FOLK
ENSEMBLE VRANOVČAN
IS 30 YEARS OLD
Pišta Kocák
"Returns to beauty" was the name
of their anniversary program, which I missed. As I have seen Vranovcan
performing on several occasions at numerous festivals, last time couple of
weeks after their anniversary program in Vranov nad Toplou.
Vranov nad Toplou is located in the North Eastern part of Slovakia at the
confluence of rivers Ondava and Topla. It has over 725 year history and it is
closely tied with cultural and ethnic part of Zemplin and Saris.
Here in 1968 folk ensemble Vranovcan was formed. Vranovcan is focused on
searching, collecting, adapting, spreading and saving folk traditions, songs
and dances of Zemplin and Saris part of the Eastern Slovakia region. Since its
beginning they performed over 1100 times at different festivals, celebrations,
competitions and shows ant home and abroad.
They absolved 48 tours abroad in
16 European countries and Africa. Since its establishment the ensemble is
working continuously. During all those years over 750 young people devoted
much of their free time to their ensemble beside other responsibilities at
schools or at work.
At present time the ensemble is a legal subject with 50
members consisting of musicians, singers and dancers. In their repertoire are
folk songs and dance compositions of czardas, whirling dances, polkas, soldiers
and wedding dances and other customs.
All
photographs are for sale
GO
TO FOLKLORE GROUPS
Published in the Slovak
Heritage Live newsletter Volume 7, No. 1, Spring 1999
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1999
3804 Yale
Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished,
or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express
written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights reserved.
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