Annual Barbórka Ball

Dinner & Auction Fundraiser for Language School

The Annual Barbórka Ball will be held Saturday, November 22 ^nd 2008 from 7:00pm to 1:00am at the Pleasant Hill Recreation Center located at 320 Civic Drive, Pleas anton Hill, California. There will be a traditional Polish holiday dinner buffet, a full bar and live entertainment. A silent auction and raffle will be held in support of the John Paul II School of Polish Language and Culture. Advanced-purchase tickets are available now for $50. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $55. Everyone is welcome.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Jacek Wagner at 510.531.7456 or wejherowo@earthlink.net. Donations and auction items are being received by Kathy Janikowski. All contributions are tax deductible.

Several regional and “national” dances will be performed by the renowned Lowiczanie Ensemble of San Francisco, Mary Kay Stuvland, Artistic Director. Selections will include the dynamic “Krakowiak,” a fiery and evocative “Kujawiak/Oberek” duet, a suite of delightful dances of “Old Warsaw” from the inter-War period, the earthy and wild dances of the Rzeszow region of southeastern Poland, as well as the elegant and melodic dances from Cieszyn, a charming Renaissance city in southwestern Poland.

The Barbórka is a traditional Polish feast day in honor of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners, fire-fighters and militia. St. Barbara was a beautiful maiden imprisoned in a high tower by her father for disobedience. While there, she was tutored by philosophers, orators and poets. With help, she converted to Christianity. She was disowned and murdered for her religious convictions.

The John Paul II School of Polish Language is a non-profit organization and has been chartered with the education and continuation of Polish language and culture since 1967. Enriching the lives of the children and adults within the Polish-American community with Polish history and heritage provides them with a closer identity to their roots and family traditions. These experiences also create links and bonds with others within the Polish-American community which can lead to travel, higher education and career opportunities.

Children as young as three years old are enrolled in the Polish language and culture classes at the Walnut Creek campus which assembles every other Saturday from September to June. Children attending the school gain access to appropriate Polish grammar, history, culture and religion. Fine arts including music, theater, dance and poetry are all part of the rich curriculum.

Please read more about John Paul II School of Polish Language at www.polishschool.org.

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