VOA文化艺术2024--Poland’s Traditional Dance Honored by UNESCO

Poland’s Traditional Dance Honored¹ by UNESCO

　　The polonaise is a traditional Polish dance that was once banned in the country. Now, the United Nations is honoring² the dance.

　　UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. On December 5, the polonaise entered UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage³. The U.N. organization noted⁴ that the dance "symbolizes⁶ cooperation, reconciliation⁷, and equality."

　　The dance is believed to have started in the 18th century. It has been performed at parties for the rich and powerful and at village celebrations. The polonaise has inspired music by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Frederic Chopin. And it remains⁸ an important part of school and family celebrations.

　　Poland's Ministry⁹ of Culture and National Heritage asked for the Polonaise to be included on UNESCO's list. The ministry said its request received huge public support.

　　"Thousands of people on Facebook and on other social media were supporting the (UNESCO) entry," Joanna Cicha-Kuczynska of the ministry's Department of Monuments Protection, told The Associated Press.

　　She said there is a huge community, including whole families, that dance the polonaise and pass the tradition on.

　　In the polonaise, a whole group can dance together, explained Marcin Pracki, a dancer of the Warsaw University's Dance Theater.

　　Another dancer, Monika Fiugajska, said the dance's simplicity¹⁰ is its strength. She added that the polonaise can express emotions in a special way.

　　The dance developed from a traditional form called the "walking dance." By the 18th century, it had become popular at royal European balls, or dance parties.

　　The word polonaise is French for "Polish."

　　Szymon Paczkowski is a musicology professor at the University of Warsaw. He agrees that the dance should be on UNESCO's list. "It is a dance with not only Polish but an international tradition," he said.

　　In the late 18th century, Russia, Prussia, and Austria divided and controlled Poland for more than 100 years. Russia banned the polonaise in the areas it took over.

　　During this time, the polonaise became an important connection to Poland for Polish people, especially those in foreign countries. This included Chopin, who left Poland in 1830 and moved to Paris the following year. Today, Chopin's polonaises remain among the most popular pieces for classical piano.

　　In Poland, the polonaise has now become the opening dance at high school pre-graduation balls. After World War II, Poland's communist officials banned it from schools. The officials worried about its connection to Polish patriotism¹¹ and former rulers.

　　Nineteen-year-old Gabrysia Kosmal was among the students at one of Warsaw's high schools who performed the polonaise this month. She noted that although there are conflicts between students, when they dance the polonaise, they come together. "It's a magical moment," she said.

　　The polonaise is regularly performed during national anniversaries¹², including the November 11 Independence Day. On this day, people are invited to dance in the streets with officials.

　　Natalia Berna is an 18-year-old student who took part in a large street dance in the central city of Lodz last month. She said the polonaise brings people together at a time when the community needs it. She added that it is important to keep the tradition alive.

　　The leader of the Lodz street dance, Janusz Wielgosz, said the polonaise is about beauty.

　　"It is a dance that is really very simple, with beautiful music and beautiful costumes. It is worth a try," he said.

　　Words in This Story

　　symbolize⁵ –v. to represent an idea or belief

　　reconciliation –n. the act of bringing people together to put aside their earlier differences or troubles

　　inspire –v. to cause people to want to do something or to be hopeful about the future

　　composer –n. a person whose job it is to write and arrange music

　　classical –adj. related¹³ to music and other art forms of a time period in Europe that embodied¹⁴ certain ideals¹⁵ believed to be from ancient times that were accepted and liked by educated people

　　costume –n. a kind of clothing that is different from things worn daily and is linked to cultural activities

1 honored   

adj.光荣的：荣幸的v.尊敬，给以荣誉( honor的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I hope to be honored with further orders. 如蒙惠顾，不胜荣幸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is a time-honored custom. 这是一个古老的习俗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 honoring   

v.尊敬，给以荣誉( honor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They sat in silence, honoring the clan Jordache for a moment. 他们默默地坐了一会儿，对乔达虚家族表示了一番敬意。 来自辞典例句
• Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check. 美国没有履行这项神圣的义务，只是给黑人开了一张空头支票。 来自辞典例句

3 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

6 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

11 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

12 anniversaries   

n.周年纪念( anniversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why don't you include the anniversaries of the Yellow Emperor's birth and death? 为什么不连黄帝的生日死日都算在里面？” 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Men is forgetful when it comes to birthdays and anniversaries. 对于生日、周年纪念这些事情，男人总是那么健忘。 来自互联网

13 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

14 embodied   

v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含

参考例句：

• a politician who embodied the hopes of black youth 代表黑人青年希望的政治家
• The heroic deeds of him embodied the glorious tradition of the troops. 他的英雄事迹体现了军队的光荣传统。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 ideals   

n.理想的事物[人]( ideal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This terrorists brainwashed him into believing in their ideals. 恐怖分子迫使他相信他们的理想。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One of his ideals is to become a pianist. 他的理想之一是成为钢琴家。 来自《简明英汉词典》