Where to Polka

There are couple places in Denver to Polka

Po.L.K. of A. Colorado Chapter
Denver Kickers Club
16776 W. 50th Ave.
Golden, CO
Phone 303 663 6066
Sundays 4:00 to 8:00 Pm
Admission Members $4 - Non-Members $6 unless special dances



Edleweiss Club (just celebrated their 50th year)
6495 Monaco Street
Commerce City, CO
Phone: 303 289 5621
www.TEVEdelweiss.org
Saturdays 8:00 pm - 12:00 midnight


Colorado Springs has an interesting dance place with a floor on each level

International Polka Club
2322 Busch Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Phone Judy Nelson 719 593 2011
www.internationalpolkaclub.org
Saturadays 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm

The Greeley club moved a couple of times this year to different locations

Currently
Greeley VFW Hall
2514 7th Ave
Greeley, CO
Phone John Prall 970 330 3460, Barbara Bentz 303 288 3778, Vince Lechman 970 302 7584
Sundays 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Windsor club moved to Loveland due to higher costs

Loveland Assoc Vet Club
305 N. Cleveland
Loveland, CO
Phone: Rich Dechant 970 330 5422
Sundays 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Polka - Hot Days of Summer

Hat Day in May 2008

April dancing

March 08 Mardi Gras Polka Fest

2008 Schedule

Po.L.K. of A. Dances – Colorado
At the Denver Kickers Sports Club
16776 W. 50th Ave., Golden, CO
Time: Sundays 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Anneliese Ring, President - 303 663 6065

Schedule 2008 (subject to change)

January 2008
1/1/2008 Rhinelanders – New Years Eve
7:00 pm – 1:00 am



1/6/2008 Dick Zavodny
1/13/2008 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
1/20/2008 John Stehle / Alpine Polka Dots
1/27/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band

February 2008
2/3/2008 Julie Lee / White Rose Band
Lee Wellbrock sporting a Julie Lee T-Shirt






2/10/2008 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates



2/17/2008 Steve Windholz / Polka Pals
2/24/2008 Rhinelanders

March 2008
3/2/2008 Rich DeChant (cancelled due to snow)
3/9/2008 Pete Dunda


3/16/2008 Dick Zavodny



3/23/2008 Easter No dance
3/30/2008 No dance (refinish floor)

April 2008
4/6/2008 John Fritzler
4/13/2008 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates
4/20/2008 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
4/27/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band

May 2008
5/4/2008 Steve Windholz / Polka Pals
5/11/2008 Dick Zavodny
5/18/2008 Pete Dunda
5/25/2008 No Dance

June 2008
6/1/2008 Rhinelanders
6/8/2008 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates
6/15/2008 Colorado Storm
6/22/2008 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
6/29/2008 John Stehle / Alpine Polka Dots

July 2008
7/6/2008 No dance
7/13/2008 Dick Zavodny
7/20/2008 Pete Dunda
7/27/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band

August 2008
8/3/2008 Steve Rock / Deb & Greg
Joint picnic – Kickers / Po.L.K.ofA.
8/10/2008 Bob Schmer
8/17/2008 Rich DeChant
8/24/2008 Rhinelanders
8/31/2008 No Dance

September 2008
9/7/2008 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates
9/14/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band
Octoberfest
9/21/2008 Dick Zavodny
9/28/2008 Pete Dunda

October 2008
10/5/2008 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
10/12/2008 John Stehle / Alpine Polka Dots
10/19/2008 Steve Windholz / Polka Pals
10/26/2008 Julie Lee / White Rose Band

November 2008
11/2/2007 Dick Zavodny
11/9/2008 Rhinelanders
11/16/2008 Jim Ehrlich
11/23/2008 No dance
11/30/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band

December 2008
12/7/2008 Pete Dunda
Christmas Party
12/14/2008 No Dance
12/21/2008 Rich DeChant
12/28/2008 No Dance
12/31/2008 Rhinelanders
New Years Eve

Denver Kickers Sports Club
16776 W. 50th Ave., Golden, CO

Saturdays- Kicker’s club 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
2/9/2008 Fasching Peter Kron
3/8/2008 Trachten Ball Rich Borger


International Polka Club
2422 Busch Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO
Time: Saturdays 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Judy Nelson 719 593 2011
www.internationaldanceclub.org

January 2008
1/5/2008 Springs Musical Group
1/12/2008 Chuck Spurlock
1/19/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band
1/26/2008 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates

February 2008
2/2/2008 Bill Emery / 5 Spot Band
2/9/2008 Dick Zavodny
2/23/2008 Claude Wiatrowski

