National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble Mazowszehttps://www.mazowsze.waw.pl/en/about-us/our-history/15,Mira-Ziminska-Sygietynska.html2021-01-22, 18:13

MiraZimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńska was bornas Marianna de domoBurzyńska onFebruary 22, 1901 inPłock. She was onlyone and a half yearsold when sheappeared on stage forthe first time. Herparents, theemployees of thePłock City Theater,“rented” her toa visiting Ukrainianactors’ troupe, whoneeded a crying babyfor their show. Shedemanded to becalled Mira – thename of a princessfrom one of herfavorite books. Shegrew up in thetheater, dreaming ofan actress’ career.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńska Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskaand Tadeusz Sygietyńskiand Tadeusz Sygietyńskiand Tadeusz Sygietyńskiand Tadeusz Sygietyńskiwith their co-workerswith their co-workerswith their co-workerswith their co-workersoutside Mazowsze’soutside Mazowsze’soutside Mazowsze’soutside Mazowsze’sheadquarters at Karolin.headquarters at Karolin.headquarters at Karolin.headquarters at Karolin.

Mira Zimińska afterMira Zimińska afterMira Zimińska afterMira Zimińska afterMazowsze’s concert in theMazowsze’s concert in theMazowsze’s concert in theMazowsze’s concert in theUSSR, 1951.USSR, 1951.USSR, 1951.USSR, 1951.

Mira Zimińska, 1951Mira Zimińska, 1951Mira Zimińska, 1951Mira Zimińska, 1951

Mira Zimińska amongstMira Zimińska amongstMira Zimińska amongstMira Zimińska amongstyouths, in the ‘50s.youths, in the ‘50s.youths, in the ‘50s.youths, in the ‘50s.

The visit of Elisabeth ofThe visit of Elisabeth ofThe visit of Elisabeth ofThe visit of Elisabeth ofBavaria, the Queen ofBavaria, the Queen ofBavaria, the Queen ofBavaria, the Queen ofBelgium, at Karolin, 1955.Belgium, at Karolin, 1955.Belgium, at Karolin, 1955.Belgium, at Karolin, 1955.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskaduring Mazowsze’s stay induring Mazowsze’s stay induring Mazowsze’s stay induring Mazowsze’s stay inEgypt, 1967.Egypt, 1967.Egypt, 1967.Egypt, 1967.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskaduring Mazowsze’s stay induring Mazowsze’s stay induring Mazowsze’s stay induring Mazowsze’s stay inEgypt, 1967.Egypt, 1967.Egypt, 1967.Egypt, 1967.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskaat the airport in Sydney,at the airport in Sydney,at the airport in Sydney,at the airport in Sydney,1967.1967.1967.1967.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskareturning from Greatreturning from Greatreturning from Greatreturning from GreatBritain, 1962.Britain, 1962.Britain, 1962.Britain, 1962.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskain Portugal, 1969.in Portugal, 1969.in Portugal, 1969.in Portugal, 1969.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskawith Marian Hemar,with Marian Hemar,with Marian Hemar,with Marian Hemar,London, 1962.London, 1962.London, 1962.London, 1962.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskawearing a Łowicz-stylewearing a Łowicz-stylewearing a Łowicz-stylewearing a Łowicz-styleapron.apron.apron.apron.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskawith Melchior Wańkowicz,with Melchior Wańkowicz,with Melchior Wańkowicz,with Melchior Wańkowicz,1974.1974.1974.1974.

When she was seven, sheplayed the role of Stasia inGabriela Zapolska’s Ichczworo [The Four of Them].Then she was given otherchildren’s roles, for examplein Dziady [Forefathers’ Eve]and Wesele [The Wedding].At seventeen she wasofficially employed in thetheater. For a year, she onlyacted in vaudeville andcomedies. She moved toRadom. Then she wasnoticed by one of the Qui ProQuo owners from Warsaw,which was the most popularcabaret theater in Poland atthe time. There sheperfected her acting, vocal,and dance skills. The revueHallo! Ciotka! [Hello!Auntie!], in which she wasthe host, was the turningpoint in her career. She wonover the audience with herquick wit, vigor, and grace.

The second half of the 1920smarked her development inthe repertoire of comedy,parody, and theater of thegrotesque. At that time shepromoted many hits, e.g.

Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,1955.1955.1955.1955. Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńska

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskawith Spanish impresarios,with Spanish impresarios,with Spanish impresarios,with Spanish impresarios,1973.1973.1973.1973.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskaand Gerald Ford, Prezydentand Gerald Ford, Prezydentand Gerald Ford, Prezydentand Gerald Ford, PrezydentUSA, 1975.USA, 1975.USA, 1975.USA, 1975.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskawith Artur Rubinstein,with Artur Rubinstein,with Artur Rubinstein,with Artur Rubinstein,1979.1979.1979.1979.

Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Witold Zapała and RomanWitold Zapała and RomanWitold Zapała and RomanWitold Zapała and RomanPolański, 1974Polański, 1974Polański, 1974Polański, 1974

Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska,actors Robert Hossein andactors Robert Hossein andactors Robert Hossein andactors Robert Hossein andRobert Dalban andRobert Dalban andRobert Dalban andRobert Dalban and"Mazowsze"."Mazowsze"."Mazowsze"."Mazowsze".

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskain China, 1984.in China, 1984.in China, 1984.in China, 1984. Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńska

in China, 1984.in China, 1984.in China, 1984.in China, 1984.

“Pokoik na Hożej” [“A LittleRoom at Hoża Street”],“Taka mała” [“So Small”],“We dwoje” [“The Two ofUs”] and “Nikt, tylko ty” [“NoOne But You”], authored byTuwim and Hemar. She hadan ability of turning theminto little theatrical plays.She surprised people withher versatility. She wasa successful actress both onfilm and in dramatic theater,and the editor of the satiricalcolumn “Duby smalone”[“Hogwash”] in the morningpaper Kurier Poranny. Mirawas known for herextravagance and bohemianlifestyle: She was friendswith the members of theSkamander group of poets,and posed nude for the artistWitkacy. That’s what shewas like at that time.

However, she wanted more.Soon, she was on stage inWarsaw, for example inMoralność pani Dulskiej [TheMorality of Mrs. Dulska],Panna Maliczewska [MissMaliczewska] as well as inW małym domku [In theLittle House] and Choryz urojenia [The Imaginary

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskain Japan.in Japan.in Japan.in Japan.

Mira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-SygietyńskaMira Zimińska-Sygietyńskaduring the shooting of theduring the shooting of theduring the shooting of theduring the shooting of themovie Mówili nie mamovie Mówili nie mamovie Mówili nie mamovie Mówili nie maWarszawy [They Said ThereWarszawy [They Said ThereWarszawy [They Said ThereWarszawy [They Said ThereWas No Warsaw].Was No Warsaw].Was No Warsaw].Was No Warsaw].

Invalid, orig. Le maladeimaginaire]. She quicklyearned the audiences’ andthe critics’ praise.

Her film debut took place inthe silent movie era. Sheexcelled in comedy roles, inmovies like Ada! To niewypada! [Ada! That’sInappropriate!], Papa się żeni[Papa’s Getting Married],Manewry miłosne [RomanticManeuvers].

After the war, she wanted togo back to acting andcabaret. But her companion,a folklore lover andcomposer she oftenperformed with, TadeuszSygietyński asked for herhelp with setting up a folkensemble. That is howMazowsze was created in1948.

After Tadeusz’s death in 1955, she took overdirector’s duties forMazowsze. The ensemblebecame the love of her life,only second to cabaret, asshe recounts in one of herbooks. Throughout her life,she never lost her energy,humor, and passion for her

work. Fully devoted toMazowsze, she didn’t evenwant to hear about retiring.She had 2,430 days of long-overdue leave that she neverused. Her artistic successwas confirmed by numerousdecorations and awards.Some of the last ones shereceived were the Order ofthe White Eagle and thehonorary title of Woman ofthe Century, awarded byPolish Radio for the firsttime.

She died on January 26,1997 in Warsaw.

“You need to love what youdo, otherwise life loses itsmeaning,” she used to say.She was one of those luckypeople whom fate had giveneverything – an uncommontalent, a powerfulpersonality, remarkableintelligence, creativepassion, and persistence towork towards the chosenobjective. The power thatregulated the flow of her life,her primary objective, wasart.” (Bogusław Kaczyński)

“She was an importantfigure, because her

personality exerted a hugeinfluence on everything. Shehad a strong character, shewas very demanding, butshe very well knew what shewanted and where she washeading.” (Irena Santor)

“At last we could see Polishfolk dance not in its primitivecrude form, but intricatelystylized, with the emphasison the important features ofPolish dance and folk songs –their liveliness, humor,thoughtfulness, and theirpoetic charm, whichemanate also from Chopin’smazurkas and Mickiewicz’sballads.” (Leon Schiller)

“She managed the ensemblepractically to the lastmoment. With them, she sawalmost the whole world,during their three thousandperformances abroad. Shebrought renown to the nameof Poland. She was not onlya cabaret star, a singer andan actress, but also “TheLady of Mazowsze”, aspeople called her. She wasremarkably hard-working,ambitious, and demanding,both towards herself as wellas towards others. Nothing

was impossible for her.”(Witold Sadowy)

With a folk song, combinedwith an expressive danceroutine, Mazowsze has wonover audiences’ emotions.People clap to the rhythm ofthe music, which is the signof an emotional bondbetween the performers andthe audience.

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