The Folklore Ensemble Vranovcan

History

In the north–eastern corner of Slovakia, at the confluence of the Topla and Ondava rivers, lies the town of Vranov nad Toplou (population 25 000). For over 730 years this town has been tightly bound with the ethnic regions of Zemplin a Saris.

It was here where an amateur folklore ensemble VRANOVCAN was founded in 1968. In its activities it has devoted itself to identification, collection, preservation and public presentation of the rich folklore heritage embodied in various folklore customs and habits, songs and dances pertaining to the eastern Slovak regions of Saris and Zemplin.

More than 1400 young people have had a chance to develop their talent and spent their free time sensibly. Since it was founded the ensemble has delivered over 1300 performances at various folklore festivals, celebrations, folklore parades and competitions at home and abroad. During its 76 trips abroad, has performed and has given more than 256 performances in 21 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

The Folklore Ensemble VRANOVCAN has earned important national awards in national competitions of the folklore ensembles in different categories (theme choreography, choreographies, solo dances) for the dances Verbunk, Prebudenie, Vasilovo cifry, Duplovana, Krucena, Parchovensky cardas, Strarodavna krucena. VRANOVCAN has earned one of the major prizes in a quite demanding national competition of folklore songs ‘GRAND PRIX of music composer Svetozar Stracina‘. In the year 2002, the group won the first prize in both categories and became a two time winner for the first time in the history of the competition. No other Slovak folklore group had ever achieved that before.

The ensemble has released 2 CD albums and 2 audio cassettes containing songs and dances from around the region of Vranov nad Toplou. The group has appeared several times on the Slovak Television and Slovak Radio. In 2002, with the help of regional association ‘Nove Milenium‘, Folklore Ensemble VRANOVCAN has published COLLECTION OF FOLKLORE SONGS from around the region of Vranov nad Toplou for basic schools and all the folklore lovers.

Trips abroad

AUSTRIA – 1990, 1996, 2001

ALGERIA – 1986

BELGIUM – 1994

BULGARIA – 1976, 1977, 1979, 1985, 1986

CANADA – 2004

CZECH REPUBLIC – 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1995, 1998,

                                   1999, 2001, 2002

FRANCE – 1987, 2000

GERMANY – 1981, 1984, 1989 (BORKUM – an Island in the Northern Sea), 1993, 1994, 1997

GREECE – 1992, 2004

HOLLAND – 1989

HUNGARY – 1980, 1981, 1983, 1989 (2x), 1992, 1993, 1996 (2x), 1997, 2002

ITALY – 1991 ( SICILY ) – 1999, 2001, 2005

MONACO – 1987

POLAND – 1972, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993

PORTUGAL – 2003

ROMANIA – 1977, 1978

SLOVENIA – 1990

TURKEY – 1996

THE UKRAINE – 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976 (2x), 1979, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2006

THE UNITED KINGDOM – 2006

21 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and America

76 trips abroad

256 performances on the trips abroad

Achievements/Awards

Bratislava/Slovakia 19 October, 1984 – 3^rd edition of National competition in folklore choreographies – The group earned 3^rd place for the dance ‘DUPLOVANA‘, small dance choreography

Povazska Bystrica/Slovakia 13–16 November, 1986 – National competition of folklore ensembles – 30 minute long performances – Diploma and Award for the best choice and formation of the original folklore tradition

Humenne/Slovakia 25 April, 1987 – The group earned 2^nd place in National categorisation of folklore ensembles – (B category)

Nice/France 10-22 July, 1987 - The ensemble was awarded Golden Plaque of the Folklore Festival LA FARANDOLE, Nice Cote d´Azur, France

Bratislava/Slovakia 20-22 November, 1987 – The 4^th edition of National competition in choreographies of folklore ensembles. The ensemble earned 2^nd place for the performance of dance called ‘VERBUNK‘ in large dance choreographies

Bratislava/Slovakia 26 October, 1988 – The Ministry of Culture of The Slovak Republic awarded Vranovcan with the title “The Best Model Group of Free Time Artistic Activity”

Bratislava/Slovakia 27 October, 1988 – The Institute of Education in Bratislava awarded the group with The Golden Plaque for the development of Free Time Artistic Activity

Warfum/Holland 7 July, 1989 – International Folklore Festival OP ROAKELDAIS Warfum, Holland. The group was awarded as the Laureate of the festival

Povazska Bystrica/Slovakia 21 October, 1989 – National competition of folklore choreographies – The group gained the prize of the competition for the scenic part called ‘NEVESELE VESELE‘

Povazska Bystrica/Slovakia 19 October, 1996 - Festival of Folklore Ensembles – national competition in folklore choreographies. The ensemble earned a diploma and a prize for the styled dance and song interpretation of the dance called ‘SPOD OBLIKA‘

Vranov nad Toplou/Slovakia 6 November, 1998 – The Town of Vranov nad Toplou rested the group with Honorary Acknowledgement For The Development of Culture and Expressive Representation

Bratislava, Sloavkia 7 November, 1998 – General Director of The National Educational Centre in Bratislava PhDr. Jan Tazberik, CSc. rested the group with The Prize of Gabriel Daniel Lichard for A Long Time Artistic and Educational Activity with the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the foundation of The Folklore Ensemble Vranovcan.

Banska Bystrica/Slovakia 17 March, 2000 - National competition the ‘GRAND PRIX OF COMPOSER SVATOZAR STRACINA 2000‘ – The ensemble won the major prize of the Slovak folklore Association for the interpretation of the song called ‘PODZME CHLAPCI PODZME‘

Liptovsky Hradok/Slovakia June, 2002 – National competition of folklore choreographies. As the first ensemble in the history of the competition VRANOVCAN won the 1^st place in both categories for the dances, `STARODAVNA KRUCENA` (small choreography) and `PARCHOVANY` (large choreography)

Introductury letter

The Folklore Ensemble VRANOVCAN ranks among the top Slovak folklore ensembles. In its activities it has devoted itself to identification, collection, preservation and public presentation of the rich folklore heritage embodied in various folklore customs and habits, songs and dances pertaining to the eastern Slovak regions Saris and Zemplin. Since it was founded the ensemble has delivered over 1400 performances at various folklore festivals, celebrations, folklore parades and competitions at home and abroad. During its 76 trips abroad, has performed and has given more than 256 performances in 21 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. 

         At present, VRANOVCAN has 75 members and consists of music, dance  and song sections. The members of the folklore ensemble are young people between 14 and 30 years of age. Because of their talent and enthusiasm VRANOVCAN has brought joy and pleasure arising from folklore art to numerous audiences at home and abroad.

The management of The Folklore Ensemble Vranovcan

Artistic leader and choreographer: Stefan Kocak stefankocak@centrum.sk

Choreographer and dance instructor: Peter Kocak peterkocak@vranovcan.sk

The leader of the music section: Ing. Jan Dravecky.jr

The leader of the song section: Antonia Metylova

Administration manager: Helena Kocakova

Interpreter: PhDr. Slavomir Kmec    slavo@gyvv.sk

Address:

The Folklore Ensemble Vranovcan

Sidlisko 1. maja 74

Budova HZOS

093 01 Vranov nad Toplou

Slovakia

+421904395383

e-mail – peterkocak@vranovcan.sk

website: http://www.vranovcan.sk