Artistic career of the ensemble:

The Folk Ensemble JISKRA ( = "Spark") was founded in 1958. Since its foundation this group has performanced and interpreted the folklore of the southern-west Bohemia. It prefers the areas: Plzeň, Chodsko and Žinkovy.

The ensemble JISKRA consists of 3 parts - music (violins, contrabass, clarinets, bag-pipes, "fanfrnoch" and "vozembouch"), singers and dancers - together there are cca 35 members.

Since 1997 JISKRA with the Town of Plzeň is the main organizator of the International Folklore Festival in Plzeň.

JISKRA belongs to the best amateur ensembles in the Czech republic. It takes part of recording in the broadcasting studio of Czech Radio Plzeň, it cooperated with the Czech Television.

JISKRA is the member of the Folklore Association of Czech Republic.

The Folk Ensemble JISKRA has made, until now, tours in these countries:

1968 - FRANCE - Paris

1976 - GERMANY - Gera

1981 - GERMANY - Gera

1983 - BELGIUM - Dendermonde

1985 - BELGIUM - Dendermonde

1985 - ENGLAND - Folkestone

1986 - RUSSIA - Sverdlovsk - Moskva

1987 - POLAND - Zakopané

1987 - SYRIA - Damašk

1989 - BELGIUM - Jambes - Dendermonde

1989 - KOREA - Pchjongjang

1993 - GERMANY - Gera - Mintraching

1994 - DENMARK - Hjertebjerg - Bogo

1995 - ITALY - Penna Sant'Andrea

1996 - FRANCE - Lamballe - Le Donjon - Nouzier

1996 - GERMANY - Hirschau

1998 - BELGIUM - Dendermonde - Edegem

1999 - GERMANY - Mühldorf

2000 - FINLAND - Turku

2000 - GERMANY - Mühldorf

2000 - SLOVAKIA - Liptovský Mikuláš

2001 - POLAND - Zywiec - Wisla - Ujsoly - Osvětim - Sczyrk - Andrychow

2001 - GERMANY - Mühldorf

2001 - SLOVAKIA - Oravská Polhora, Mutené

2002 - AUSTRIA - Guttenbrun, Hirschbach

2002 - FRANCE - Limoges

2003 - GERMANY - Regensburg

2003 - GERMANY - Lužice- Bausitz, Crostwitz, Nebelschütz

2003 - BELGIUM - Bissegem

2003 - GERMANY - Mühldorf

2005 - NORTH CYPRUS - Lefkosa, Girne

2005 - GERMANY - Mühldorf

Regulary, it takes part in the most important folk festival in the Czech Republic - Karlovy Vary, Domažlice, Pardubice, Klatovy, Červený Kostelec, Strážnice.

Information about a programme:

The repertory includes folk songs, music and dances from the areas written above. There are typical costum for each area.The choreography of dances is based on the original folk custom and dances, they are particulary modificated.

The ensemble gives into its performances circle and figural dances. You can find there some dances which presents the typical old crafts - for example: brick - makers, shoemakers, innkeepres, witches etc.

This group has prepared some performances which are connected with the familiar and calendary customs ("Roving and st. Lucie", "The night Philip - Jacob´s - magic and thaumaturgy", Christmas in Plisen, "Forman´s road", "Shoemakers", "Military song").

Music instruments:

violines, clarinets, contrabass, bag-pipe

Unique instruments:

"fanfrnoch" and "vozembouch" (folk-band instrument-staff topped with bow hung rattles)

Contact:

Folk Ensemble JISKRA

Miroslav Skarda (manager of group)

Suvorovova 16

326 00 Pilsen

Email: m.skarda@souborjiskra.hyperlink.cz

Web: http://souborjiskra.hyperlink.cz