Gala Dinner Dance

Saturday, the twentieth of February

The Year Two Thousand and Sixteen

at Seven O'clock pm

White or Black Tie Regalia

R.S.V.P.

Eden Roc Hotel

Mona Lisa Ballroom - Cocktail Hour

Pompeii Promenade Ballroom - Dinner

4525 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33140

''Polonaise'' by the Members of the Committees

and Special Guests

Entertainment by New Century Dance Company

Music for Dancing by Frank Hubbell Orchestra

The 44th international polonaise ball

Enchanted with Ancient China

During the 17th and 18th centuries,

Polish Jesuit missionaries flocked to China, among them Michał Pi-otr Boym (1612-1659). A scientist, explorer, cartologist, author and

artist, Boym gained attention for writing the first ever published Chi-nese dictionaries for European lan-

guages. A Chinese–Latin dictionary was published in 1667 and a Chi-nese–French dictionary published in 1670. But it was the hundreds

of exquisite drawings of China’s natural world, along with extensive writings in his book, Flora Sinensis,

of the medicinal and healing quali-ties of Chinese plants for which he is best known.

Oil of Michal Piotr Boym

Poles Contributing to Exotic China

Jan Mikołaj Smogulecki (1610–1656), a Polish nobleman, politician and scholar, became a missionary in China and adopted the name,

Mu Ni-co. Throughout the country,

he taught astronomy and math-

ematics, introducing logarithms to China, and his devotion and schol-arship was much respected by Chi-nese scholars. In 1653, Smogulecki and Chinese astronomer, Xue Feng-

zuo, translated Western works of the solar system into the book, The

True Origin of Celestial Movements, which made use of the Copernican system.

Watercolor from Flora Sinensis by Boym Fauna plate from Flora Sinensis by Boym

In the years 1897-1949, thousands of Poles settled in Manchuria in northeast China. Among them were explorers and scien-

tists, and those who participated in building the Chinese Eastern Railway such as engineers, technicians and laborers. Many Poles also served in the Russian army during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. They lived in Harbin, nicknamed the Ice City for having the most bitterly cold winters among major Chinese cities, where they established a Polish Consulate, high school and several cultural organizations.

Magni Cathay Pe Kim by Boym

Heliocentric Universe by Copernicus Vintage map of city of Harbin

Chinese philosophy has been de-

veloping since the earliest days of mankind. Founded on a belief sys-

tem called humanism, it is an ide-

ology that guides people with the

tools to lead lives of fulfillment, enrichment and achievement. Hu-

manism emphasizes critical thinking and evidence as opposed to dogma or superstition.

A Qing Dynasty print showing Confucius presenting Buddha to the philosopher Lao-Tzu

Ancient Philosophy and Symbols

There is also a strong thread of the metaphysical and poetic in Chinese thought. The great philosophers

tended to present ideas as para-

bles, allusions and aphorisms - the rule of thumb being “less is more.” To lead people on how to live within this philosophy, symbols, art motifs and theories of color were developed.

The crane is a very popular symbol standing for longevity, and two flying

cranes denote rising high

Brides have always worn red as it brings joy, vitality and fertility

The lantern was not only used as a

light source in ancient China, but as an object of artistic expression

The peacock symbolizes dignity and beauty, and the eyes on its tail denote fame, luck and public admiration

Feng Shui is the art of harmonious placement of objects to create a positive flow of energy, with Yin

Yang as the central force, exempli-fying all things human and divine

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." Confucius

"Do the dif-ficult things

while they

are easy

and do the

great things

while they

are small.

A journey of

a thousand

miles must

begin with a

single step." Lao Tzu

The Chinese visual styles have remained fairly constant for thousands of years. Artists seek to express society’s inner and outer harmonies with natural surround-

ings. By using delicate brush strokes and sensuous lines delineating the move-

ment and flow of everyday life, along with traditional symbols, colors and repeti-

tive art motifs, even the most simplistic pieces impart a depth of emotion and wisdom. Art is meant to always feed the spirit.

Visual and Martial Arts

Martial arts, like kung fu and washu, origi-nated over 4,000 years ago as a means of self-defense, hunting skill and military prowess. Precise styles of hand-to-hand combat and the inventive use of a few simple weapons became extremely effective for Chinese soldiers.

But over the centuries, various philosophies were merged with the fighting systems to teach practitioners how to achieve strong per-sonal growth, a committed inner focus, and oneness with the world. Martial arts became essential for excellent health maintenance and the improvement of self, and remain an integral part of Chinese culture today.

"Life is an echo. What you send out comes back."

