Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Dr. Jan Kulczyk

Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Mr. Jan Karaszewski, Mrs. Dorota Schnepf, Amb. Ryszard Schnepf

Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Mr. Andrzej Bukowinski

T he International Polonaise Ball, established by Lady Blanka Rosenstiel in 1972 and one of the most prestigious and elegant events of Miami's social season since 1972, is organized under the auspices of the Ambassador of Poland to the US, Ryszard Schnepf.

The 43rd International Polonaise Ball on February 7, 2015 was held at the glamorous Eden Roc Ho-tel on palm-lined Collins Avenue in Miami, FL. The Ball entwines elegance and style with world-class entertainment and cultural diversity. Each year the Ball celebrates Poland and a different coun-try, highlighting the cultural and diplomatic ties and friendships of both nations. Over 300 guests from all corners of the globe celebrated Poland

Fascinated with Brazil at the black tie event. And celebrate they did - from posing with a feathered and jeweled Carnaval passista to exuberant danc-ing with the hypnotic samba drum beats - it was loads of fun and an unforgettable evening.

Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Dr. Alma Kadragic, Amb. Ryszard Schnepf Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Mr. David Ensor, Amb. Ryszard Schnepf

The 43 rd International Polonaise BallIn the Rhythm of Samba

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Consul John Petkus, Consul Sabina Klimek with guests

Mr. Albert Slugocki, Mrs. Adriana Sabino, Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Mrs. Monika Jablonska-Chodakiewicz,

Mr. Manuel Rosa

Mr. Richard Hurwitz, Mrs. Klaudia Juniewicz, Mr. Karim Peter Guen

Amb. Ryszard Schnepf, Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Mr. Krzysztof Przybyl

Ms. Magda Gessler, Dr. Marek Pien Pienkowski, Ms. Loretta Swit, Mr. Keith Gray, Mrs. Agnieszka Gray, Mr. Krzysztof Porowski, Countess Barbara Pagowska-Cooper, Mrs. Liliana Komorowska, Mr. Jarek Rottermund, Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Mr. Italo Torrese, Ms. Francesca Lowenthal , Mrs. Teresa Lowenthal

Dr. Pat Riley, Dr. Andrew Schally, Mrs. Maria Schally, Ms. Donna Francavilla, Dr. Marek Pienkowski, Honorary Consul

Mrs. Elzbieta Wnuk, Prof. Stanislaw Wnuk

Ms. Lynne Schaefer, Mrs. Beata Paszyc, Mrs. Barbara Muze, Mrs. Jadwiga Gewert, Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Maestro Grzegorz Nowak

Brazilian passista

Besides the Ambassador and his wife, many other distinguished per-sonalities came from all over the world including Dr. Jan Kulczyk, a businessman who is, according to Forbes, the richest man in Poland. There were also guests from Ar-gentina, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and the US. Among them were lo-cal corporate leaders, artists, diplo-mats, and scientists, such as Dr. An-drew Schally, a Nobel Prize winner in the field of medicine. And each year more and more young people are attending, adding an exciting exuberance to the event.

A stunning passista in a white and gold bejeweled gown with an or-nate feathered headdress stood regally on the stage, and guests lined up to be photographed with her. A passista is a formally trained

Brazilian samba dancer who spends most of her early life perfecting the exuberant dance at a recognized samba school. With elaborate cos-tumes, enormous headdresses, glittering footwear and choreo-graphed moves, passistas create the dynamic energy of Carnaval - encouraging the crowds to join them in dancing along the streets of Rio.

After the traditional opening Po-lonaise, the award ceremony com-

menced with presentations of the Gold Medal for Andrzej Bukowinski, renowned Brazilian filmmaker and “King of commercials";" the Lech Walesa Media Award for David En-sor, journalist; and the “Amicus Po-loniae” for Alma Kadragic, producer and journalist. Four individuals - Monika Jablonska, Adriana Sabino, Manuel Rosa and Albert Slugocki -

Mr. Dominic Cieslak, Ms. Veronika Cieslak

Ms. Loretta Swit, Dr. Michel S. Pawlowski Ms. Claudine Smurfit, Dr. Marco Contreras

Mrs. Sandra Zachariasiewicz, Mr. Walter Zachariasiewicz, Fr. Anthony Czarnecki with passista

Mrs. Beata Paszyc, Mr. John Frank Velez, Mrs. Anna Slabicki, Mr. Zbigniew Slabicki

Seated (l-r): Ms. Lucia Schneegans-Puentes, Ms. Luccia Lowenthal, Ms. Annie Centurion,

Ms. Francesca Lowenthal, Ms. Yesenia Hernandez and guests

Dr. Dapnarina Maharaj, Dr. Jacquelina Gouvea, Mr. Krzysztof Łoński

also received a Special Recognition Award from Lady Blanka for their entrepreneurial contributions to the Polish-American and Brazilian communities. Lady Blanka was also given with the "Outstanding Pole" award by Krzysztof Przybyl, Presi-dent of the Foundation Teraz Polska, for promoting Polish achievements throughout the world. Mr. Przybyl came directly from Poland in order to present this prestigious award to Lady Blanka.

