Press

Reviews & Awards

Reviews by leading figures of Czech folk dance, press articles and diplomas from national competitions. Most original texts are in Czech.

Reviews & articles

Reviews

From the dance journal Taneční listy in 1993 to the Naples Daily News – a selection of what has been written about us.

2017 Jana Hošková · Taneční aktuality (dance news portal)

O Holy Christmas Time – more than preserving Christmas traditions

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.

Full article About the event

2016 PaedDr. Eva Rejšková · Pam Pam magazine

Review of the grand spring performance

For me, this evening was a powerful emotional and aesthetic experience – simply a caress for the soul.

Full text in the scanned document – click to enlarge.

2014 Harriet Howard Heithaus · Naples Daily News (USA)

Czech folk dancers bring ‘Velvet Generation’ to Naples

Call it shuttle diplomacy. Or better, greetings from one of the world’s newest democracies to one of the longest running.

Full article About the event

Scan of the article: Czech folk dancers bring ‘Velvet Generation’ to Naples

Full text in the scanned document – click to enlarge.

2012 Jiřina Mlíkovská · letter on the Christmas performance at Musaion

On the Christmas performance at the Musaion summer palace

Today – in the age of huge auditoriums and electronic recordings – that “close-up view of living dancing bodies” was surprisingly precious.

Full text in the scanned document – click to enlarge.

2010 Bohumíra Cveklová · Talent magazine

Ten years of cooperation and friendship across half the globe

An article about our friendship with the Budlet Folk Dance Club from Hong Kong, which began at the Hong Kong Dance Expo in 2000.

Full article About the event

2010 Mgr. Bohumíra Cveklová · review of the Christmas concert at Laterna magika

O Lord, Grant Us a Merry Evening

The motto of the JARO Dance Group reads: “To preserve, develop and pass on to future generations the treasures of our folk dance and music.”

Full text in the scanned document – click to enlarge.

2008 Pražská pětka · Prague 5 municipal newsletter

The beating heart of Czech, Moravian and Slovak folklore

Beautiful costumes, fascinating ancient customs, dance and music – this is what made the Jaro Dance Group famous: the beating heart of Czech, Moravian and Slovak folklore.

Full text in the scanned document – click to enlarge.

2005 Mgr. Bohumíra Cveklová · Talent magazine

As many dances, as many moods

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.

Full text in the scanned document – click to enlarge.

1993 Jiřina Mlíkovská · Taneční listy (dance journal)

You will always meet spring

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.

Diplomas & prizes

Awards

The ensemble and its artistic director have received numerous awards at national dance competitions and for their lifelong work for folk culture.

2023
Letter of thanks from the Minister of Culture
- The Minister of Culture, Martin Baxa, thanked Živana Vajsarová on her jubilee for her lifelong work: “Your sensitive dance expression, steadfastly rooted in the legacy of your father František Bonuš, is a unique phenomenon in our dance world and represents an exceptionally coherent and meaningful path.”
2022
National Art School Dance Competition
- District round: gold band for all four choreographies
- Regional round: gold band and award for originality & humour for “Ovce” (Sheep), advancing to the national final
- Živana Vajsarová – award for teaching folk dance creation
About the event
2018
National final of the Art School Dance Competition, Uherské Hradiště
- Gold band for the choreography “Kolovrátek” (youngest group)
- Živana Vajsarová – award for choreography and purity of expression
About the event
2015
National final of the Art School Dance Competition, Pardubice
- Diploma for stylistic purity and poetry in dance – “Studánky” (category IV)
- Živana Vajsarová – diploma for outstanding teaching and creative work
Show diplomas (2)
About the event
2015
Regional & district rounds of the Art School Dance Competition, Prague
- 1st prize and advancement to the national final – “Studánky”
- Award for choice of material, music and stylistic purity – “Šindelový”
- Diploma for the evocative atmosphere of a girls’ ritual – “Čarování”
- Živana Vajsarová – diploma for preserving and developing folk art
Show diplomas (3)
About the event
2012
Regional round of the Art School Dance Showcase, Prague
- For a charming dance image of Mozart’s music – “Dětská hra”
- For truthfulness and sincerity of expression – “Dupák”
- For stylistic purity – “Pastuší skok z Beskyd”
- For poetry in dance – “Volání slunce”, which went on to the national final in Kroměříž
- Živana Vajsarová – for outstanding teaching results in folk dance
Show diplomas (5)
About the event
2010
Letter of thanks from the Folklore Association of the Czech Republic
- Živana Vajsarová – for active work in developing traditional folk culture and folklore
Show diplomas (1)
2009
National final of the Art School Dance Showcase, Pardubice
- Diploma for a precise, stylistically pure performance – “Odzemok” (category V.b)
Show diplomas (1)
About the event
2006
National final of the Art School Dance Showcase, Pardubice
- Diploma for an inventive and informed approach to folk tradition – “České královničky” and “Jaro v Liptovských Sliačích”
- Diploma for an outstanding interpretation of “České královničky” (category IV)
Show diplomas (2)
About the event
2006
Regional round of the National Art School Dance Competition, Prague
- Jury award for perfectly embodying the beauty of folk dance – “České královničky”, “Jaro v Liptovských Sliačích”
- Jury award for sensitive choreography and convincing expression – “Kovář”
- Jury award for pure expression – “Čaladanský” (duet)
- Živana Vajsarová – special jury award for distinctive, artistically convincing choreographic work in folk dance
Show diplomas (5)
About the event
1997
Award of the Czech DanceSport Federation
- For many years of systematic work in developing dance education (Central Bohemian division)
Show diplomas (1)
1991
International festival in Palma de Mallorca
- 3rd main prize – presented in a bullring
About the event
1988
National dance competition of art schools, Žďár nad Sázavou
- 1st and 2nd place in the second and third categories of the national final
- Five first places in the regional round and a Czech Television recording of “Volání slunce”
About the event
1985
1st national dance competition of art schools, Jihlava
- 1st prize in the first category (“Jaro”) and in the second category (“Zvony a zvonky”)
- Special recognition for choreography (Živana Vajsarová), music (Marek Kopelent) and singing (Radka Čulíková)
About the event