Mrs. G.

SYRENA DANCE ENSEMBLE
6466 EVANGELINE DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN, 48127

PAT STEVEN--SCHOOL DIRECTOR CATHY SIELICKI--CHOREOGRAPHER
SHIRLEY A. GALANTY--FOUNDER OF SYRENA

Mrs. Shirley Ann Galanty

              Forever Dedicated To You...
                Mrs Shirley Ann Galanty
       January 27, 1938-September 20,2010

          Mrs. G as she was fondly called, began dancing at the age of 4, studying ballet, pointe, and tap for twelve years at the prestigious Enid Ricardeau dance studio in Detroit. For the next six years, Mrs. G became a member of Ray Binny's "Talent of Parade" travel troupe under the stage name "Shirley Ann Dare." At the same time, during her middle school years, she became a member of the "Laur Society" and it was then that her love for Polish folk dancing.

        In 1956, Mrs. G became the first P.R.C.U.A. dance teacher in the state of Michigan. She taught for the P.R.C.U.A. Westside Dance School in Detroit, now known as the Wieliczka Dance School.

         Her enthusiasm for dance was contagious and energy level was high. She started a dance studio in the basement of her Dearborn Heights home in 1971 called "The Shirley Galanty Line Dancers." Every member of her group learned elements of Polish folk dancing as well as tap, ballet and jazz.

         In typical Mrs. G fashion, she continued with more projects and in 1975, she formed the Syrena Dance Ensemble of Dearborn Heights. It was here that she introduced the first "presentation ball" honoring their graduating seniors. It was Syrena where all of her 7 children graduated from.

         Throughout her life, Mrs. G wore many "hats" for various organizations. In 1979, she was elected to the position of National State Director in Michigan for District #10. Some of the duties she had were organizing numerous events such as a youth dance group between the dance schools, a Folklore Dance Gala, the organization and participation of all P.R.C.U.A. dance schools at the festivies in Hamtramck surrounding two Papal visits, and the list goes on.

         As director, she represented the P.R.C.U.A. in numerous organizations and took on titles with her involvement within the Michigan Fraternal Congress, Orchard Lake's Ladies Auxiliary, Polish American Congress, and the Central Citizens Committee, just to name a few.

        One of her crowning achievements came in 1991 with the formation of the P.R.C.U.A. Michigan State Ball. This special evening would allow all graduating seniors from a P.R.C.U.A. Michigan Dance School the opportunity to be introduced to metro detroit's Polonia and to the Executive Officers of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America all in one location.

         2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the Michigan State Ball. In the fall of 2010, P.R.C.U.A. President Mr. Joseph Drobot announced that the ball would be renamed in her honor. So today it is called the "Shirley Ann Galanty Michigan State Ball". Mrs. G was proud to be a member of the Dance Masters of America and Dance Masters of Michigan and was certified to teach dance through both organizations.

       Her second home was the dance floor whether she taught a regional dance, a peppy polka, an elegant waltz or tap. She taught countless students during her 35 years as Choreographer of the Ensemble. We owe a lot to “Mrs. G” and cannot begin to thank her for what she has given to the school. We hope that we can always honor her properly. We are forever grateful for her dedication, love and inspiration of everything Polish!