Southwest Center of Polish Dancing (SWCPD) of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA) was organized in September of 1985, merging several well established Polish Folk Dance Schools from all over the southwest region of Chicago – PRCUA Five Holy Martyrs Youth Dancers (est. 1956), PRCUA Chopin Dance School (est. 1974), and PRCUA Mlody Lud Dancers (est. 1974). The concept for this organiz
ation was spearheaded by Artistic Director and Choreographer, Micheline Jaminski, after successfully coordinating a Youth Gala sponsored by the PRCUA in which over 400 children participated (April, 1985). This “dazzling display of movement, color song and dance” changed the course of Chicago-based Polish folk dancing schools—demanding more authenticity and attention to Polish costumes, Polish dances and Polish songs. Children’s dance groups began springing up all through Chicago Polish American Community. The original concept for SWCPD was to group the children by age, teaching them rhythm, basics, singing and the traditional folk dances of Poland at one location during a three hour span. Each group had its own name, “KrasnoLUDki” (pre-schoolers), “LUDziki” (1st & 2nd graders), “Maly LUDek” (3rd & 4th graders), “Mlody LUDek” (5th and 6th graders), “Wesoly LUDek” and “PreLUD” (7-9th graders). Since its onset, SWCPD has held Christmas Programs and Annual Recitals where the dancers show the fruits of their labor to their parents and guests. In addition to these performances, SWCPD participated in the 1989 PRCUA Gala of Polish Traditions coordinated by Artistic Director, Micheline Jaminski, assisted by Richard Jaminski; the “Wesoly LUDek” performed at the Museum of Science and Industry’s Christmas Around the World, the Bob Lewandowski Show on WCIU-TV, participated in the Christmas Competition sponsored by the Polish Highlanders Alliance earning special distinction for its professionalism, Knights of Dabrowski Telethon, Polish Museum of America, Daley Center, Illinois State Building, etc. . Southwest Center participated in Polish Folk Dance Festivals in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan as well as Kansas, and made its international debut at the V (2003) International Festival of Children’s Polish Folk Dance Ensembles in Iwonicz Zdroj, Poland and continued its participation at the VI (2006) and VII (2009) Children's Festivals. The training received at SWCPD has enabled many dancers to join the international ambassadors of PRCUA, the “WESOLY LUD” Polish Folk Dance Ensemble. The artistic direction at SWCPD prides itself on its carried program which, through the years, included dance and song suites from many regions in Poland including Orawa, Nowy Sacz, Lowicz, Leczyce, Kaszuby, Warmia, Podlasie, Krakow, Upper Silesia, Cieszyn, Beskid, Zywiec City, Wielkopolska, Lublin, Sacz, Rzeszow and Kielce; as well as the National dances – Polonaise, Mazur, Kujawiak, Oberek and Krakowiak; Polish traditions such as “Gaik i Kogucik” , “Szopka Krakowska”, etc.; in addition to more contemporary selections such as the infamous “Polka Jazzowa” (SWCPD’s trademark); the Chicago Polka, etc. The choral repertoire is also quite expansive encompassing interesting songs reminiscent of the Polish Children’s Choral Group “Gawenda”. SWCPD brought the Polish version of “WE ARE THE WORLD” to Chicago. The success of SWCPD is largely due to the people who devoted themselves to it, especially Artistic Director/Choreographer, Micheline Jaminski who remains actively involved. Manager/School Director since August 2011, Ania Kraszewski. Choreographer/Musician/Recording Engineer etc. since 1987, Richard Jaminski, Dance Instructor since January 2000, Danielle L**h, Dance Instructor/Choreographer, Kalina Dziadkowiec, Vocal Instructor since September 2002, Annette Nowakowski, and Assistant Dance Instructors; Ola Herdzik, Kasia Bialas, Michael Dziadkowiec, Camilla Steczek, Evelina Pabijanski, and Stephanie Anhalt, and many others who shared their administrative or artistic talents with the children of SWCPD. SWCPD is sponsored by the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, the oldest and one of the largest Polish American fraternal organizations.
