On 11 November 1918, after 123 years of subjugation, Poland regained its independence.
To mark the centenary of the restoration of Poland’s independence, the Regional Centre for Cultural Animation in Zielona Góra and the Lubuski Song and Dance Ensemble named after Ludwik Figas organised a series of additional activities during the Faces of Tradition International Folklore Festival, Zielona Góra 2018.
On 19 July 2018, Gala Tradycji — the Tradition Gala — brought the festival week to a ceremonial close. More than 250 dancers and musicians from Bulgaria, Indonesia, Macedonia, Serbia and Poland performed on the stage of the Anna German Amphitheatre.
The Lubuski Song and Dance Ensemble named after Ludwik Figas opened the concert. Its polonaise invited the other festival ensembles onto the stage. The band played music incorporating an excerpt from “Mazurek Dąbrowskiego”, while the Lubuski dancers wore uhlan uniforms as a tribute to independent Poland. It was a very solemn moment for everyone taking part in the festival. Dancers from Bulgaria, Indonesia, Macedonia, Poland and Serbia, wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, danced to the rhythm of a Polish polonaise to honour the centenary of Poland’s restoration of independence.
The festival ensembles then took to the amphitheatre stage in turn to present short artistic programmes.
At the end of Gala Tradycji, the best dancers began the final dance, the harkan of the Czadeccy Highlanders. They invited the other members of the folk groups to join them in performing. Once again, a Polish dance took on international colours…
