Dancers from Slovakia Bratislava. Slovakia is a beautiful country in Central Europe with a rich culture heritage

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1 Dancers from Slovakia Bratislava Slovakia is a beautiful country in Central Europe with a rich culture heritage

2 The group Dancers from Slovakia is composed by the group Dancers from Lúčnica and children's ensemble Dolina. The group Dancers from Lúčnica is active for several years. Its members are amateur dancers over 40 years of age who performed in Europe, America, Africa and Asia during their dancing career in the youth. Many of them are leaders of children's folk ensembles and specialists in national cultural heritage. They love to share their joy of dance with the audience. The folk ensemble Dolina (the Valley) is a group of children and young people that love and respect the Slovak folk traditions. During 25 years of its existence the ensemble successfully represented the Slovak folk art in many European countries and in Tunisia. The artistic director and choreographer of the ensemble is Naďa Čermáková. Choreography: Naďa Čermáková, Ingrid Saňková Managers: Alojz Špaček, Naďa Čermáková Contact: alojzspacek@centrum.sk Translation: Erika Mináriková

3 Program Women from Tekov Proud, graceful women from Western Slovakia wore richly decorated costumes. Inseparable part of the costume was a very unique bonnet. Dance from the Myjava Region Vivid couple dances from Western Slovakia. Jumping of girls and women was originally supposed to ensure good crops. Today it is a demonstration of dance mastery. Threesome from the Goral Region Gorals live on the Slovak-Polish border in the High Tatras region. It is characteristic that one man dances with two women. The movement of legs is very brisk, while the top of the body is calm. The dance is accompanied by the fiddle chiseled from the wood. Scarf Dance from Detva Detva is a little town in the very heart of Slovakia, in shepherds region, where the musical instrument fujara originated. In the dance individuality of the dancer is expressed. The movement of the whole body is typical for this region. Mazurkas from Trenčín The dance mazurka originated in Poland. In 19th century it spread to the towns and also to the countryside as a modern form of the dance. Girls from the Šariš Region Temperamental dance from northern Slovakia, a memory of the youth. Bell dance form the Gemer Region In the Gemer region men worked as miners and shepherds. The tradition of bells production went beyond the borders of Slovakia. Horehron The dances in circles and in lines are typical for the Central Slovak Upper Hron region (Horehron). Male dancers used to compete in vigorous stamping. Men worked originqally as shepherds and lumberjacks.

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5 The Slovak Republic (short form: Slovakia) is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 square kilometres (19,000 sq mi). Slovakia borders the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. Connecting line of the northernmost and southernmost points 140 miles. Connecting line of the westernmost and easternmost points 266 miles.

6 The Slovak Republic or Slovakia is a landlocked country in the Central Europe with a population of over five million and an area of about 49,000 square kilometers (19,000 square miles). The capital Bratislava lies on both sides of the river Danube. Slovakia is a member of the European Union. The largest city is capital Bratislava. The capital Bratislava has inhabitants

7 The present-day Slovakia became an independent state on January 1st, 1993 after a peaceful dissolution of Czecho-Slovakia.

8 Population by nationality Slovak 86% Hungarian 10,5% Gypsy 1,63% Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1,1% Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian 0,64 German 0,1% Polish 0,06% other and not declared 0,27% Population by religions Roman Catholic 61% Slovak Evangelic Lutheran 6,2% Greek-Catholic 3,4 % Calvinist 1,6 % Not specified 17,4% Withou denomination 9,8% Others 1,2%

9 Slovakia is a country with rich cultural traditions and customs with very unique and very rich folk art. There are many ensembles in Slovakia that preserve folk art traditions. In the past, in every valley one could find typical folk costumes, original dialect and customs as well. One of the typical Slovak meals is bryndzové halušky dumplings made from potatoes and flour, eaten with sheep cheese and bacon.

10 Many Slovak folk songs are ideal for dancing for being very rhythmical, swift and amusing. There exist also a lot of beautiful sad songs narrating about love, happiness, about disappointment, natural beauties and love of the homeland. There are many folk festivals in Slovakia where the audience can admire folk dances, music and songs.

11 Fujara - a fascinating musical instrument Fujara is a wind instrument (over five feet or 1.7 m long) of ancient Slovak shepherds. Cherished in the seclusion of the Slovak mountains, fujara preserved over centuries. Uniquely it combines a natural, easy-to-learn technique and an amazing sound. In November 2005, UNESCO Director-General proclaimed 43 new Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity. Fujara is one of them.

12 Dancers from Slovakia invite you to visit the Slovak Republic!