Chinese Proverb

Ancient China has given the world hundreds of inventions, from harvesting a worms’ threads and weaving them into one of the most beautiful and sturdiest fabrics on earth to developing a way to create brilliantly lit blossoms in the night sky during times of celebration. A few of the inventions we can thank early China for are:

Inventions that Transformed the World

Silk & PaperPlaying Cards & KitesGunpowder, Matches & FireworksPorcelain & LacquersCompass, Sundials & Mechanical ClocksCast Iron & CrossbowsInk & Calligraphy

Chemistry & MedicinesDecimal system & AbacusAstronomy & Acupuncture

Forensic Sciences & Civil Service ExamsPrinting & Paper MoneyWaterwheels & Pottery WheelsIce Cream & Incense

Under the gracious patronage of the Ambassador of the

Republic of Poland in Washington D.C.

Mr. and Mrs. Ryszard Schnepf

Special Guest

President Lech Walesa

Royal Guests

H. R. H. King Kigeli V of Rwanda

H.R.H. Duke Dom Duarte Pio de Braganca

Ampun (H.M.) Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Royal House of Sulu

H. I. H. Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie of Ethiopia

H.I. H. David Bagrationi of Moukhrani, Royal House of Georgia

Marquis Alberto D’Ornellase de Vasconcellos Jardim

Count Antonio De Deus Ramos Ponces De Carvalho

Princess Marianne Bernadotte

Prince and Princess Karol Czartoryski

Princess Lada Schuiski

Ball Chairmen

Honorary Committee

Dr. Horacio Aguirre

Honorable and Mrs. Zbigniew Brzezinski

Drs. Stanislaw and Barbara Burzynski

Mrs. Irena McLean - Laks

Mr. Rafal Olbinski

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Storozynski

Ms. Loretta Swit

Baron Kimon Andreou Vergara

Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Williams III

Honorable and Mrs. Walter Zachariasiewicz

Countess Barbara Pagowska - CooperLady Blanka Aldona Rosenstiel

Co-Chairmen

Mrs. Ruby Bacardi

Mrs. Regina Beaman

Honorable and Mrs. Maurice Ferre

Count Rodney Hildebrant

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Gray

Mr. and Mrs. Amedeo Guazzini

Mr. and Mrs. Jan Karaszewski

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lowenthal

Count Matthew Meehan

Marquis Alexander Colonna-Walewski Montague

and Marquise Maria Alonso Montague

Dr. Michel S. Pawlowski

Ms. Alicja Schoonover

Mrs. Marjorie Sonderling

Mr. John Wayne Jr.

Mrs. Beata Paszyc and Mr. John Frank Velez

Social Committee

Honorable Darek BarcikowskiMr. Douglas Evans and Mr. Mikolaj Bauer

Drs. Wojciech and Renata CymerMr. and Mrs. Bob Dickinson

Baroness Magdalena A. von FreytagMr. & Mrs. Edward George

Mrs. Jadwiga GewertCountess Magdalena GrocholskiMr. and Mrs. Karlheinz Huth

Mr. Steven KarskiMr. and Mrs. Krzysztof KruszelnickiMr. and Mrs. Anthony Kruszewski

Misses Francesca and Lucia Lowenthal

Dr. Basil and Mrs. Magdalena MangraMr. and Mrs. Roy Meyeringh

Mrs. Nina Mlodzinska de RoviraHonorable John Petkus

Honorable Marek PienkowskiMr. Krzysztof Porowski

Misses Anna and Ashley PorowskiMrs. Daisy Richardson

Mr. Jarosław RottermundMrs. Carol SadowskiMs. Lynne SchaeferMr. Jon Theobald

Mrs. Ligia Wiegand

Chicago Committee Chairmen

Countess Izabella Pagowska – Budys Ms. Vanessa Godek

Dr. and Mrs. Janusz GolecDr. Michael Hytros

Dr. Ewa JachimowiczDr. Tomasz Osolkowski

Mr. Jacek and Dr. Jolanta TataraDr. and Mrs. Mark Tucci

Dr. and Mrs. Jerome Zwierzycki

Countess Brigitte Victoria CooperCountess Janelle Annette Cooper

Co-Chairmen

Midwest Committee Chairmen

Mr. Leon Cholewa BadzinskiMr. and Mrs. Gerald Broski

Mr. Edward GodlewskiMrs. Barbara Lemecha

Mr. John NosekMrs. Henrietta Nowakowski Mr. and Mrs. George Sobieraj

Mr. Ben Stefanski, IIDr. Michael Klimiuk-Wieczerski

Mr. and Mrs. Thad Cooke

Ms. Halina Malinski

Mr. and Mrs. Chester Partyka

Co-Chairmen

Countess Jadwiga Krasicki

New York Committee Chairman

Mr. and Mrs. Chester LobrowMrs. Jadwiga Palade

Mr. and Mrs. Witold SulimirskiMrs. Danuta Wilk

Co-Chairmen

The American Institute of Polish Culture, Inc.A non-profit, public-benefit, cultural organization

1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117, Miami, Florida 33141

Phone: (305) 864-2349 ∙ assistant@ampolinstitute.org ∙ www.ampolinstitute.org