Basia Klimas-Sawyer BA,MA (East European History) London University SSEES is Orleta’s founder, manager, choreographer and teacher. She also makes many of their beautiful costumes, paying great attention to authenticity and detail.In 1973, she was among the first Poles living abroad to graduate from a new teaching diploma course in Polish folklore, singing and dancing. She graduated with honours.

Since then she has taken time out of her busy life several times to go back on refresher courses.
She is also the Chair of the Federation of Polish folk Dance groups in GB and organiser of the past few festivals here. She holds the much prized Oskar Kolberg award, which she was given in recognition of her services for Polish folk culture.