Music and Dance

The Music and Dance of Poland is an exciting display of mesmeric movements, vibrant colors and stunning beauty. The incomparable mazurka and polonaise are the best known dance forms. Mazurka comprises of the slower kujawiak, medium tempo mazur and faster oberek. While, the polonaise is associated with more ceremonial and solemn movements of a wedding party which is a slow walking dance.

As you move South, somewhere between Warsaw and Krakow, there is a transitional area where the triple time dances of central Poland give way to duple time dances of the south like the krakowiak and polka. The music of central poland is more restrained and sentimental than that of the south, which is wilder and more full-blooded. All the dances are not confined to the native areas, but many have become staples across the country and abroad. The songs you are most likely to hear as a visitor to Zakopane are those about the famous band of them all, Janosik. Many of the restaurants have good bands that play certain nights of the week, there are occasional stage shows and there is the festival of highland folklore in August.