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Kosciuszko Foundation Annual Dinner and Ball Held at The Waldorf=Astoria
Five young ladies introduced to society; Marta Eggerth charms guests; Ball Chairperson Halina Kalitka shares her thoughts on the evening
Members, supporters, and friends of the Kosciuszko Foundation celebrated in style at the Foundation’s 73rd Annual Dinner and Ball, at its traditional location in the Grand Ballroom of New York’s prestigious Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Saturday, April 26th, 2008. In addition to the entertainment, dinner and dancing to the music of the Hank Lane Revue, five young ladies from Polonia were presented to society, and a legend of theatre and film was honored.
Halina Kalitka, the Chairperson this year’s Ball, reflected on the evening’s events in a conversation after the Ball, describing it as a “historic” moment for her family. “You're talking about a family who worked hard all their lives and came to this country as immigrants. To achieve something like this at this point in your life, and you’re able to bring your whole family to an event like this, it’s just wonderful,” noted Ms. Kalitka.
As the highlight of the evening, Debutante Patroness for this year’s ball, Dawn Polewac, introduced Miss Laura Anne Dabrowski of Hunington, New York (presented by her father, Mr. Thomas Dabrowski); Miss Katherine J. Gundeck of Ridgewood, New Jersey (presented by her father, Mr. Richard Gundeck); Miss Lindsey Kathleen Kopacz of Frederick, Maryland (presented by her father, Mr. Robert Kopacz), Miss Paige Marie Carina Raia of Merrick, New York (presented by her father, Mr. Raymond Raia), and Miss Kimberly Ann Sanguiendo of Staten Island, New York (daughter of the late Mr. Frank Sanguinedo, and presented by her brother, Mr. Steven Sanguinedo).
Ms. Polewac, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Foundation’s Debutante Council and on its National Advisory Council, represents the third of four generations of a family strongly devoted to the Foundation, its goals, and traditions. Ms. Polewac’s mother, Wanda Senko, serves as a Foundation Trustee, as does Ms. Polewac’s sister, Cynthia Rosicki, Esq. Mrs. Senko’s parents, Stanislaw and Anna Pawlik, were early Foundation supporters.
Guests also had the great honor of meeting Madame Marta Eggerth, the renowned operetta and film star who with her late husband Polish tenor Jan Kiepura, enthralled audiences both on the big screen and in stage productions like the Merry Widow. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Witold Sulimirski and President and Executive Director Joseph E. Gore, Esq awarded Madame Eggerth the Kosciuszko Foundation Medal of Recognition in honor of her many contributions to music and the theatre. Ms. Eggerth entertained the crowd of over 500 guests that evening with anecdotes from her long life, elicting laughter when, in response to the presentation of a birthday cake and a round of the Polish birthday song “sto lat” (one hundred years), she quipped in Polish “I’m already 96! You’re only giving me four more years?” Ms. Eggerth turned 96 on April 17th.
The Ball also celebrated the music of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski. The Republic of Poland dedicated 2007 as the year of Szymanowski on the 70th anniversary of his death. In honor of this great composer, the Polish American Folk Dance Company, with the artistic director, Mr. Ryszard Sudol, presented a number of goral (Polish highlander) dances, commemorating several of Szymanowski’s compositions inspired by goral traditions. Mr. Szymanowski lived in Zakopane, Poland toward the end of his life, drawn toward the unique and rich goral culture.
The Polish American Folk Dance Company is a regular contributor to the evening of entertainment at the Ball, providing guests with an entire repertoire of dance presentations choreographed around a variety of themes.
After the debutante presentations, which concluded at 11:00 pm, the Polish American Folk Dance company led the debutantes and their escorts in the Polonaise, a traditional flourish marking the conclusion of the evening’s festivities.
Click here to view a slide show of the selected pictures.
Pictures from the 73rd Annual Kosciuszko Foundation Annual Dinner and Ball are now available on the Kosciuszko Foundation Flickr photostream. Click here to view!
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