Participating Ensembles

FE Borievka

Formed in 1979, at the then Faculty of Aircraft at the High Military Aircraft School in Košice. Today’s team has over 45 members. The most significant achievement in recent years was the title of the laureate of the Academic Zvolen (2017) and third place at the World Dance Festival in Cheonan, South Korea (2017).

FE Hornád

The folklore ensemble originated from the initiative of the members of the Dargov ensemble (formerly Stavbár). Since the year 2000, it actively participated in the folklore in Slovakia, aiming at the restoration of folk songs and dances. The most outstanding achievement was the title of the laureate of the national competition of choreographies Tancuj, tancuj (2017), Academic Nitra (2012, 2014, 2016, 2021), Akademic Zvolen (2015, 2019), Dubnica folklore festival (2016) and the competition Jazykom tanca (2021).

FE Stavbár

Originally founded in September 1959 at the company Pozemné stavby Žilina. Since 1997, it has been founded by the University of Žilina. At present it focuses on the processing of an authentic folklore material in the creative concept. The ensemble has several significant awards from folklore festivals and competitions. It is a double winner of the Academic Nitra Festival (1998, 2000).

FE Zobor

The Zobor folklore ensemble was founded in 1956 at the then Agricultural University in Nitra. Since 1996. Among the most important awards can be mentioned the 2nd place at the Ziem Górskich International Festival in Zakopané (2017) and the prize for vocal and instrumental performance (Academic Zvolen 2019).

FE Poľana

At present, it has 45 members, consisting of students and young people from surrounding area working in the singing, music and dance sections. The Poľana ensemble has performed hundreds of performances at home and abroad. The most important awards include the double title of the laureate of the Academic Zvolen Festival.

FE Ekonóm

The ensemble was founded in 1969 at the University of Economics in Bratislava. Diversity and variety of the membership base has become a basic feature of the ensemble. The FE Ekonóm has won several important awards, such as the Prize for musical arrangement (Telgárt 2015) or the Prize for original theme and scenic processing (Academic Zvolen 2011),

UFE Mladosť

The university folklore ensemble is a representative of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, but also of the city and the region. Currently, the bodies work under the Center of Art and Culture of the Faculty of Education. Among the most important awards are the titles of laureate of the Academic Nitra and Academic Zvolen festivals (2013, 2022). In the choreography competition Jazykom tanca (2022), the group won a Golden prize and a Special prize for polyphonic singing.

Lučina Brno (CZ)

The ensemble was founded in 1972 at the Military Academy in Brno. The authentic costumes come from this area. The main part of the repertoire consists of dances: kyjovská, skočná, and the man’s verbunk dance, listed on the UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The ensemble takes part in festivals in the Czech Republic as well as abroad: MFF Brno, Rožnovská Valaška, Dambořice Festival, Academic Zvolen Festival and others.

ShmaraGita Art Community (Indonesia)

ShmaraGita Art Community ensamble was founded in 2014 under the auspices of the Indonesian Embassy in Bratislava. The purpose of establishing this community is as a forum for art, especially dance which can be used for events promoting Indonesian culture and supporting the activities of the Indonesian Embassy in Bratislava especially. In a non-competitive festival performance, the goup will present a traditional dance story about harvesting rice.

Skalni (Poland)

The Polish student mountain ensemble Skalni was founded in 1952. It is made up of students from the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland, and other Krakow universities. Their musical performances are full of vitality and temperament. For seventy years of performance, the ensemble has a number of significant achievements and awards to its credit like International Festival of the Highland Folklore in Zakopane, (2nd place); Beskydy Highlanders’ Week of Culture (1 place), Podroháčske folklórne slávnosti Zuberec, Slovakia, Jánošíkove dni v Terchovej, Slovakia.

Sonja Marinkovič (Serbia)

The Serbian Academic Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs SONJA MARINKOVIC was founded at the University of Novi Sad in 1962. It has four components: folklore ensemble, tambourine orchestra, national folk orchestra and instrumental soloists. During 61 years of work, it received a series of diplomas and awards at home and around the world. It participated in various international festivals and visited many countries.

Trakiiska mladost (Bulgaria)

Students’ dance group Thracian Youth at Plovdiv University was founded in 1956. Their active concert activity started in 1972. The ensemble has performed many concerts at international festivals in Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Romania etc. Participation in Bulgarian festivals: International folklore competition Severnyashki Svevey – Suhindol (2014), The First Day of Harvest, Stara Zagora (2016) and others.

FE Domovina (Canada)

The Slovak folklore ensemble Domovina has been operating in Windsor, Canada for 40 years, with its mission to preserve Slovak cultural heritage through song and dance. At the Academic Nitra 2023 Festival, dances from Horehronie and a performance from Zemplín will be performed in a non-competitive programme.