Edmund Jakub Novak
Ballet artist, choreographer, composer
Born Aug. 5, 1925, Warsaw, Poland; came to U.S., 1957; son of Jozef and Janina (Luczynska); married Irene (Koszalka); children: Raymund A., Randolph D.
Education: State School of Ballet, Warsaw, 1942; State School of Music, Warsaw, 1942-43; State Higher School of Theater, Warsaw, 1956-57.
Career: soloist, Parnell Ballet, 1945, and Kopinski Ballet, Cracow (Poland), 1946, Polish Army Dance and Songs Company, Warsaw, 1947-50; principal dancer, choreographer, dir., Ballet of Gliwice and d Operettas (Poi.), 1951-53; princ. dancer, State Opera of Silesia, Bytom, 1949-50, 1953-54; principal dancer, choreographer, director, Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo, 1957-60; guest artist, choreographer, dancer, Ballet Spectacular, Miami (FL), 1962-65, TV Channel 12, Philadelphia (PA), 1961, 1962, 1963, NBC - TV Channel 38, New York City, 1964, Ballet Classico, Caracas (Venezuela), 1963-64; director, Novak & Kowalska School of Ballet, Philadelphia, 1960-94.
Author: choreographies for operettas: Merry Widow, Trembita, Free Wind; choreographies for ballets: Slavonic Dances, Springtime, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Walpurgis Night, Opera Faust, Ballet School, The Magic Toy Shop, Woodland Adventure and others; musical arrangement for Slavonic Dances, 1959; original music for ballets.
Honors: Artist First Class, Polish Ministry of Culture; laureate, silver medalist, International Competition of the Arts, Warsaw, 1955.
Language: Polish, English, Russian.
Hobbies: cars, flowers.
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