First Posted: 1/5/2015
DUPONT — The region’s polka roots were celebrated on Jan. 4 at the Dupont VFW when more than 80 people gathered to dance to original polka songs of John Stevens’ Doubleshot.
The moment the band struck its first note, a dozen couples began twirling around the room. As many as 25 pairs occupied the dance floor at once, all breathing heavily, smiling widely and laughing heartily.
Dolly Kubasko, a polka promoter from Pittston, was in attendance to oversee the event she organized. Kubasko has been promoting polka gatherings for over 40 years. More than a decade ago, she noticed the culture was dwindling with an aging generation and a lack of local activity.
In response, she reached out to Bob Lopata, president of the Dupont Home Association, to see if the VFW would provide space for an event. By getting local bands to agree to a per-capita payment, she found a way to throw dances that were affordable for the non-profit organization and attendees.
Although Kubasko no longer joins her fellow enthusiasts on the dance floor, she enjoys seeing others carry on the polka tradition. She is, however, concerned about the future of such gatherings with fewer and fewer young people attending.
“If they don’t support the dances, we’re not going to have any bands to play. Polka people are getting older. We’ve got to get the young ones,” she said.
In its 11th year, the weekly event draws participants who have participated since the beginning. Martha and Fred Allabaugh began polka dancing as a new hobby after retirement and have become familiar faces at the VFW dances over the last decade.
A few younger faces speckled the crowd as part of a travelling dance troupe. The Pokolenia Dancers, who have performed at Jimmy Stuart Christmas Shows and the Polonia Ball in New York City, were in attendance. According to Suzanne Greenhill, one of their organizers, the group has around 30 young people (ages 8-38) in their group.
John Stevens, Doubleshot’s front-man, agrees that youth is important to continuing the polka tradition, but puts some of the responsibility on musicians. A second generation polka musician, he is leading the band on its 20th anniversary tour.
“To keep it going, you need to produce original polka music. You can’t keep playing the same old, same old songs that people have heard or have stereotyped polka music to be,” said Stevens, of Swoyersville.
The youngest face in the crowd might have been Stevens’ biggest fan. Saige Fohl, of Milford, was born with nonketotic hyperglycemia or NKH, a disorder which affects the brain because the body is unable to metabolize glycine naturally. She attended the dance with her mother, Robin.
Robin Fohl grew up polka dancing, and in the last several years, polka music has done a lot to spread awareness about NKH. Stevens has been involved with two benefit concerts that raised over $20,000 for research, and his album “Such a Happy Day” (Saige is on the album cover) gives a portion of all proceeds to www.nkhcrusaders.com. Meanwhile, the little lady loves all music, especially polka, and accompanies her mother whenever possible.
A polka dance is held from 2 to 6 p.m. every Sunday at the Dupont VFW, Main Street.
