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Podhale Dance Group

Dancers come from a wide area of Los Angeles and Orange Counties

by Staniey Stankiewicz

Podhale was founded in January, 1992 by Roman Sobanski and his son John (Jasiu). The dance ensemble was named after the Polish Tatra highlands, the original residence of the Sobanski family.

Jasiu Sobanski is the Artistic Director and Choreographer of Podhale. Jasiu, a prolific dancer, now 18, has been dancing with the Krakusy Folk Ensemble in Los Angeles since he was five. Jasiu Sobanski toured professionally with the Polish State Ensemble (Mazowsze) in Japan in 1992.

In March 1992 the new dance group gave its first performance at the Cultural Fair in Carson, California. The group presented a program featuring the regions of Cieszyn, Rzeszow, and Lowicz. The subsequent performances took place at Occidental College in June, and July of 1992. Here the group featured Trojak, Rzeszow, Polka, Mazur and the favorite Krakowiak. The Podhale dancers were elated when they received confirmation of their scheduled four dance engagements at Disneyland in 1994.

The Podhale dance group also has performed at various civic and cultural functions in Los Angeles, Bel Air and Orange County. They have appeared at the prestigious Polonaise Ball in Beverly Hills, hosted by Count and Countess Tyszkiewicz of Bel Air.

The Podhale dancers come from a wide area of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The ages of the dancers vary from six to 18 years. Currently the roster includes 35 dancers.

"The backbone of the Podhale dance group is my father Roman," says Jasiu Sobanski "There are also two ladies who provide a lot of love, work and time creating costumes and preparing them for performances; Mrs. Romona Sandman, the women's costume director, and Mrs. Jolanta Kowalski, the men's costume director."

From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.

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