An ensemble of 90 dancers, musicians, and singers, mazowsze is a thrilling display of dazzling movement, vibrant color and stunning beauty. Mazowsze whirls, leaps, stamps and glides in a glorious outpouring of sound and motion, rhythm, and music that celebrates the cultural legacy of Poland. A full 23-member orchestra performs music ranging from Chopin to simple folk melodies beloved by the Poles for centuries.
“The material that the singers and dancers present – 28 numbers here – is lilting and vigorous, and filled with humor. But most of all, the Mazowsze performers look genuinely pleased and proud to be doing what they do. Their delight in themselves and the audience is infectious” (The New York Times). More Information
I am Polish, but do not get much exposure to Polish culture, so when I saw this show was coming to campus, I was very excited. The troupe did not disappoint, it was a vibrant and lively show, both with costumes but also with the expressive and unique dancing routines they performed. I was impressed, and glad I had the chance to see them.
Lush costumes, energetic, wholesome. Just awesome.
Thoroughly enjoyed the show: beautiful costumes, fabulous voices and original dances. However, this group was in the U.S.A. three years ago (in Waterbury, CT.) because I saw them there. So your information is not correct (about not being in the USA since 1978).
I really enjoyed the show and the colorful costumes.
The performance and costumes were magnificent.
I was very touched when they sang America the Beautiful. We take so much for granted.
Wonderful songs and dances — but–they milked any and all opportunities for applause to a fare-thee-well. This was NOT necessary!
Of all the events I’ve seen at the FAC, this has to top the list. The 1000 costumes, the variety of folk dances from all over Poland, the traditional music and the athleticism of the dancers all came together for a stunning performance.
Fabulous! The dancing; the singing;, the incredible number, variety and quality of the costumes; the general plan of the entire performance; the variety of dances from different regions and economic levels in Poland, etc. – all were exceptional! (And I’m not Polish!) Thanks for bringing such a high quality performance all the way from Poland. (It is unusual these days for a live orchestra to go on tour, let alone the large number of participants in the program, which added to the pleasure of the performance!)
My sister and I were thrilled to be able to travel to U-Mass to see this performance! After seeing the troupe on public television earlier in the year, I knew it would be something I wanted to see. It was even more fantastic than I anticipated. We could not get over the quality and quantity of the costumes. They were vibrant and varied and added so much to beauty of the evening. It was impressive to see the dancers and their never-ending energy. Their voices were rich and beautiful; it was such a bonus to have an orchestra too! I would make every effort to see this multi-talented group again if it were within driving distance.
On another note, this was my first visit to the fine arts center. I really loved the seating and the spacing. It was so nice to have plenty of space for people to pass by. An even though our seating was on the side, we had an excellent view. I look forward to returning to the center for another performance soon.
Took the family to see this breath-taking performance. Everyone enjoyed the music, dancing, and costumes. It brought back memories to my father from when he was a child living in Poland. It is something everyone should experience whether you’re Polish or not!
Great show, great costumes, great dancing and singing, a wonderful night of entertainment
This was the first time I have seen these dancers. I was so impressed with the dancers/singers, costumes, and the orchestra. The costumes were just so colorful. I wish you had an mc who could have quickly given a brief history of the dance to be performed and the region. I never found the blurb in the booklet until I got home that evening. Being of Polish extraction, this was just a wonderful show for me to see…..to hear the spoken language and the colorful costumes. Even some of the music I remembered listening to when I was a little girl. Thanks for bringing this group to the Fine Arts Center.
I didn’t realize it was that many years ago that the Mazowse was here. They did not disappoint this time either. The performance was absolutely beautiful! I hope they will be back again before 32 years go by!
Except for not being Polish, I agree with everyone’s comments. I only wish I had studied Poland for recognizing the areas from which the songs and dances came. The commentary in the playbill is excellent, giving the history of the group as well as program notes. A map of Poland with the areas named would have been a great addition.
Usually in a performance I find one dancer I like and focus on this dancer. In Mazowsze I found that every dancer was so good I could not choose one.
