Located in the heart of Europe and having stretched from the Baltic to the
Black Sea, Poland has been a crossroads between Eastern and Western
civilization during her more than 1,000-year history. From the Italians,
Hungarians and Jews to the Tartars and Mongols, Poland has been a melting
pot of cultures for centuries. Major trade routes passed through the country
which left its mark on everything from language and the arts to culinary
traditions and dress. Poland was the only European country where the monarch
did not inherit the throne but was elected by a vote of the nobility. As a
result, many foreigners were elected King of Poland - from a Frenchman and
an Italian to a Swede and a Hungarian. These various foreign-born rulers
brought with them ideas, customs and dress from their home countries.
Unfortunately, there have also been times in Poland's history when foreign
influence has been more than aggressive. Poland has been occupied by major
foreign powers on several occasions which led to the country's borders being
shifted. Poland has also been partitioned by her neighbors more than once
which meant that the country disappeared from maps altogether. Yet despite
the various occupations and partitions, the people's spirit remained
steadfast, and the local traditions were passed on from generation to
generation. It is within this context that Poland's traditions of dance and
dress can be fully understood and appreciated.