March 2008
3/7, 8, 9, 2008 Mardi Gras Polka Fest


Alan Polivka

Friday 3/7/2008 4:00 pm – 12:00
Chandelier Ballroom (upper)
4 – 6 Rhinelanders
6 – 8 Top Notchman
8 – 10 Rhinelanders
10 – 12 Top Notchman

Friday 3/7/2008
Crystal Ballroom (Lower)
4 – 6 Rich DeChant
6 – 8 Phil Mandarich / Reminisce
8 – 10 Rich DeChant
10 – 12 Phil Mandarich / Riminisce

Saturday 3/8/2008
Chandelier Ballroom (Upper)
12 – 4 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
4 – 6 Top Notchman
6 – 8 Dick Zavodny
8 – 10 Top Notchman
10 – 12 Dick Zavodny

Crystal Ballroom
12 – 4 Alan Polivka
4 – 6 Pete Dunda
6 – 8 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates
8 – 10 Pete Dunda
8 – 12 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates

Sunday 3/9/2008
Protestant Service and Polka Mass (time: tbd)

12 – 4 Top Notchman

Bayou House – 970 356 6262
33131 Hwy 85
Lucerne, CO - North of Greeley
Time: Sundays 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

John Prall 970 330 3460
Barbara Bentz 303 288 3778

January 2008
1/6/08 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
1/13/2008 Bob Schmer
1/20/2008 Dick Zavodny
1/27/2008 No dance

February 2008
2/3/2008 Mike Gashler / Polka Nuts
2/10/2008 Ronnie Eckhart
2/17/2008 Dick Zavodny
2/24/2008 John Fritzler


American Legion
624 Ash Street
Windsor, CO
Time: Saturdays 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sundays 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Rich DeChant – 970 330 5422

January 2008
1/6/2008 Rich DeChant
1/13/2008 Mark Warren
1/19/2008 Jim Ehrlich / Polka Mates
1/20/2008 Steve Windholz / Polka Pals
1/27/2008 Dick Zavodny

February 2008
2/3/2008 No dance
2/10/2008 Mark Warren
2/16/2008 John Fritzler
2/17/2008 Rich DeChant
2/24/2008 Steve Windholz / Polka Pals


Edelweiss Club
6495 Monaco Street
Commerce City, CO
Time: Saturday 8:00 pm – 12:00 pm

303 289 5621
www.TEVEdelweiss.org

January 2008
1/5/2008 Rhinelanders
1/12/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band
1/19/2008 Rhinelanders
1/26/2008 Tom Allen Variety Band

February 2008
2/2/2008 Rick Borger / Average German Band

Jan - Feb 2008 Photos

Feb 12 - 14 2008 Las Vegas Polka Festival

Stan and I were waiting in the 17 degree biting cold at the Denver airport wrapped in thin jackets and doubled up sweaters. We had just returned from a three day trip to a polka fest in Las Vegas. We enjoyed sitting on the benches in front of the hotel soaking up the sun in 70 degree weather watching the palms trees that lined the
driveway sway in the gentle breeze.

We still have melodies rattling in our heads for the hours spent listening and dancing to the five different bands playing non-stop from one in the afternoon to eleven at night.

The music was phenomenal. There were two bands from California; Sam Blout and Del Fazio. What a following the Del Fazio band had. There was a table or two of people, more like groupies, who adored this band. They wore similar clothes; one day black, one day those cute crinkly blouses of all colors and the next, red for Valentines day, of course. They clapped cheered and filled the dance floor. The music style was peppy and carried a great variety of “easy to dance to” polkas that brought a smile to your face and a click to your heels. There were plenty of waltzes and two steps (fox trot) with a few dragging love songs thrown in just to slow you down a bit.

Polka lovers talk about the great bands from “back east”. The other ballroom headlined Julie Lee from Fargo North Dakota who switched off every couple of hours with Del Sinchak from Ohio and Rhythm Players from Wisconsin. Julie Lee always brings the crowd to their feet to fill up the huge dance floor. Our new favorite is the Del Sinchak band. They have an accordion player, Ron “Austi” Austalosh, that is second to none. We got a tip from one of the folks we met to stand off to the side of the stage and watch him for a while. We did and noticed with delight the magic that came through his fingers as they rapidly dance along the keyboard of his accordion. He didn’t have the lead of the songs, but carried the notes in just the right combinations that complimented each tune. It was effortless for him.

The last day we wondered back and forth between the ball rooms looking for just the right music for our last day. We sat down in the front row lining the stage to the most inspiring sound. The dance floor was empty as people listened to the sounds of a singer on stage. His name was Johnnie and he was just traveling through Vegas on his way to Italy. He sang "Time to Say Goobye," which we had heard many times before from CDs and TV shows featuring Boniceli. The room filled with sound as he hit the high notes in perfect pitch. He treated us to a few more beautiful songs that touched your heart. He had such astounding tone and talent.

