
Staś Kmieć ( , ) is an American theater and dance choreographer, specializing in a variety of styles of dance: theatre dance, character/folk, period/historical, social/ballroom, ballet, and
concert dance
Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreographed and perf ...
.
American-born of Polish descent, he is considered the foremost U.S. authority on Polish
folk dance
A folk dance is a dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, Ritual, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances ...
and culture, having been published in numerous articles and in ''Polish Folk Dances and Songs – A Step-by-Step Guide'' (Hippocrene Books) - considered the encyclopedia of Polish dance in the English language. Kmieć is the PBS resident Polish Culture expert and has offered commentary on several programs nationwide and on New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania affiliate stations.
As a dancer and choreographer, he has worked in many forms of dance - from classical ballet to folk, and from tap dance to musical theater. Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts
Early life
Born in Massachusetts, Staś Kmieć began dancing at an early age. He graduated from
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, with additional facilities in Boston and Grafton, as well as Talloires, France. Tufts also has several Doctor of Physical Therapy p ...
, and joined the ranks of the Boston Ballet to internationally tour with Rudolf Nureyev in the star's production of ''Don Quixote''.
Moving to New York City, he was a featured performer with
Lee Theodore’s American Dancemachine, danced with the
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an American opera company based in New York City, currently resident at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center), Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Referred ...
Ballet, performed regionally in musicals and completed two 2-year national tours of Jerome Robbins’ ''
Fiddler on the Roof
''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and musical theatre#Book musicals, book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Russian Empire, Imperial Russia in or around 19 ...
''.
He alternates a performance career with engagements as a director-choreographer, and established two dance companies.
Choreography
As a choreographer, Kmieć specializes in a variety of styles of dance. Choreographic work appeared on the Off-Broadway stage at La Mama and New World Stages, the national tour of ''Me and My Girl'', the Irish premiere of ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'', and concert work. On film, he created the dance moves for
Billy Crudup
William Gaither Crudup (; born July 8, 1968) is an American actor. He was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his performance in '' Jesus' Son'' (1999). He went on to star in numerous high-profile films, including ...
in “Trust the Man," and the wedding sequence choreography in "The Comedian."
Staś has also choreographed plays including ''Thieve’s Carnival, Summit Conference, Jest, You Can’t Take It With You'', and ''Dead Souls'' with
Hank Azaria
Henry Albert Azaria ( ; born April 25, 1964) is an American actor and producer. He is known for voicing many characters in the long-running animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' since 1989, including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Superintendent Chalmer ...
and
Oliver Platt
Oliver Platt (born January 12, 1960) is an American actor known for his work on stage and screen. He has been nominated for five Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and one Tony Award.
Following his acting deb ...
, ''The Defense of Prague'', and Scott Schwartz’s ''My Antonia'', a play with music by Stephen Schwartz.

''My Antonia'' – “a play with music,” premiered in Los Angeles at the Rubicon Theater and Pacific Resident Theaters in 2008. The music was written by Broadway great, Stephen Schwartz.
He is the founding Artistic Director/Choreographer of the ''Sarabande Repertory Dance Ensemble'' and The ''Lublin Polish Song and Dance Ensemble'', which has performed internationally.
As an instructor he focuses on the Broadway styles of Jack Cole, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and other Golden Age choreographers.
Kmieć resides in Manhattan. He has been a guest instructor at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Boston Conservatory of Music, Tufts University, Hofstra University, Hunter College, and Youngstown State University, and was on the faculty at the prestigious ''Ballet Arts'' in Manhattan’s City Center. He was the director of ''New York City Ballet'' Education Department's program - NYCB Workout.
Kmieć was selected by a panel of Broadway choreographers, directors, and composers for ''DanceBreak 2007''. This led director Scott Schwartz to engage him in as part of the creative team for his play adaptation of ''My Antonia'' – “a play with music,” which performed at the Los Angeles theaters: Rubicon Theater and Pacific Resident Theaters in 2008. The music was written by Stephen Schwartz.
In 2011, he assumed the position as Artistic Director of ''Ballet Western Reserve'' in Youngstown, OH and returned 2014-16. Among the new work created was "A Youngstown Nutcracker," which was set in the city's locale after The Civil War and incorporated historical figures and portrayed the focal Stahlbaum family as interfaith - Christian and Jewish.
In 2014, Kmieć received the “Excellence in Choreography” Award at the ''New York Musical Theater Festival'' for his work in the new musical ''The Mapmaker’s Opera''.
Performance history
Staś Kmieć has danced with the
Boston Ballet
The Boston Ballet is an American professional classical ballet company based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams and Sydney Leonard, and was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. ...
and the
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an American opera company based in New York City, currently resident at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center), Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Referred ...
Ballet; toured and performed on Broadway with both
Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (17 March 19386 January 1993) was a Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer. Nureyev is widely regarded as the preeminent male ballet dancer of his generation as well as one of the greatest ballet dancers of all ...
in ''Don Quixote'', and in Lee Theodore's
American Dance Machine.
He was a lead dancer in two national tours of ''Fiddler on the Roof'' with
Theodore Bikel
Theodore Meir Bikel ( ; May 2, 1924 – July 21, 2015) was an Austrian-American actor, singer, musician, composer, unionist, and political activist.
