LÚČNICA IN BOJNICE

Lúčnica at EXPO 86 in Vancouver, Beautiful British Columbia

Slovakia is a picturesque country with a beautiful nature, historical and cultural heritage. Slovakia is also rich in folk art traditions. The folk -songs, folk music, folk-dances and also the folk-costumes are various and different in each part and in each village of the country.

The best amateur representative of this richness is the folk-dance ensemble Lúčnica.

Lúčnica came to Bojnice with a program that shown us the most characteristic dances from many parts of Slovakia. In the first part of this beautiful program we saw Šariš polka, Throwing dance, Stick dance, listened to field songs and the music from Čierny Balog, including Julo Bartoš's: Oči, Oči, Čierne Oči (Eyes, Eyes, Black Eyes) and dances connected with typical work-occasions and habits as growing of a poppy seed and trashing the wheat with sticks. The first half of the program ended with a dance called Horehronci (The people of Upper Hron), with remarkable music arrangement by late Svetozár Stračina and excellent choreography by Prof. Štefan Nosál. The song and dances of the second half were just as touching. We saw dances connected with welcoming of the spring, Verbung (young lads joining the army), Pozdišovskí Hrnčiari (Potters of Pozdišovce), Širákovy (Hat dance from Myjava) and Sviatok na Zemplíne (Sunday in Zemplín). The singers sung funny songs called: Pri Poháriku (By the glass) and the music played one solo number called: Veselo še dzífče (Be happy, Girl). I think this was the nicest part of the second half. Well perhaps the word "nicest" isn't enough. It was gorgeous. What am I writing about? It was the solo on the cymbal performed by Ernest Šarkózi. As, when he plays the cymbal the building shakes. He is amazing. His wonderful music penetrated into the heart. For his exceptional performance he was awarded with loud and long applause.

The folk costumes very colorful and detailed, simply perfect.

The only thing in my opinion that could be improved is the design of the stage as it was all green and I personally feel that brown and shades of brown would go better with the costumes. But that is only my own opinion and feeling.

Prof. Štefan Nosál created most of the choreographies of this program.

Mária Rybárova

In January 1997, Professor Štefan Nosál was celebrating his life jubilee on the eve of his 70 birthday in the Slovak National Theatre, with program prepared by his former student graduates. I met Prof. Nosál eleven years ago at Vancouver's World Exposition EXPO 86 during Lúčnica's performances and we remained friends since then.

Few weeks ago while visiting my long time friend and the director of Bojnice's cultural center Mrs. Elza Dadíkova I learned of Lucnica’s performance. I decided to go and see them, as I know, Lúčnica's performances are always fantastic and a great pleasure to watch. I pretty well know their repertoire by heart as I've seen their performances, many times over the years. Mostly though through the viewfinder of my video camera. This performance I settled for taking few pictures (I took only 59) and really enjoying their performance. Prof. Nosal, his choreographies, the performance of the dancers, singers, the musicians were all incredible. These days cultural performances as this one are always supported in large part by sponsors. In Bojnice's town's cultural center the main sponsor with who's help this program was realized is Ludmila Fabríková of Potraviny Fabrík at Sládkovičová Street in Bojnice. They are all year supporters of cultural events for children, adults and seniors and also are the main sponsor of the Days of Christmas Carols of Christians of Slovakia.

I have spent many years of my life in constant discovering and creating beauty.
Not only the one that can be receptive by eyes, but also one that beautifies the spirit.
I am happy that many young people in Lúčnica and at the school have helped me.
They have filled with this happiness themselves and they had seeded her with handful to our people at home and the people around the world.

I am grateful to you,

Štefan Nosál.

"There is no other place in the world where you will be able to see such marvelous temperament, love and happiness of dancing and music of native country. They were full of inexhaustible energy, their movements were so perfect that the competitors at the Olympic games wouldn’t be ashamed if they were in their shoes."

International Herald Tribune, USA.

LÚČNICA IN POPRAD APRIL 2003

LÚČNICA IN BOJNICE CHRISTMAS 2000

GO BACK TO FOLKLORE GROUPS

Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 5, No.2, Summer 1997
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1997 
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.