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Our music back in style in Rhode Island
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joh...@cox.net
May 27, 2012, 8:03:47 PM5/27/12
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Tamzen Wir meets Tan’czmy in Pawtucket Rhode Island
Except for some summer polka events, regular monthly live polka dances were absent from Southeast Mass and Rhode Island for over 25 years. That changed a few years ago when Erika Danner of Pawtucket Rhode Island decided that she would take charge of the situation and make some changes. With the valuable behind the seen assistance of her husband, Gerhard, who Erika readily admits she could not have accomplished the miracle without, there are now one or two polka dances a month with bands from as far away as Chicago, Florida and Canada making appearances. Here is how it all began.
Erika was born in Eschenfelden (Ober Bayern) and raised in Rieschweiler (Pfalz)Germany. She met the love of her life at a town fire department dance in Rieschweiler in Germany where Gerhard was playing in the band, in 1958. Erika immigrated to the USA to live with her sister Lore and Gerhard followed in 1960, they were married June 29, 1962 at St. George Church, Central Falls Rhode Island. They both joined the German Dramatic Society of Olneyville, Providence Rhode Island. After years of declining membership the G.D.S. Providence club merged with the German Eintracht club of Pawtucket forming the German American Cultural Society of Rhode Island. Both Erica and Gerhard are very active in the club and eight years ago Erika was voted in as Sr. Vice President in 2006. The club continues to maintain a strong schedule of German events, has two dance troupes and maintains the German heritage and culture.
At one of the events at the German American Club in Willimantic CT. about 9 years ago someone had left a flyer about Dick Pillar’s PolkaBration. Both Erika and Gerhard had never been exposed to the stylings of America’s polka bands. It just so happened to be Erika’s birthday in a couple of days so she told Gerhard she would like to go to PolkaBration and see what it is all about. That one day at PolkaBration would turn out to change there lives and ultimately the future of polka music in the greater Rhode Island area. The immediately fell in love with this great genre and started to attend all of the polka dances they could find, they enjoyed the music so much that it brought them to Seven Springs, Frankenmuth, PolkaMotion and many other distant festivals. The also found themselves enjoying the polka dances in Tiverton RI and became close friends with sponsors Annie and Stas Golembewski of WHTB radio.
After Annie unfortunately was unable to continue with the Tiviton dances, she suggested to Erika that she run the dances at her German Club. Still being somewhat of a newbie to the polka world, Erika questioned whether she possessed enough information and skills to run the dances. With the urging of Annie and the cooperation of Dennis Polisky the first Polish style polka dance was held at the GACS on Sept. 20, 2008. And the rest is history as they say. With Erika lining up the bands and Gerhard taking care of the organization at the club, each and every dance has been a success. The success does not come easy. Erika maintains a large mailing list, markets and advertises on as many programs, newspapers and publications that she can find. It has become her passion, bringing in top polka artists for the enjoyment of all who attend. “It is a lot of work, but it is so nice to the people happy, that means a lot to us” states Erika. Erika also noted the crowd is mature, driving one to three hours or longer to attend and dance or enjoy a special band can be a challenge, the cost of gas is a consideration to those on fixed incomes, and bringing the bands into the area just makes good sence for everyone. Not only does Erika book and promote the events, she cooks the delicious food available at each dance. Her home made golumbki and bigos simply put cannot be beat, as well as her ever changing home made deserts and goodies.
Behind every successful woman is a supportive man. While Erika is tending to the business of running the dance, Gerhard is hard at work setting up the ballroom, getting the food set up and making sure everything is ready for the crowd. Most of the dances are themed; Gerhard and staff set up the decorations according to the theme, such as Hawaiian, Sweetheart, Oktoberfest, Western, etc .
Of polka music Erika states” It’s a lively dance that keeps you young, everybody has problems, but come to a polka dance and forget all your problems” Erika credits Annie Golembiewski with giving her the necessary contacts, information and ideas to get things started at the German Club. Erika states “also we have a group of polka friends who help with decoration set up, 50/50 raffrle3, this is because they re happy to have a place to dance the polka”
Polka music is well and alive in the greater Pawtucket Rhode Island area thanks to a 71 year old dynamo that looks like she is in her 50’s and has the energy of a two year old. And when she isn’t cooking and working on the dances, she referee’s youth soccer games twice a week. Erika is easy to spot at the dances, she is the lady wearing the attire of the day that just passed you 10 times in the last 5 minutes and said she was so glad to see you
Except for some summer polka events, regular monthly live polka dances were absent from Southeast Mass and Rhode Island for over 25 years. That changed a few years ago when Erika Danner of Pawtucket Rhode Island decided that she would take charge of the situation and make some changes. With the valuable behind the seen assistance of her husband, Gerhard, who Erika readily admits she could not have accomplished the miracle without, there are now one or two polka dances a month with bands from as far away as Chicago, Florida and Canada making appearances. Here is how it all began.