He made his stage debut in '' Tevye the Milkman'' in Mandatory Palestine, where he lived as ...
and subsequent productions with Bikel, Paul Sorvino and Spiro Malas - totaling 1,682 performances; has danced on film in ''
Mona Lisa Smile
''Mona Lisa Smile'' is a 2003 American drama film produced by Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures in association with Red Om Films Productions, directed by Mike Newell, written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, and starring Julia R ...
'' and ''
The Thing About My Folks'', and appeared in acting roles on television and film including: Robert Redford’s ''
Quiz Show
A game show (or gameshow) is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment where contestants compete in a game for rewards. The shows are typically directed by a host, who explains the rules of the program as well as commentating and narrating whe ...
'', Woody Allen’s ''
Don't Drink the Water'', and Todd Haynes’ coming-of-age film ''Dottie Gets Spanked'', featured at the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023.
The festival has acted ...
and on the PBS series, “TV Families.”
Education
Kmieć graduated from
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, with additional facilities in Boston and Grafton, as well as Talloires, France. Tufts also has several Doctor of Physical Therapy p ...
and the
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (MCSU) (, UMCS) is a public research university, in Lublin, Poland. It is named in honour of Marie Curie-Sklodowska.
The University was founded on October 23, 1944, by the Lublin Committee during the Second W ...
''Studium Folklorzystczne'' in Lublin, Poland - graduating with distinguished honors (''z wyróżnieniem'').
Polish culture and dance

Staś Kmieć is one of the authors of the definitive encyclopedia on Polish Dance in the English language, ''Polish Folk Dances and Songs'' (Hippocrene Books, 1997), and has appeared on television as PBS's resident
Polish culture
The culture of Poland () is the product of its Geography of Poland, geography and distinct historical evolution, which is closely connected to History of Poland, an intricate thousand-year history. Poland has a Catholic Church, Roman Catholic ma ...
expert. He has been the culture editor for the now defunct ''Polish American Magazine'', and since 1987 is the culture editor of ''The Polish American Journal''. He is an Arts columnist for ''The Post Eagle''.
It was his choreographic work and field research in
Communist Poland, which has led to stage productions of Polish culture and dance. He specializes in the
folk culture
Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as tales, myths, legends, proverbs, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also includes mat ...
of southeastern Poland’s Lublin region, and the folklore of its Jewish Shtetl villages.
In 1989, Kmieć was honored by the Ministry of Culture with Poland’s culture honor – ''The Oskar Kolberg Award'' for his propagation and promotion of Polish culture abroad.
In 1977, when in his teens, he founded ''The Lublin Polish Song and Dance Ensemble'' (''Zespół Pieśni i Tańca – LUBLINIACY''). This was the first ensemble outside of Poland to present the songs and dances of the obscure Lublin sub-regions of Chełm (1982) and Biłgoraj (1985) and Powiśle (1986). He brought his company to Poland to tour in 1986. The Polish press remarked that “This is the only Polonia ensemble that evokes true Polish style and character in their performance presentation.”
Incorporating over 250 performers (dancers, singers, and orchestra) in an outdoor extravaganza, Staś was the director of the 1995 and 1999 ''Dożynki Harvest Festival'' held in
Orange County, NY.
Kmieć has created work for other Polish American groups including: The Alliance College ''Kujawiaki'', Chicago’s ''Lira Ensemble'', ''P.K.M. Polish Folk Dancers'' (Philadelphia), ''Syrena Folk Dance Ensemble'' (Milwaukee), and the ''Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble'' of Cambridge, MA. He was also instrumental in the pre-production work of Lira’s ''Zapraszamy'' tour project.
Kmieć is the American cultural representative for Poland’s ''
Mazowsze (folk group) Polish Song and Dance Company'', having appeared on PBS as the "PBS' resident expert and cultural ambassador".
Affiliations
Kmieć is a member of ''Actors' Equity Association'' (AEA), ''Screen Actors’ Guild'' (SAG), the ''American Guild of Musical Artists'' (AGMA) and the ''Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers'' (SDC).
He was elected to the National Council of Actors' Equity, has served on the AGMA Board of Governors, and a voter for the Tony Awards.
Published works
Journal articles on Polish culture
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Books
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References
External links
Podcast:
''NYTheatrecast.com - Choreographers' Roundtable''
* http://www.nytheatrecast.com/wordpress/archives/96; http://www.nytheatrecast.com/pcast/nythpod221.mp3
Interview Article:
''DanceNet Interview''
* http://www.dance.net/topic/8044301/1/Ballet-General/Inspiration-01.html&replies=3
Theater Articles:
''My Antonia – A Play with Music''
* http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=27599
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117520.html
''DanceBreak'' - Broadway Industry Showcase
* http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_DanceBreak_2007_20070216
''DanceBreak 2007''
* http://www.dancebreak.org/past_performances/dancebreak-2007
''DanceBreak'', New World Stages, NYC (video interview)
* http://homepage.mac.com/msa141/iMovieTheater42.html
''theAtrainplays''
* http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=19462
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kmiec, Stas
Living people
American choreographers
American male ballet dancers
American people of Polish descent
Tufts University alumni
American ballroom dancers
Folk dancers
Year of birth missing (living people)