HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

Polish School of Dance “Sokół”
Founded in 1972, the Polish School of Dance “Sokół” is currently home to over sixty dancers and hundreds of alumni who have graduated from the school since its inception over 50 years ago. The Polish School of Dance “Sokół” foremost provides instruction in Polish folk dance from various regions across Poland, while also providing instruction in both classic and contemporary dance styles.

Throughout the years, the Polish School of Dance “Sokół” has always taken pride in its leadership and its choreographers, bringing in trained professionals from across the world, including a former dancer of the Polish National Ballet “Ślask”. Today, the Polish School of Dance “Sokół” provides instruction to children ages three through to seventeen and continues to grow successfully each year.

The School is currently led by our talented instructors Michelle Mielniczek-Loboz, Justyna Paprocki, Alexia Czeżowski and Anna Wesołowska-Kulbinska. Alongside an enthusiastic Parent Committee, the School is stronger than ever, and both its leadership team and dancers excitedly look towards the future, eager to see what it holds.

School mission: To inspire connection with Polish heritage and culture through Polish folk dance, music, attire, and event participation.

INSTRUCTORS

Justyna Paprocki 

began her folk dance education at the Polish School of Dance “Sokół” at the age of five. She has also danced with the Sokół Polish Folk Ensemble, S.P.K. Iskry and with Akademia Białego Orła in Montreal. Justyna became an instructor in 2012. She loves dancing and folklore is her passion. In 2019, Justyna completed her first of four years for the choreographer’s diploma from the Polonijne Studium Choreograficzne in Rzeszów, Poland. Justyna is looking forward to furthering her knowledge and love of folk dance and sharing it with the next generation.

Justyna Paprocki 

Justyna Paprocki began her folk dance education at the Polish School of Dance “Sokół” at the age of five. She has also danced with the Sokół Polish Folk Ensemble, S.P.K. Iskry and with Akademia Białego Orła in Montreal. Justyna became an instructor in 2012. She loves dancing and folklore is her passion. In 2019, Justyna completed her first of four years for the choreographer’s diploma from the Polonijne Studium Choreograficzne in Rzeszów, Poland. Justyna is looking forward to furthering her knowledge and love of folk dance and sharing it with the next generation.

Michelle Mielniczek-Loboz (B.Mus/B.Ed)

Michelle Mielniczek-Loboz (B.Mus/B.Ed, M.Ed) has been Polish dancing for over 35 years, with most of that time proudly spent at Sokół. In that time, she has danced in the school under the direction of the late founder Pani Gladys Kulas, danced with the Sokół Polish Dance Ensemble (where she met her husband), danced with the Sokół Polish Alumni Dancers, and sang for and accompanied the Sokół Polish Folk Ensemble Choir for a number of years. Michelle has proudly taught Polish dancing at the school for a collective 15 years and has enjoyed sharing her passion for Polish song and dance with so many dancers over the years, including her three children, who have also been dancing. She brings her professional experience teaching music, creating programming, and planning concerts to help the school continue to flourish and grow as an engaging Polish dance community for young families in Winnipeg and the surrounding areas.

Anna Wesolowska-Kulbinska (M.Ed.)

Anna Wesolowska-Kulbinska was born and raised in Poland. She began her dance journey at a young age, mastering various dance techniques, including ballet, jazz, show dance, modern, and folk dance. She honed her skills in a diverse range of dance groups throughout her dancing and teaching career.
She holds a Master of Education degree, a postgraduate studies certificate in Administration and Entrepreneurship in Culture, and she completed a two-year modern dance instructor qualification course organized by the Polish Ministry of Culture and Art.
Anna Wesolowska-Kulbinska, served as the Artistic Director of the Polish School of Dance Sokol for nine seasons (2010-2019). During this time, the Sokół dancers participated in the International Children’s Folk Dance Festival in Iwonicz in 2015 and 2018. They also went on two tours to the East and West of Canada (2016, 2019), where Sokół dancers shared their gift of Polish dance with Polish communities across Canada.
As a passionate dance teacher and choreographer, Anna takes great pleasure in witnessing the growth of her students and their captivating performances.
In 2025, Anna Wesolowska-Kulbinska will join the Polish School of Dance Sokół as an instructor for Juniors.

Alexia Czezowski

Committee