The village of Skawica, which is situated within the Żywiec Beskids, is an administrative unit under the commune of Zawoja, and ethnographywise belongs to the area of the Old Witches’ Mountain Highlanders, who have lived in the valley of the Skawica river and its tributaries for centuries. To the south, the Old Witches’ Mountain Highlanders border on the territory of the Orava Highlanders, to the west on the territory of the Żywiec Highlanders, and to the northeast on the territory of the Kliszczaks. All of the Old Witches’ Mountain area, and especially its northern slopes used to be one of the greatest hotbeds of highwaymen in the Western Carpathians. The ensemble derives its name “Zbójnik” (eng. ‘highwayman’) from one of them – famous highwayman Józef Baczyński. “Zbójnik” was established in 2004 and was the first folk ensemble in Skawica. Ever since its establishment it has seen almost 80 members, and currently the ensemble numbers more than 30 performers aged 9-16 – pupils of the Primary and Middle School in Skawica – as well as some older ones, secondary school students. “Zbójnik” is affiliated with the Old Witches’ Mountain Community Centre in Zawoja and with the Primary and Middle School in Skawica.
The programme entitled “Women Spinners” is a reference to the tradition of wool spinning on autumn and winter evenings. The housewife would teach older daughters to spin, while the younger ones kept themselves busy winding wool into balls. Towards the end of the week, when the work was done, they would throw a knees-up. And that is the setting the ensemble is going to present on stage.
The musicians will be playing violins, helicon accordions and a double bass.
Krystyna Szczurek is the ensemble leader, Anna Kowalska-Wicherek is the choreographer, and Konrad Sowiński is the band leader.
The programme entitled “Women Spinners” is a reference to the tradition of wool spinning on autumn and winter evenings. The housewife would teach older daughters to spin, while the younger ones kept themselves busy winding wool into balls. Towards the end of the week, when the work was done, they would throw a knees-up. And that is the setting the ensemble is going to present on stage.
The musicians will be playing violins, helicon accordions and a double bass.
Krystyna Szczurek is the ensemble leader, Anna Kowalska-Wicherek is the choreographer, and Konrad Sowiński is the band leader.