The polka festival was at The Orleans which is a mini-mega hotel away from the strip. It sits like an large ocean liner out to sea a few miles or so from the rest of the Vegas magic. The Orleans is huge to my estimation. We were on the 14th floor and had a long walk down one of many corridors just to get to our room. I told Stan he should have brought his dog Jack as it seemed like about a mile and he could have exercised his dog at the same time. The rooms were large and charming in decorated in that French Quarter look with a sofa and side chair at the end of the room over looking the spectacular view of the mountains skirting the west side of Vegas. These aren’t Colorado mountains, but spectacular in contrast to the desert with the different shades of strata and peaks that looked to have some trees dotting the slopes.

The casino sounds and sights of flashing lights are deafening and visually impacting. As you walk into the Casino you are struck by the multitude of machines tingling and clanking. Overhead someone is singing a non-descript tune, sure it is probablly top on the charts, but really it's pathetic. There are slots for pennies, nickels, quarters and dollars. There are lots of game options through these machines for poker, wheel of fortune and this thing and that. It is sensory overload at its peak. No one uses coins any more. Its all dollars or I should say twenty dollars bills in the bill accepter. Better yet, just slip in your credit card and you are set to go.

While we were eating lunch one day I watched one younger women sitting lifelessly at one of these $1 machines. Every few seconds she clicked the button. Sometimes she watched the results, sometimes she didn’t. This went on hypnotically for about half an hour. For every minute at 10 seconds per click that is about $6 per minute or $180 in a half an hour. That doesn’t count doubling up on multiple bets per click. You could easily go through your house payment in no time. With the machine spitting out constant information about your scores, wins andlosses, you are completely divorced from the actual cash it is costing you to sit there and play.

Another woman, who looked to be a full-time gambler, had evidently won enough that the attendant had to pay her off instead of the normal credit vouchers that the machine spits out. As she waited for the attendant to tally her scores she sat in the row of slots across from the winner, slipped in another bill, probably a twenty, and clicked away, her back turned facing the attendant, without even watching the spins and wins.

I guess you can tell that I’m not much of a gambler, although being around it every day with mandatory walks through the casino floor to find restaurants in this self-contained facility is enticing. I went out for a paper across the street at a gas station each morning. There were people still playing the slots, card games with deals and bellied up to the bar for a few at 6 am. It’s a different life for sure.

On Valentines Day think I was almost accosted on my way to find a newspape. You could just see the sun peeking over the gigantic hotel sign toward the east. A man in his 30’s in a white Honda type vehicle pulled up to the curb. His windows were rolled down. I’m just walking along minding my business when he said, “Excuse me,” as if to ask for directions. Then he surprised me with, “Happy Valentines. Do you want a lift? It’s cold this morning.” I held my jacket tightly together. I had on a pair of jeans and a big baggy coat. My sandy long gray hair from the back must have looked OK when he drove up behind me. I wonder what he thought when I turned around with my almost 62 year old wrinkled face and told him. “No thanks.” He drove off to troll some other buildings.

More dancing for the day. Watching the people is almost as much fun as getting up to dance. There were lots of very good and really great dancers that took command of the floor. We spotted one couple who whirled and circled the crowd like stealth fighter planes seeking a target. One time between tunes we introduced ourselves. Pottsy from Ohio and Nancy from Pennsylvania were a couple to watch and enjoy. We heard from some other folks that Pottsy is known as the dancing champ.






Toward the end of the day replete with dancing, talking and eating I decided that it is really about the footwork. There were so many cool moves and grand strides that my eyes could hardly keep up as people darted between each other. Shoes of all types swirled around the floor. Our feet pretty much gave out by the end of the third day. We put on our tennis shoes and socks to give them a rest. We sat down to just listen to the music. Before long Stan was tapping his leg up and down like a race horse ready for the ride. We tried it once around the floor. Tennis shoes really stick compared to the smooth leather soles. Before long I was dancing in my socking feet. That’s a real smooth way to top the day.





It was great fun with people from all over the country with about 60 people from Colorado. It was good to see them and have a chance to share the experience.

If you are interested in some great polkas and waltzes here are the web sites for CDs of Del Sinchak Band – www.peppermintrecords.com 333 783 2222 and Julie Lee www.whiteroseband.com 701 298 9422.

Southwest Polka Party - Sponsored by E & L Entertainment, Inc. Ed and Lois Halvorson 480 218 7009 www.southwestpolka.com

Jan 2008 New Years Eve

Dancing

Christmas 2006 and 2007 at the Polka Club

People at the Polka Club

Dancing at the Polka Club

Oct 2007 Halloween at the Polka Club

Aug 2006 and 2007 Polka Picnic

The heat of the summer sweltered on and dancers poured into the club to enjoy good music, dancing and chats with their friends. The picnic in 2007 on August 3rd was filled with Kicker's and Polka club members and guests. The kids were treated to an old fashioned game of Tug-of-War on the soccer filled along with other such laugh out loud fun. The Polka Club members were treated to food tickets and enjoyed a tasty meal of smoked pork chops or bratwurst. On this special day of celebration, entrance was free to all. The place was packed as folks danced to Steve Rock's band and the Rhinelander's. Not even a humid muggy day could keep the dancers from their passion of stepping out to new songs and old favorite tunes.