Erika was born in Eschenfelden (Ober Bayern) and raised in Rieschweiler (Pfalz)Germany. She met the love of her life at a town fire department dance in Rieschweiler in Germany where Gerhard was playing in the band, in 1958. Erika immigrated to the USA to live with her sister Lore and Gerhard followed in 1960, they were married June 29, 1962 at St. George Church, Central Falls Rhode Island. They both joined the German Dramatic Society of Olneyville, Providence Rhode Island. After years of declining membership the G.D.S. Providence club merged with the German Eintracht club of Pawtucket forming the German American Cultural Society of Rhode Island. Both Erica and Gerhard are very active in the club and eight years ago Erika was voted in as Sr. Vice President in 2006. The club continues to maintain a strong schedule of German events, has two dance troupes and maintains the German heritage and culture.
At one of the events at the German American Club in Willimantic CT. about 9 years ago someone had left a flyer about Dick Pillar’s PolkaBration. Both Erika and Gerhard had never been exposed to the stylings of America’s polka bands. It just so happened to be Erika’s birthday in a couple of days so she told Gerhard she would like to go to PolkaBration and see what it is all about. That one day at PolkaBration would turn out to change there lives and ultimately the future of polka music in the greater Rhode Island area. The immediately fell in love with this great genre and started to attend all of the polka dances they could find, they enjoyed the music so much that it brought them to Seven Springs, Frankenmuth, PolkaMotion and many other distant festivals. The also found themselves enjoying the polka dances in Tiverton RI and became close friends with sponsors Annie and Stas Golembewski of WHTB radio.
After Annie unfortunately was unable to continue with the Tiviton dances, she suggested to Erika that she run the dances at her German Club. Still being somewhat of a newbie to the polka world, Erika questioned whether she possessed enough information and skills to run the dances. With the urging of Annie and the cooperation of Dennis Polisky the first Polish style polka dance was held at the GACS on Sept. 20, 2008. And the rest is history as they say. With Erika lining up the bands and Gerhard taking care of the organization at the club, each and every dance has been a success. The success does not come easy. Erika maintains a large mailing list, markets and advertises on as many programs, newspapers and publications that she can find. It has become her passion, bringing in top polka artists for the enjoyment of all who attend. “It is a lot of work, but it is so nice to the people happy, that means a lot to us” states Erika. Erika also noted the crowd is mature, driving one to three hours or longer to attend and dance or enjoy a special band can be a challenge, the cost of gas is a consideration to those on fixed incomes, and bringing the bands into the area just makes good sence for everyone. Not only does Erika book and promote the events, she cooks the delicious food available at each dance. Her home made golumbki and bigos simply put cannot be beat, as well as her ever changing home made deserts and goodies.
Behind every successful woman is a supportive man. While Erika is tending to the business of running the dance, Gerhard is hard at work setting up the ballroom, getting the food set up and making sure everything is ready for the crowd. Most of the dances are themed; Gerhard and staff set up the decorations according to the theme, such as Hawaiian, Sweetheart, Oktoberfest, Western, etc .
Of polka music Erika states” It’s a lively dance that keeps you young, everybody has problems, but come to a polka dance and forget all your problems” Erika credits Annie Golembiewski with giving her the necessary contacts, information and ideas to get things started at the German Club. Erika states “also we have a group of polka friends who help with decoration set up, 50/50 raffrle3, this is because they re happy to have a place to dance the polka”
Polka music is well and alive in the greater Pawtucket Rhode Island area thanks to a 71 year old dynamo that looks like she is in her 50’s and has the energy of a two year old. And when she isn’t cooking and working on the dances, she referee’s youth soccer games twice a week. Erika is easy to spot at the dances, she is the lady wearing the attire of the day that just passed you 10 times in the last 5 minutes and said she was so glad to see you
jrodg
May 27, 2012, 10:02:07 PM5/27/12
to
people who have done so much to keep polka music alive ---and Polka
music, 'polish style,'' yet, although they are originally from
Germany. This should inspire fans of both ( and all ) ethnic polka
styles to work together to keep the music alive. How "awesome" that in
addition to all of her "pro-polka "work, Erika also referees youth
soccer events twice a week. She sure is young at heart : Who can equal
this record of commitment and achievement to wonderful activities?
Since you headed your great article by writing "Let's Dance" in both
German and Polish, I'll do the same now , copying your spirit of
"polka unity", by saying that Erika and Gerhard's work, as well as
your own, and this great article on the subject, are ( in Polish)
CUDOWNE , ( in German) WUNDERBAR , and , in English ,
WONDERFUL....DZIEKUJE---DANKE---THANK YOU for everything you are doing
and have done.^^
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