Archive: Culture | Dance Dance
Forays into the Brno line-dancing scene
Let me tell you a story about how once upon a time, I ran away with a
Moravian country dance troupe. I appreciate that my love of all things
Czech and country is getting beyond a joke, as several recent articles are
testament to, but this is quite possibly where it all began...
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Czechs have all the right moves when it comes to ballroom dancing
It’s Monday evening and the ballroom in Prague’s Lucerna is slowly
filling up with teenagers in evening dresses. Girls are rushing to the
dressing room to take off their trainers and slip into high-heeled shoes
while boys are instructed to tuck in their shirts and spit out their
chewing gums before they are allowed onto the dance floor. A lot has
changed since 15 years ago, when I used to come here, but the tradition of
Czech dancing lessons or “taneční”, as they are called, appears to
enjoy the same popularity.
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First annual 'Festival of Czech Culture Abroad' opens at Senate Hall
Representatives of Czech communities from all over the world are gathering
in Prague this week for a new festival celebrating Czech culture outside
the Czech Republic. The first annual folklore festival for krajane, or
Czechs living abroad, has the support of members of the Senate, where the
festival had its inaugural ceremony on Monday. The highlights of the
festival include an exhibit of traditional handicrafts, projections of
documentary films concerning Czech culture outside the Czech Republic, as
well as presentations of traditional folk singing and dance.
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Rio comes to Prague for one day only
One could have been mistaken for thinking oneself to be anywhere other than
Prague this weekend, as the streets came alive with Latin music and
Brazilian flags. This was however neither an attempted takeover from across
the Atlantic nor a confused expression of misplaced cultural identity. It
was the city's annual carnival. Beginning on a Prague square, winding its
way through the streets of Smichov to Prague's artificial beach where the
party continued, the festival was an attempt to turn the potentially
depressing end of the holiday season into a cause for celebration; and it
certainly seemed to have the right effect.
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Kolace, kroje and convertibles: The Wilber Czech Festival 2007
Wilber, Nebraska, is a hub for Czech-Americans, and was appointed 'Czech
capital of the USA' by congress back in 1987. Over the 3rd, 4th and 5th of
August, it held its annual Czech Days festival, for the 46th time. The town
of 1,700 welcomed some 50,000 visitors, and treated them to traditional
Czech food, traditional Czech music, and some good old Americana as well.
Following on from the celebrations, I called Russ Karpisek, the state
senator for Wilber district. Going on the croaky-sound of Senator
Karpisek's voice, I asked if there had been a lot of screaming
and shouting at the Czech Days festival: More
Straznice folklore festival flaunts best of traditional music, dance, and crafts
One of the oldest and most popular folklore festivals in Europe kicked off
at Straznice in southern Moravia on Thursday. With over 15,000 visitors
every year, Czech folk bands, singers and dancers, consider it the 'Mecca'
of all folklore festivals. Over 2,000 participants from the Czech Republic
and abroad will perform during 31 events. The festival comes to a close
this Sunday.
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EASTER SPECIAL
Radio Prague's special Easter programme focuses on the music of Czech
composer and conductor Jaroslav Krcek, who has arranged and recorded a
number of traditional folk songs pertaining to this time of year as well
as a number of his own compositions, which draw heavily on Czech Easter
traditions for their inspiration.
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The immortal popularity of Czech brass music
It's 10am in the south Bohemian town of Ceske Budejovice. Just like on any
other day, Czech Radio's local station starts its daily show Pisnicky pro
radost, "Songs to lift your spirit", knowing its listenership is
about to shoot up and stay up for the three hours in which one brass music
song after the next is dedicated to locals.
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Criminal science as the main theme of this year's Zizkov Carnival
The 'Masopust' - or Carnival - in Prague's Zizkov quarter is set to come to
a climax on Tuesday. 'Masopust' always takes place towards the end of
winter, before the start of Lent. And though many Czechs no longer
celebrate it, the tradition of 'Masopust' is slowly making a comeback. The
Zizkov Town Hall has been organizing its own carnival for 14 years.
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Internet newsletter offers Czech-American news, hard-to-find products
Numerous newspapers and magazines serve the Czech community in the United
States, from "nationwide" publications such as Americke listy to
regional titles like Czech Nebraska. There are also several internet
websites and email newsletters, such as the weekly Dumpling News; it is
produced by Zora Pergl, a woman of Czech descent based in Florida. I asked
her how Dumpling News has been received since its launch in April last
year.
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