Irena Novak (Koszalka)
Ballet artist, teacher
Born Dec. 29, 1927, Nisko, Poland; came to U.S., 1957; daughter of Adolf and Janina (Kowalska); married Edmund Novak; children: Raymund A., Randolph D.
Education: State School of Ballet, Warsaw (Poland), 1944.
Career: soloist, Parnell Ballet, 1945; principle dancer, Kopinski Ballet, Cracow (Poland), 1946; soloist, Polish Army Dance and Songs Company, Warsaw, 1947-50; principle dancer, State Opera of Silesia, Bytom (Poland), 1949-50, 1953-54, and ballet in Lodz and Gliwice operas (Poland), 1951-53; principle dancer, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1957-60; guest artist, TV Channel 12, Philadelphia (PA), 1961, Ballet Spectacular, Miami (FL), 1962, 1965, and Ballet Classico, Caracas (Venezuela), 1963; co-director, Novak and Kowalska School of Ballet, Philadelphia, 1960-94.
Author: numerous choreographies for Dance Studio classes and recitals.
Honors: Artist First Class, Polish Ministry of Culture.
Languages: Polish, English.
Hobbies: crosswords, drawing.
Home: 307 Baintree Road, Rosemont, PA 19010.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation,
New York, NY, 1996