Ealing’s Żywiec: Polish dance and song since 1965

Żywiec’s story began in Ealing in 1965, within the Polish Millennium Youth Club. The group’s official website still welcomes new people to dance and sing together. This is a look at an established local Polish institution and its documented history, not an announcement of a new anniversary celebration or an imminent concert.

The group’s own account says Andrzej Sagajllo took over as choreographer in 1976. The current website names Marta Tatol as artistic director. The rehearsal description includes a warm-up, work on choreography and a separate period devoted to singing. Its repertoire is therefore about more than dance steps alone.

In November 2025, Żywiec celebrated its 60th anniversary. Polish Sue’s account, published on 9 November by a participant in the event, describes an anniversary concert held the previous day at the POSK Theatre. That places the performance on 8 November 2025, not this year. The organisation also documented working with Żywiec during the ORP Błyskawica commemorations in May 2025, when the group performed patriotic and folk songs.

The historical record also leads to Hanwell. An archive report available through MyPolska, dated 25 July 2012, describes a performance at Hanwell Carnival in Elthorne Park. The children’s Mini Żywiec group appeared alongside the adults. The programme included the polonaise, krakowiak and highland dances. It illustrates the presence of Polish folk culture at a local event reaching a wider audience, rather than only within the parish community.

Another documented appearance took place in Northolt. On Sunday 1 February 2026, the parish of St Padre Pio hosted Żywiec’s eleventh concert of Christmas carols and pastoral songs. Maria Budzisiak’s report, published on 6 February, describes around 50 performers, including children, teenagers and adults. The independent Żywiec By Sea group from Brighton also appeared, with live musical accompaniment. The names are similar, but the two groups should not be treated as a single ensemble.

Żywiec’s local base remains connected to Ealing. The parish website describes costumes from different regions of Poland, a repertoire of songs and dances, and participation in harvest celebrations, festivals and family occasions. It also lists groups for younger participants and adults. That distinction helps prospective members look for age-appropriate activities rather than assume everyone rehearses together.

Anyone interested in joining can find an invitation on the group’s official website. The venue listed is Windsor Hall, 2 Windsor Road, Ealing W5 5PD, with Ealing Broadway identified as the nearest station. The group recommends comfortable clothing and flat shoes with smooth soles. Before a first visit, prospective members should confirm the appropriate session and level directly with the group. Historical concert reports are not a current rehearsal timetable.