Irene Novak was born on December 29th, 1927, to Adolph and Janina Kozalka in Nisko, Poland. She was the second oldest sibling of four. Dance was something that came naturally to Irene and her younger sister. So much so that family friends encouraged Irene’s father to pursue a career for his daughters. Adolph packed up the family and moved to Warsaw, across the street from the Grand Theater and National Opera to be close to the theater and ballet school. She was only 10 years old when she met her future husband, Edmund. Her mother noticed that he would be walking past their door on the way to the ballet school and she made him escort her to ballet school. As a young dancing couple, they were meant to be with each other. The newspaper in Warsaw heralded their accomplishments, especially due to their young age. Little did they know that even though they dated others in between, ten years later they would be married and spend the next 72 years together. Her education and professional ballet career (stage name Irene Kovalska): State School of Ballet, Warsaw (Poland), 1944; Soloist, Parnell Ballet, 1945; Principle dancer, Kopinski Ballet, Kracow (Poland), 1946; Soloist, Polish Army Dance and Songs Company, Warsaw (Poland), 1947-50; Principle dancer, State Opera of Silesia, Bytom (Poland), 1949-50, 1953-54; Opera and Ballet in Lodz and Gliwice (Poland), 1951-53; Principle dancer, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (USA), 1957-60; Guest artist, TV Channel 12, Philadelphia (PA), 1961; Ballet Spectacular, Miami (FL), 1962, 1965; Ballet Classico, Caracas (Venezuela), 1963; Co-director, Novak and Kovalska School of Ballet, Philadelphia (and suburbs), 1960-2008. Irene and Edmund came to the United States in 1957, after surviving WWII and escaping communism. They were invited as guest artists to perform in the United States with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which was based in New York City. They toured all of the major cities of the US for three years. Irene danced with Edmund and other male leads in numerous roles as a ballerina. Towards the latter part of her stage career, she had started a family. She amazingly would perform on stage, then between dances, would nurse her firstborn infant son. Afterward, she would complete the performance. Upon retiring from performing, she raised two sons while co-directing the ballet school along with her husband. This showcases her commitment to the art, her family, and the numerous students who knew her. As co-director of the ballet school, she taught the younger students, choreographed their classes and the dances they performed. She would also teach many adult classes and found friendships that lasted years later. Not only an accomplished ballet dancer, she and her husband would awe the guests at weddings and receptions, clearing the dance floor with incredible impromptu ballroom dance. Her other interests included drawing and sewing. She loved to draw fashion and had even created some of her own clothes. Her master talent was costume design and execution. Every costume was either sewn from raw materials or if store-bought, modified, or embellished. No matter the project, each stitch was sewn by hand as she never used a sewing machine. Irene died at home on May 16th, 2021. She leaves behind her two beloved sons, their wives and two grandchildren, and the many students impacted by her teaching.