Magdalena Solarz, Artistic Director, Choreographer
Magdalena Solarz, an alumnus of Poland’s Folk Theater, immigrated to Chicago
in 1974 and immediately became involved in the activities of the Polish
arts community. The impetus for this was her family tradition - her famous
grandparents Zofia and Ignacy Solarz are today described in the Polish encyclopedia
as cultural activists in the peasant movement, and founders of Poland’s
first Folk University.
Ms. Solarz continues the work of her grandparents in Chicago as Founder
and Artistic Director of the WICI Song and Dance Company. In her work with
the ensemble, Ms. Solarz has reached the highest achievements possible for
a company comprised entirely of volunteers. As a result of her elevated
standards and artistic talents, Ms. Solarz has been highly acclaimed in
both the Polish and American communities.
Her most prestigious personal triumph is being the recipient of one of
Poland’s highest honors, the Gold Cross of Merit, which
was recently conferred upon her by Poland’s Past President Kwasniewski.
This decoration was bestowed in recognition of her achievements in promoting
the artistic, cultural and educational values of the Polish tradition in
the field of music and dance throughout the U.S.
Her other personal achievements include the following:
• Is a Master Teacher listed with the Illinois Arts Council in its "Arts-in-Education”
program, and the recipient of several Master-Apprentice Grants from the
Council
• Was one of a select group of accomplished Chicago women honored for
their achievements in the Polki 2000 – Chicago exhibit displayed at the
Polish Museum of America in Chicago in 2001
• Is the recipient of numerous civic awards and recognitions from U.S.
President George W. Bush, Chicago’s Mayor Daley, State Treasurer Judy
Baar Topinka, and Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan
• Annually named Master Choreographer of the largest annual folk dance
concert in Chicago, the Gala Concert of Polish Saturday School Dance Ensembles
sponsored by the Polish National Alliance, which this March featured 500
performers
• Invited to serve as the Artistic Director of the PNA’s Youth Jamboree,
an annual summer folk dance workshop for visiting dance ensembles from
North America
• Choreographer of Hollywood composer Wojciech Kilar’s 2006 concert
“Ardor and Prayer” at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall
Her professional accomplishments with the WICI Song and Dance Company
are unrivaled. Its unique success includes the following artistic résumé:
• Recipient of the First Place Award at the 2006 Krakowiak Festival of
international children’s and youth folk ensembles in Krakow, Poland
• Guest appearances with the Twin Cities Ballet in performances of The
Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia, choreographed by
Alexander Bennett of Scotland’s Royal Ballet
• Guest appearances with the Glenn Ellen Opera in productions of The
Bat and The Gypsy Baron
• Guest appearances with the International Music Theater of Chicago
in Poland’s greatest national operas, including Moniuszko’s Halka and
Straszny Dwor, and the operetta Ksiezniczka Czardasza by Theodoro Cottrau
• Longstanding cooperation with the Polish American Symphony Orchestra
and Choir in venues including Chicago’s Orchestra Hall
• Representation of the Polish community in greeting Polish President
Lech Kaczynski during his historic visit to Chicago in 2006
• Representation of the Polish American Congress at its annual banquet
for guest speaker and founder of the Solidarity movement Lech Walesa
• Theatrical productions including Lucjan Rydel’s Betlejem Polskie
• Musical revues including the Great Carnival Show with Poland’s celebrity
singer, Andrzej Rosiewicz
• Participation in the opening ceremonies for the John Paul II Cultural
Center in Washington, D.C.
• Recipient of the Ethnic and Folk Arts Program Grant from the Illinois
Arts Council
• One of only two Polish arts ensembles appearing in the special TV feature
“Polish Artists in Chicago” by Channel 7; also featured many times on
Chicago’s TV Channel 7 and 11, and in ethnic TV programs