During the artistic program, the Brazilian dancers and rousing drummers transformed the beauti-fully decorated ballroom into the streets of Rio, with the rhythms

of carnival and samba while color-ful feathers swayed on the danc-ers’ dynamically moving bod-ies. The energy was so vibrant that it moved everybody to the dance floor.

The guests enjoyed a delicious dinner with Brazilian flavors, and danced and networked long after midnight. The following day, the Polish Folk Dance Company show-

cased the traditional mazurkas and krakowiak during the Special Bunch. Guests continued meeting new people, celebrating Polish and Bra-zilian cultures, and making plans to be in Miami next year for another fabulous gala Ball.

Italian and American guests, including Dr. Ewa Piencentile, Mrs. Jadwiga Palade, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Skibicki, Ms. Dominika Grzebyk Nicoli, Mr. Mario Castellan,

Mr. Lucio Pntecorvi, Ms. Caterina Covolo

Mrs. Roza Toroj, Mr. Jacek Trus, Mr. Grzegorz Okon, Ms. Irena Zytkiewicz

Mr. Zygmunt Stazewski, Mr. Matthew King Ms. Marta Lefik, Mr. Nick Sadowsky, Ms. Dorota Kotowska

Polish American Folk Dance CompanyMr. Alexander Smaga, Ms. Ania Navas Mr. Patrick Misiewicz, Ms. Kinga Plich

Seated (l-r): Ms. Sylvia Skarbinska, Dr. Irena Siemiginowska, Mr. Jerzy Siemiginowska, Ms. Veronika Cieslak, Ms. Magdalana Gudat

Standing: Mrs. Karolina Nowicki-Martinez, Mr. Amaury Martinez, Mrs. Eva Korzeb, Mr. Kazimierz Korzeb, Mrs. Frances Burzynski, Mr. Janusz Burzynski, Mr. Dominic Cieslak,

Baron Andrew von Gelt

Latin America Invest Corp. guests, including Ms. Irma Sanchez, Mr. Italo Torrese, Mr. Leszek Ladowski, Mrs. Maria Ladowski

Seated (l-r): Mr. Greg Burzynski, Mrs. Monika Jablonska-Chodakiewicz, Mr. Krzysztof Lewicki, Ms. Elzbieta Green

Standing (l-r):Mr. Krzysztof Pierscionek, Mrs. Adriana Pierscionek, Mrs. Anna Burzynski, Mr. Wojciech Bukalski,

Mr. Mateusz Kosmowski, Mr. Witold Kosmowski

Mrs. Grazyuna Orawiec, Dr. Bronislaw Orawiec

Seated (l-r): Mr. Marcin Roszczyk, Dr Kornelia Król. Mr. Krzysztof Porowski, Countess Barbara Pagowska–Cooper, Judge Andrzej Huras

Standing (l-r): Honorable Jerzy Stępień, Mr. Maciej Cybulski , Ms. Beata Korsakowska–Pryl, Ms. Anna Borzęcka, Honorable Tadeusz Jedynak, Mr. Konrad Borzęcki,

Mr. Krzysztof Kasperkiewicz

Mr. Pedro Botto, Dr. Rebecca Friedman, Dr. Shlomi Dinar

Seated (l-r): Ms. Jolanta Knight, Mrs. Elzbiata Wnuk, Prof. Stanislaw Wnuk, Mr. Joseph WolsztyniakStanding (l-r): Mrs. Jennifer Khan-Nowak, Mr. Karim Peter Guen, Hon. Undine George, Hon. Edward

George, Dr. Jerzy Kyparisis, Mrs. Danuta Kyparisis, Dr. Michel S. Pawlowski

Mr. Jorge Villacampa, Mrs. Maggie Villacampa, Pres. Mark Rosenberg, Marquisa Maria Alonso, Marquise Alexander Montague

Ms. Nancy Savoie, Mr. Paul Landrum, Mrs. Karen Landrum

Mrs. Anges Ptasznik, Mr. Jochen Renz

Baron Andrew von Gelt, Dr. Ewa Buch, Mr. Roman Buch Ms. Anna Porowski, Countess Barbara Pagowska-Cooper, Mr. Krzysztof Porowski, Ms. Ashley Porowski

Seated (l-r): Mr. Richard Hurwitz, Mrs. Klaudia Juniewicz, Ms. Liliana Komorowska, Mr. Bernard PoulinStanding (l-r): Mr. John Frank Velez, Mrs. Beata Paszyc, Mrs. Anna Pietraszek, Mr. Stefan Pietraszek,

Ms. Lynne Schaefer, Mr. Jaroslaw Rottermund

Seated (l-r): Ms. Maria Inês Dal Borgo, Mrs. Adriana Riquet Sabino, Mr. Marcelo Sabino, Ms. Dircineia Marchi

Standing (l-r): Ms. Ivonete Leite, Ms. Gloria Johnson, Mrs. Beti Rozen

Dr. Mark Tucci, Mrs. Krystyna Tucci, Ms. Anna Zwierzycki, Mrs. Patrycia Zwierzycki, Dr. Jerome Zwierzycki