Carole Buchalska Golis has been an influential presence in the Polish-American
societies and communities of New York and the tri-state area for most of her life.
Her accolades precede her as a truly passionate dancer and supporter of Polish culture.

 

A true pioneer in the art of American polka dancing, she is a former
"Daily News Harvest Moon Ball Polka Champion" and "United States
National Polka Champion." With those two titles to her name, she had been
featured on the "Ed Sullivan Show" numerous times, "The Today Show,"
and has shared the stage with renowned entertainers, Bobby Vinton,
Shelly Winters, among others.

 

With her amazing skill and background in ballet, theatre, ballroom, and Polish
folk dancing, she was asked to organize a dance ensemble for young adults. In 1972
she founded the "Polonaise Folk Dancers" and has achieved great success as a director
since its genesis. With the formation of the "Polonaise Folk Dancers" she traveled
to Poland to learn, first-hand, the authentic style of dancing. Upon her return she
added her trademark "touch" to the ethnic style of dancing and created the foundation
for the "Polonaise Folk Dancers" tradition.

 

Ms. Golis has been named a "Citizen of the Year" by the Polish American World
of New York and has received "Honorary Citations for Community Service"
from past-borough presidents Donald Manes and Claire Shulman as well as the
current Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall.

 

Beyond citations from numerous other organizations, Ms. Golis became an
icon as the she accepted honors never before awarded to a woman.
She was the inaugural "Woman of the Year" by the American-Polish Association
of Professional Businessmen and Women (AMPOLA), the first female
"Pulaskian of the Year" from the Pulaski Police Association of New York City,
and, in 1988, she was the youngest lady Grand Marshal to march up
Fifth Avenue leading the "Pulaski Day Parade," of New York City.

 

Ms. Golis' experience spans decades: She has performed with legendary
polka bands including the Bernie Witkowski Orchestra, the Ray Block
Orchestra, and the Teddy Maksymowicz Orchestra, of which she was featured
on two of their commercial album covers, as well as performing at such venues
as the Roseland, Arcadia, and Plaza Hotel Ballrooms. Her choreographic skills have
been on display in numerous festivals and banquets in the tri-state area
as well as in the 2005 Hewlett-Packard iPod commercial.