photo: M.Sobczak
Kapela Batareja, formed in 2017 in Białystok and playfully named after “batarejka” (flashlight), is a musical group driven by a profound love for traditional music from different parts of Poland. They most often explore music from the eastern parts of Poland, including the Suwałki, Podlasie, and Lublin regions, as well as the eastern borderlands. Their repertoire consists of a diverse range of dances in duple and triple metres, including polkas, waltzes, obereks, and dances with intricate figures like chodzony (processional dance), the Ukrainian “hrečanyk,” the Belarusian “wasadula,” and lively Jewish dances. Kapela Batareja is a versatile group that performs at festivals, both in rural and urban settings, as well as at weddings and lively open-air events such as Saint John’s Eve in Zamość, Siabrouskaja Biasieda festival in Gródek, and the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Białystok. They engage people of all ages and conduct musical activities for both children and adults, including workshops as part of projects like “Mały Kolberg na Podlasiu” (Little Koblerg in Podlasie) (2017-2018) and “EtnoPodlasie” (Ethnopodlasie) (2018-2021). What they find most enjoyable about performing is the direct and lively connection they have with people and the shared experience of music. Batareja also takes the initiative to organise dance parties in Białystok, spreads joy through carolling, and delights in serenading from balconies.
Line-up
Julita Charytoniuk – frame drum, baraban, vocals.
Magdalena Dąbrowska – violin and dance.
Mateusz Tymura – accordion, vocals
Zbyszek Rusiłowicz – cimbalom, double flute
