other bands throughout Poland. MZPiT EŁK is a group that tries to recreate forgotten customs and rituals of the Masuria region, along with music, songs, songs and dance, and thus, restore the forgotten history and traditions of its own region and many other regions of Poland. The team represented Poland during trips abroad to 27 countries around the world, promoting the culture and folklore of Poland, where it was awarded and distinguished many times, incl. Korea, China, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Egypt and many more. The band also takes part in national festivals. MZPiT EŁK, apart from regional programs, has in its repertoire also many separate presentations of dances, songs and chants from several other regions of Poland. MZPiT EŁK is also the initiator and organizer of such cultural events for many years:
- World Folklore Festival RAINBOW
- Nationwide MAZURIAN Folklore Workshops
GUZINY - International Children's Folklore Festival MAZURSKIE
FIGLE - Folklore lessons
TEAM
Piotr Witaszczyk - 2003.IX
Team leader - Jak sam mówi, otacza się wyłącznie utalentowanymi ludźmi. Logistyk, manager, wymagający od siebie i innych – „ojciec” ludowej rodziny. Uwielbia wyzwania, a niemożliwe dla niego nie istnieje.
Edward Szabat – 2015.X
Music director - A master of the score, an exceptional musician, a composer who hears and understands, like hardly anyone else, folk music. A model of calm and hard work.
Magdalena Witaszczyk – 2003.XII.
Choreographer - Fascynująca osobowość o wielu talentach. Mistrzyni: igły, szydełka i drutów. Choreograf o wyjątkowym wyczuciu kompozycji tańca. „Zastępcza mama” dla wielu pokoleń tancerek i tancerzy.
Monika Kozicka - 2015.X
Dance instructor - Pełna temperamentu, o niespożytych siłach. Zakochana w tańcu. Najpierw tancerka, dziś instruktorka tańca – realizuje swoją wielką miłość do tańca i osiąga swoje cele.
Barbara Sosnowska – 2018.XI.
Garderobiana – Unique personality,
fascinated by folklore. Today, he gives his whole heart and professionalism to the team so that they can impress with their appearance.
GROUPS
The Masurian Song and Dance Ensemble EŁK is the Ełk AMBASSADOR, a multigenerational ensemble that invites everyone who wants to learn about Polish folk culture through dance and music. Professional, certified dance instructors are a guarantee of good preparation of dancers and dancers of all ages. Systematic, joint teamwork, lasting several, and sometimes over a dozen years, creates many unique friendships and bonds that last a very long time. The richness of the program and its variety, which dancers have to learn about and assimilate, will not let you get bored.
YOUTH AND STUDENT GROUP: 15+
It brings together high school students and students. It is a representative group - Ełk Ambassadors. Dancers and dancers develop and improve the known dance techniques and vocal skills. The youth and student group can be seen in the repertoire of songs and dances from Warmia, Podlasie, Łowicz, Krosno, Lublin, Spiš, Kashubia, Lviv, Vilnius, national dances (polonaise, mazurka, Kujawiak with oberek) and the performances of "Morcinki" and "Caffe Retro" ". The group also presents bunches of folk songs from Podlasie, Kashubia and popular folk songs.
Classes are held twice a week. Duration of dance classes: 120 minutes and 60 minutes of vocal classes.
- Mondays and Fridays
- 18.00 - 19.00 vocal classes
- 19.00 - 21.00 dance classes
MEDIUM GROUP: 11 - 14 years
It's a group of older kids. It is a representative concert group. In order to educate themselves in dance, they learn about other techniques, such as jazz, contemporary dance, elements of ballroom dancing and characteristic dance. They also begin vocal preparations. Participants of the classes will learn more about the regional folk culture as well as dance and music culture, as well as the character of other regions of Poland. They will learn the basic elements of partnering, acting and stage movement. The repertoire of the middle group includes bouquets of songs and dances from Sieradz, Masurian, Silesian, Kashubian and Eastern Krakow.
Classes are held twice a week. Duration of dance classes: 90 minutes and 45 minutes of vocal classes.
- Mondays and Fridays
- 17.30 - 19.00 dance classes
- 19.00 - 19.45 vocal classes
ADULT GROUP: 25+
It gathers people over 25 years of age, inhabitants of Ełk and the region. It is not only an opportunity to get to know Polish folk culture through folk dance and songs. Classes give the opportunity to maintain high physical fitness thanks to general dance training. It is an active form of spending free time enjoying great interest. The group's repertoire includes prepared dances and songs from Podlasie, Łowicz and Warmia.
Classes are held twice a week. Duration of dance classes:
120 minutes
- Mondays and Fridays
- 19.00 - 21.00 dance classes
CHILDREN'S GROUPS: 7 - 10 years
It is the youngest group in the structures of the Masurian Song and Dance Ensemble EŁK. This is the best time to develop children's musicality and sense of rhythm. Through play, children have the opportunity to learn about folklore, which affects their development not only in terms of movement, but also in society. The repertoire of the youngest group is "Masurian children's games", a bunch of games, dances and songs from Opoczno, as well as various polki, krakowiaczek, kujawiaczek and walczyki.
Classes are held twice a week. Duration of the dance classes: 60 minutes.
- Mondays and Fridays
- 16.00 – 17.00
BAND:
It brings together people of all ages who represent a variety of musical environments, from classical music - to rock, from self-taught musicians - to students and teachers of music schools who have decided to explore folk music together, to the joy of nearly one hundred and fifty dancers of MZPiT EŁK. The musicians represent not only Ełk, but also the region, they come from, among others, from Olecko, Giżycko, Augustów, Grajewo.
Classes are held twice a week.
- Mondays and Fridays
- 15.00 - 18.00 individual and group classes
RECRUITMENT SIGN UP TODAY!
Tańcz razem z nami!
- DZIECI – 7 – 10 lat, 11 – 14 lat
- MŁODZIEŻ I STUDENCI – 15 +
- DOROŚLI – 25+
Bardzo mile widziani muzycy w każdym wieku!
Odwiedź Nas! Zapraszamy do kontaktu!