The Children's Folk Group "Wielkopolanie" of the Youth House of Culture No 3 in Poznań was founded in 1988. Approximatly 80 children from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools from Poznań and neighbouring towns practice regularly in four age sections. They take part in dance, vocal and folk instruments workshops. Our folk band consists of professional musicians, who also take part in workshops.
The main purpose of the group is to make children familiar with authentic Polish folklore by cultivating Polish traditional customs, teaching dances, songs, games, dialects and playing regional instruments such as ocarinas and flutes. Children present their skills during performances in Poznań, Wielkopolska district and all Poland. They are also ambassadors of Polish culture abroad as they performed in France, Holland, Germany, Russia, Austria, The United Kingdom, Latvia, Hungary, Cyprus, Taiwan, Italy, Chroatia, India, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Spain, Serbia, Turkey, Maroco, Montenegro, Romania and Portugal. In the Vatican children performed for the Pope. When visiting international folk festivals, our group becomes popular and therefore often attracts media attention.
The main purpose of the group is to make children familiar with authentic Polish folklore by cultivating Polish traditional customs, teaching dances, songs, games, dialects and playing regional instruments such as ocarinas and flutes. Children present their skills during performances in Poznań, Wielkopolska district and all Poland. They are also ambassadors of Polish culture abroad as they performed in France, Holland, Germany, Russia, Austria, The United Kingdom, Latvia, Hungary, Cyprus, Taiwan, Italy, Chroatia, India, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Spain, Serbia, Turkey, Maroco, Montenegro, Romania and Portugal. In the Vatican children performed for the Pope. When visiting international folk festivals, our group becomes popular and therefore often attracts media attention.
Only a year after its foundation, the group won first prize at the All-Polish Parade of "Cepelia" groups in Cracow. The folk experts particularly praised the group's performance for its authenticity. Approximatly every two years the group presents its programme at district and all-Polish parades of folklore children's groups, always winning prizes. Frequent performances for The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, in the Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children in Poznań, in children's hospitals, nurseries and schools prove that children from the group want to share their joy, skills and knowledge about Polish tradition with their contemporaries.
The choreographers try their best to present programmes of the highest level in keeping with Polish traditon but adapted to the age of the performers. There were the reasons for including The Children's Folk Group "Wielkopolanie" in the International Council of Associations, Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF).