Objectives

History and background: Polska is a collective name for dance and music. Practitioners speak of many variations in music with associated dances such as Bingsjöpolska, Finnskogpolska, slängpolska, pols – to name a few. The history of polska in Sweden goes back to the 16th century. From the mid-17th century, there are plenty of handwritten sources with polska melodies and various references to polska dancing. During the 19th century and onwards, collectors of folk music and dance began to focus on polska over other forms of music and dance. Not least because they were perceived as unique. But polska in Sweden is related to polska in other Nordic countries and has roots that go back to the rest of Europe, not least Poland. In this way, polska is local, national, Nordic and international at the same time. Polska is played by fiddlers and folk musicians. It is played solo and in duos, as well as in smaller and larger groups such as fiddlers' clubs and folk music ensembles. It is danced in pairs, mainly as a social dance on the dance floor. The music is in three-beat with different emphasis and is played on many instruments, often the violin. (the above from the national list of ICH) An important aspect of the interest during the 20th century is that the polska music and dancing had lived in the local communities for so long as it had developed in to local variations – clear and distinguishable dialects in many places, and that in itself attracted the researchers. The organisation for the Polska Medal and Reward started in the late 1960s to teach and safeguard the old dance traditions and music traditions of polska in Sweden. The objective is to safeguard in practice the dance and music traditions original form and, steps, rhythms and more. The researchers and ‘dance collectors’ wanted the dances to be maintained as close as possible to the time of documentation.

Cooperation

The uppdansning support practicing groups worldwide ie in the US, in Japan and in many countries in Central Europe in addition to local communities, tradition environments and dance groups in Sweden. Polska is today practiced in just a handful of places in its local origin, but in these places and in many groups around Sweden and Europe, polska as dance and music is an arena for both young and old to commit and socialise. The uppdansning want to support all practicing and to safeguard the cultural heritage connected, for example old music instruments and historical local dresses (folk costumes). An important arena for polska is folk music festivals, as well as classes and educations - the knowledge of polska dance can be spread wherever someone plays polska music. As the intimate connection between dance and music is significant. We work for all education in folk dance in Sweden – for children as well as form grownups – must include the history and practice of polska. We have contact and sometimes work together with other NGOs such as Norwegian Centre for Traditional Music and Dance, Norway, Finnish folk music institute, Kaustinen, Finland and about handicraft together with Hemslöjden (National Association of Swedish Handicraft Societies) Sweden. And of course, national expert nodes and key institutions as Statens musikverk and the Swedish institute for Language and Folklore (Isof), wish coordinate the 2003 Convention in Sweden, and the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO. When polska now is listed as ICH in Sweden, Norway and Finland, it is important for us to have an official given commitment to safeguard polska, hopefully as NGO.