My daughter and 15 year old grandson and a friend who is a Morris and clog dancer also totally enjoyed it.
The auditorium could have been cooler.
If I were in charge, I would have a brief announcement (perhaps in Polish and English) from time to time to tell about where the songs and dances came from, and I would compensate for this time with a few less encores. And perhaps a little more recognition for the extraordinary orchestra.
All in all, it was wonderful!
I found this to be a feast of gorgeous colored costumes, fascinating intricate designs, exciting youthful energy and physical prowess, and at times achingly beautiful singing. The overall effect is of a magnificent kaleidoscope of constantly changing colors and patterns that was exhilarating. The folk dances have been masterfully adapted to the stage with creative choreographic patterns, enriched by the strong singing of the dancers, the stamps of their boots, hand claps and voice trills. A very beautiful, powerful performance that the entire family can enjoy. The images last in one’s mind for days afterward. If the words used in these audience reviews seem extreme exaggerations, it is because it is difficult to describe the beauty that is created by this company. Perhaps they can stay for more than one day next time, as the theater looked full, and I know others wanted to come but couldn’t on that one night.
I saw many captions of Mazowsze shows on TV and in internet and seeing them on Wednesday, my first thought was that they are as good live as they are on TV. At the same time I thought that the stage could be prepared a bit nicer and I felt at times it was too small for the dancers… Somebody mentioned the artists were “milking” the audience for the applause. Well, see, the thing with Polish performances is, if you like them you clap all the way through. Like when the dancers perform the audience rhythmically cheers them on. Not many people in the audience seemed up to it, however, what made me feel kinda bad for the troupe. I still loved the show and I would want to see it again in the future.
I agree with many of the other comments; the costumes were splendid and the dancing sometimes incredible! I couldn’t believe the skill and stamina of the male dancers and their somersaults, etc. Very impressive. I, too, did not get a program until later and would have loved a brief intro to the different regions and times, as well as what the singing (which was lovely) was about.
It was absolutly spectacular.It was done perfectly. Yes,I agree, the stage seemed to be to simple for such a great performance, but it didn’t matter anyway as Mazowsze is so colorfull.At the end it was the colors and choreography that transfered all of us to another dimentions. It was great to see people of many nationalities in the audience. Gentelman sitting next to me said, if he only could understand the words… But I could. Well done,Mazowsze! Thank you!
This was a wonderful performance. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The color coordinated costumes were beautiful to see. The energetic dancing of the men was amazing. The singing of the men and women was beautiful. The orchestra also dress in costume, played so well together.
Having been to Poland, the troupe brought back happy memories of the trip and the dancers we saw there on our final night there.
The staff at the FAC provided outstanding service to us. My mother who attended with me is handicapped and they went out of their way to ensure she was taken care of and returned safely to our car. As a result of this memorable event, we are making plans to return to another event the FAC.
Thanks for a wonderful evening.
The Mazowsze performers were suberp! The precision and rythmn of the music, dance and song were amazing. They all looked like they really enjoy performing too, with all the smiling faces. I loved the never-ending energy of the singers/dancers and the magnificent and colorful costumes. The live orchestra was a vital part of the production. I am Polish and proud of my heritage, this performance made my heart feel fuller for Poland. I hope the FAC will bring them back soon, as I have a list of people to come the next time. The performance was a feast for the ears and eyes! Thank you to the FAC for bringing the troupe here and for recognizing the large number Polish people living in the valley. Bring more Polish culture to the FAC and the people will come…
P.S. It was a nice touch to have the intro in the beginning with the two little girls dressed in Polish costumes and having the UMass Professor speak in Polish to the crowd!
I am polish and very proud of my heritage. It was a heartwarming and wonderful experience to see the Mazowsze dancers. The expertise of the performers, the orchestra, the beautiful costumes, were all just breathtaking. So glad I was able to partake in their visit to the U.S. And, I second the comment about their singing America the Beautiful. Superb!
As Fine Arts Center staff we do not normally comment; however, I wanted to acknowledge an error on our part in the emails sent to audience members. The last time that Mazowsze performed at the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall was 1978. They did tour the U.S. in 2007.