Szymański, Stanisław (EN)

Szymański Stanisław, *17 VI 1930 Krakow, †10 II 1999 Warsaw, Polish dancer. Student of L. Wójcikowski. In 1949–1950 he performed at the New Theatre in Warsaw, then was a soloist: in 1950–1951 at the Poznań Opera House, in 1951-1957 at the Song and Dance Ensemble of the House of the Polish Army in Warsaw, 1957–1980 (from 19661 a dancer) at the National Opera in Warsaw (now the Teatr Wielki). He was multitalented, very energetic on the stage, acknowledged as a master of Spanish dances. He appeared in dozens of classical and contemporary ballets, including the title role in T. Szeligowski’s Mazepa (choreography by S. Miszczyk, 1958), as Diabeł [Devil] in Pan Twardowski by L. Różycki (choreography by by S. Miszczyk, 1965) and in the title role in Petrushka by I. Strawiński (choreography by Wójcikowski, 1973). In the 1990s, he made guest appearances at the Studio Theatre in Warsaw in plays directed by J. Grzegorzewski, including performing as Tadzio in Cztery komedie równoległe, based on The Idiot by F. Dostoevsky, 1994; as Chochoł [straw-wrap] in La Bohème, based on Wesele [The wedding] by S. Wyspiański, 1995, filmed in 1997. In 1959 Szymański was awarded the prestigious Prix Nijinski in Paris. His dance art is shown in the documentary film Staszek (directed by J. Talczewski, 1994).

Literature: T. Wysocka Dzieje baletu, Warsaw 1970.