Poland’s Śląsk folk ensemble opens Japan tour

Poland’s Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble has embarked on a tour of Japan, with concerts in Tokyo and the central city of Gifu.

Based in Koszęcin, in Poland's southern Silesia region, the Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble was founded in 1953.

Photo: Przykuta, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The programme includes traditional Polish folk dances and songs, with some pieces sung in Japanese.

This marks the ensemble’s eighth tour of Japan since 2002.

In response to previous interest in Polish folk traditions, the group will also hold folk dance workshops in Gifu and Ena.

Next year, Śląsk will return to Japan as part of its Folk Heritage tour, which will highlight the music of Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin.

The tour will also include works by Wojciech Kilar, a Polish composer who drew heavily on national folk music, and Stanisław Hadyna, who founded the ensemble in 1953.

Z ogromną radością i dumą zainaugurowaliśmy nowy sezon artystyczny Zespołu Pieśni i Tańca „Śląsk”! Wydarzeniu towarzyszyły obchody Dnia Stanisława Hadyny – założyciela i patrona naszego Zespołu, którego twórczość jest dla nas nieustającą inspiracją. pic.twitter.com/sEaKhT1Kec

— Zespół Śląsk (@zespolslask) September 25, 2024

The group is also scheduled to perform at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

Later this year, Śląsk will tour the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France and Germany. It will also bring a programme of Polish Christmas carols to Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

The Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble is based in Koszęcin, in Poland's southern Silesia region.

(mk/gs)