History

The Polish Ball, which until 2006 had been known as the Polish Emigré Ball, is the most prestigious socio-cultural event, integrating the Polish community throughout Great Britain. This splendid Ball and its noble and charitable causes, ensure many regular participants.

The Polish Emigré Ball, which traditionally began with a Polonaise, was always organised in the most elegant of London hotels. The first took place at the Royal Lancaster hotel in 1970, and thereafter at the Royal Garden Hotel, the Grosvenor House Hotel and The Savoy. The 2007 Ball took place at the Intercontinental Hotel, but by then was known as the Polish Ball.

The organisers of the Ball changed its name to The Polish Ball in order to address the transformation of the structure and nature of the Polish community in Britain brought about by the changing political climate in Poland and Poland’s entry into the European Union.

The Ball takes place in partnership with the organisation Federation of Poles in Great Britain and under the patronage of the Polish Ambassador. For many years the Ball has also enjoyed the additional patronage of the Polish President, Ryszard Kaczorowski, and his wife.  The honorary patron of the 36th Polish Emigré Ball, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity movement, was Lech Walesa.

From the outset, women have overseen the organisation and running of the Ball. The first chair of the organising committee was Maria Lesniakowa. Over the next twenty years the artist Ewa Rusiecka and her husband Stanislaw managed the Ball with great dedication. After her death in 1999 Ewa was succeeded by Malgorzata Sztuka. From 2000 to 2007 the organisation of the Ball has been managed by a committee of 8 women presided over by Krystyna Ostaszewska and from 2008 by Wiesława Hanke.

 

41st Polish Ball is organized by the following Committee: Marlena Anderson, Anka Badowska, Ewa Butryn, Wiesia Hanke, Ania Lichtarowicz-Piesakowska, Jola Piesakowska.

 

 

 

Charitable objectives and theme of the evening

The entire proceeds of the Ball are always donated to charitable causes. For over 20 years the Ball supported the Treasury of the Polish Government in exile, and thereafter the Fund for Poles residing to the East of Poland. In recent years we have supported, among others:

 


Having a theme for the evening adds to the Ball’s attraction. Since the year 2000 a theme has been chosen to celebrate either an important anniversary or a relevant cultural event, such as a feast with Pan Tadeusz, an evening with Jan Kiepura, Quo Vadis, Poland’s entry into the European Union, the 60th anniversary of the battle for Monte Casino, the 25th anniversary of Solidarity, and the year of General Anders.

The Polish Emigré Ball was created through the initiative of post WWII Polish émigrés, who for many years supported it through their continued participation. During the eighties the post solidarity emigrés joined in. At the same time participation was augmented by 2nd generation Poles, children of the post war emigrés, born in the Great Britain. In recent years the 3rd generation Poles have begun to continue the custom of participation in the Ball. 
The long standing tradition and established status of the Ball has also begun to attract Poles from the world of culture, politics and business, who have settled in the Great Britain following Poland’s entry into the European Union.