In 2006 the picnic held the delight of a face painter for all the children and adults to enjoy along with dancing fun.

Jun 2007 Tie Day

Father's Day brought out men in ties on a hot day on June 17th. Stan Kropewnicki stretched the guidelines by looping his tie around his belt loop like a sash. Cheers to all the men who tightened that tie around their necks for an afternoon of dancing fund to the delightful music of the Steve Windholz band.


Chuck Johnston and his son

Erich Selent and Stan Kropewnicki


Don Cade



Wes Loftesness


Hal Mund

May 2007 - Hat Day at Polka Club

Mother's day was celebrated on May 13th at the Polka club with a Hat Day. Women wore all sorts of hat attire decorated with ribbons, scarves and sprigs of flowers. Hatted women were treated to gift cards from Coldstone and a flower to celebrate the occasion dancing all afternoon to Dick Zavodny.

Cecil Cifta

Sandy Hardcastle

Dee Pugh


Bonnie Dolata


Marie Muller


Anneliese Ring

June Marta

Renate Phillips

Elaine Wagner

Joyce Kropewnicki

Shirley Secary

Dee Hayes

Feb 2007 Valentines Day

The Sunday before Valentines day dancers were greeted with a pleasant retreat from a winter deep with lingering snow to the cheery music of John Stehle. Many people wore red to brighten the afternoon and to add to the festivities.

Vern Brown





Betty Crosby

Jerry Stanger - Mary Malmstrom


Wes and Ruth Loftesness


Joyce Kropewnicki


Don Cade - Johanna Oliver


Adeline Stafford




Rudy and Lorraine Okoren

Les and Marie Muller



Veronica and John Paul

Hal and Jean Mund


Chuck Johnston and his daughters

Nov 4, 2008 - Adeline Stafford Celebrates 80th Birthday

Adeline and friends in Czech costume

Rudy and Lorraine Okoren


Dance Dance Dance - Adeline with Ernie Ortiz

Adeline and Red Hatters

All Hat and Feathers

Anneliese Ring and George Johnson

Adeline and friend in Czech Costume

Jim Ehrlich and Delores Billingsley

Adeline Stafford

Adeline Mares Stafford celebrated her 80th Birthday on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at the Lakewood Country Club with over 130 friends and relatives. On a warm fall afternoon this beautiful setting, nestled like an oasis close to 10th and Wadsworth, was festively decorated. Each table was set with colorful purple napkins and centerpieces held the charm of pictures of Adeline’s family and ancestors.

Adeline is proud of her Czech heritage and many guests wore Czech costumes with those vibrant colors and great billowy sleeves trimmed in lace. Others wore their Red Hat outfits with the intricately adorned hats and bright purple or red dresses. All had a great time and were honored to celebrate this occasion with Adeline.

The afternoon was a delight from the scrumptious dinner with delicious apple strudel to interesting stories and dancing. Greg and Deb Hach Beveridge, of the Polka Playmates band, explained they got their start years ago when Adeline needed a band for her Czech-Solvak Lodge years ago. Adeline is the champ at encouraging people to be their best. As a result of this support, the Polka Playmates are booked for over 120 engagements a year.

Jim Ehrlich, of the Polka Mates band, also entertained with toe tapping songs that beckoned you to get out on the dance floor. Ernie Ortiz joined in with his deep baritone voice to sing Tiny Bubbles, reminiscent of Adeline’s trip to Hawaii. From polkas and waltzes, to the group dances of the circle Schottische and line dancing to the Alley Cat and Never on a Sunday, guests were smiling and having fun.

Music and dancing have long been a passion of Adeline. Most Sunday afternoons she dances with the Polka Lovers Club at the Denver Kicker’s sports club house in Golden as well as joining friends at senior center dances throughout northern Colorado.

Adeline has lived in Lakewood for over 40 years. She is a retired elementary school teacher with over 30 years devoted to teaching children in their formative years with her kind, thoughtful, direct guidance. She acknowledged several of the key people in her life most notably recalling her 3rd grade students at Deane Elementary with aid, Martha Shiverdecker.

Adeline remembers her upbringing in Wilson, Kansas and was instrumental in continuing her heritage by organizing and making of two quilts representing her Libal and Mares family tree. The quilts are now in the Wilson Kansas Opera House Museum.