Couple dance with lifts at the grand spring performance
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Press kit
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About the ensemble
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Short text
Jaro Dance Group is a folk dance ensemble from Prague, led since 1983 by choreographer Živana Vajsarová. More than 60 dancers, from children to adults, perform folk dances from Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia accompanied by the live Jara Band. The ensemble is part of the ZUŠ Štefánikova art school in Prague 5.
Long text
Jaro Dance Group was founded in 1983 by artistic director and choreographer Živana Vajsarová, continuing the legacy of the dance group of the same name founded in the 1950s by her father, the eminent Czech ethnographer and folklorist Prof. František Bonuš. The ensemble is part of the ZUŠ Štefánikova art school in Prague 5 and has more than 60 dancers in five age groups – Pramínek, Sluníčka, Kolovrátek, Studánky and Kalina.
Its repertoire consists of folk dances and games from central, eastern and western Bohemia, Lachia and Slovak Liptov, as well as historical dances. Every year the ensemble presents a grand spring and a grand Christmas performance. Since 1993 it has been accompanied by the Jara Band led by Karel Mezera.
The ensemble has won many awards at national dance competitions and has performed in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, the USA, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, Morocco and Malta.
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Photos & logo
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Girls in folk costumes dancing in a circle with flower wreaths
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Children of the youngest group dancing in pink costumes
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Joy on stage – dancers lifting their partners
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Boys performing the Odzemok shepherds’ dance with axes
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The Jara Band led by Karel Mezera
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Please credit: Photo: Jaro Dance Group archive.
Quotes
What they said
Whenever you come to see this ensemble, you will always meet spring! Not because of its name, but because spring is its ever-present poetry, brightness and pure childlike joy.
As many dances, as many moods, as many states of the soul – so much beauty in the pure simplicity of folk art, convincingly interpreted by musicians and dancers alike.
It is not usual for an audience to give a standing ovation at the end of a dance performance, some of them with tears in their eyes. I am not exaggerating. This time it happened.