The Pulaski Polka Days dance contest has been given an overhaul this year as it becomes the home of the Wisconsin State Polka Dance Championships.
“What’s happened is there used to be a polka festival in September in Wisconsin Dells, and that has been discontinued,” said John Pinter, a member of the Wisconsin Polka Boosters. “At that festival we had the Wisconsin State Polka Dance Championship, for 15 years at least. So we decided to talk to Harold (Otto) and say we will add the Wisconsin state championship to Pulaski.”
Otto, Polka Days chairman and organizer, said the dance contest has been very successful at Pulaski.
“Last year and the year before, it was packed in the place,” Otto said. “We have got some great entertainment over there in Zielinski’s Ballroom.”
The changes that have been made to the contest have made the event even bigger, Pinter said.
“We hope that we get more applicants and people who want to do it,” he said. “Tell all the people to come around and enter the contest.”
Junior, senior and open divisions allow contestants of all ages to join the competition, and trophies will be awarded to the top three place winners in each division.
“We bring a crew out to run it,” Otto said. “We have a crew of people that are the judges and we have an applause meter to determine who is the winner of each of the classes.”
The contest will be held at 6 p.m. July 20 at Zielinski’s Ballroom, located at 149 W. Pulaski St. According to Pinter, the competition usually lasts for around 45 minutes to an hour.
“It’s kind of a neat thing and it works out pretty well,” Pinter said. “I have been going up to Pulaski Polka Days for 30 years or something like that. I think it’s the best festival around — polka festival, that is.”
For more information about the dance contest, call Pinter at 262-894-6998.
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