"This is a big event for several, several thousand people, open to everyone and taking place in the largest park in Brussels, in the very center of the city. This year it coincides with the end of the Polish presidency - so it will be the largest related open event here in Belgium too" - said the spokesman of the Polish embassy to the EU, Wojciech Talko.
Poland's Jacek Waldhaus heads the non-profit 'Sztabki', responsible for preparing the event. As he told Polish Radio - the most important point of the program will be a performance by Poland's State Folk Ensemble of Song and Dance 'Mazowsze'. "They are coming in a full 180-person line-up, so Belgium has never seen a thing like this onstage before" - he added.
Interestingly, the group's current lineup includes a Belgian who fell in love with Polish folklore as a child. Maxime Luna-Kirschbach started dreaming of performing with Mazowsze when he saw the band's live concert at the age of 13.
"They came to my city of Mons, at the Théâtre Royal. We got the tickets, and I went with my mother. When the concert ended, I told her that I knew what I wanted to do in life. I have to learn Polish, dancing and singing. And then I will go to Poland and join Mazowsze" - he recalled in a conversation with Polish Radio's Brussels correspondent, Beata Płomecka.
After finishing his high school exams, Maxime flew to Poland's eastern city of Lublin, where he started studying at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University's Center for Polish Language and Culture for Polish Diaspora and Foreigners. On the third attempt, and after seven years of living in Poland - he managed to make his dream come true and passed the audition to join Mazowsze.
Now, Maxime has been living in Poland for almost 18 years. "The culture is beautiful. I love Polish culture, ever since I listened to Mazowsze songs, but not only that - I loved the language too. Polish cuisine is simply wonderful as well" - Luna-Kirschbach emphasized.
Polish Day in Brussels started at 10:00 am on Saturday and will continue until 10:00 pm. The country's State Folk Ensemble of Song and Dance 'Mazowsze' is scheduled to perform at 5:00 pm. Jacek Waldhaus said that the entire program of the event is be a combination of tradition and modernity - presenting not only Polish culture or food, but also the achievements of Poland and Polish provinces promoting themselves on the occasion.
(mm)
Source: PAP, IAR