Youth Cultural Centre Grunwaldzka Street

ul.Grunwaldzka 5, 31-526 Kraków Phone: +48 (12)411-67-03 http://www.mdkgrunwaldzka5.pl

About

Established in 1950. Apart from permanent forms of education and recreational activities, the Centre has a number of diverse artistic groups and ensembles. Zespół tańca współczesnego Teatr Tańca DF (DF Dance Theatre) has operated in Grunwaldzka street since 1990. Its artistic director and choreographer is Katarzyna Skawińska-Migała, and the educator-Mariola Kleczkowska. The ensemble is looking forward to establishing its own style of dance, marked by considerable power of expression. Resorting to a variety of techniques, the ensemble endeavours to present, in an artistic way, the emotional states of people and the human condition in the world surrounding us. They tell the timeless truths in body language and gestures. The simple language of symbols is far from superficial, moreover, this is the decisive factor in the achievement of the clear and unambiguous final effect. On the other hand, the arrangements presented cannot easily be interpreted in a language operating with words. The free choice of themes and choreographic genres, extending from the stage joke to a philosophic tale, allows for continuous widening of the circle of spectators. The DF Dance Theatre presents its achievements on the stage of the Nowohuckie Culture Centre, as a part of the Wieczory z Teatrem Tańca DF (Evenings with the DF Dance Theatre) series. Every april, a specially prepared performance of the theatre is produced; the event is called Wieczór Premier (The Evening of Premieres.) In September 1992 the Studio Wokalne "Firma" (Vocal Studio) began operating by the Youth Culture Centre. The initiative to establish it originated with Grażyna Naszkiewicz-Smukalska, who has managed its efforts till this day. The activities are held in three age groups. In the beginner group, children aged 10-12 develop the basic music skills, learn the correct breath control, articulation of sounds (voice impostation,) as well as solo and choir singing. Members of the advanced group (aged 13 - 15) learn or enhance the correct voice emission and increase their voice capacity, going through a range of exercises in sound articulation, prosody and pronunciation, and interpretation. The third, most advanced level is the concerting group (youth over 15 years of age) who, during their activities and classes, prepare a rich and varied stage repertoire, ranging from lyrical songs via pop and rock to jazz standards. Those who compose their own works may count on help and professional consultations. Since 1994 the structures of the Culture Club in Grunwaldzka Street include the Krakowska Orkiestra Staromiejska (Krakow Old City Orchestra) which had been established in 1988 by the Staromiejskie Youth Culture Centre, following the initiative of its present manager, Wiesław Olejniczak. This is where children and youth perfect their skill in playing instruments. Krakowski Festiwal Orkiestr i Big-Bandów (Krakow Festival of Orchestras and Big Bands) organised usually in August by the Youth Culture Centre has entered the calendar of regular events of the Krakow region and will be held for the fourth time in the year 2000. The 1999 contest saw seven competing youth orchestras. Grupa tańca współczesnego Funky, Break (Modern Dance Group) performs in funky, break and clip techniques specially arranged by Adam Ćwik, a choreographer and the founder of the group The uncommon charm of these arrangements results not only from the knowledge and the ability to use certain elements of modern dance in new ways and have elaborated a dance technique but also in stage effects which were skilfully introduced into the programme. The work of the ensemble is conducted in two groups: beginners and advanced. The classes of the ballet ensemble have for years enjoyed significant interest among children aged 7 to 13. What they learn here are the arrangements of the classical ballet, modern dance forms with elements of gymnastics. The painting and drawing workshop conducted by Jan Bosak, a graduate of the Krakow Ac