Trenčan, the Folk Ensemble of the Grammar School of Ľ. Štúr in Trenčín

 

 

         Folk ensemble Trenčan has been working at the Grammar School of Ľ. Štúr in Trenčín since its foundation in 1949. The teachers of this school lead it and its members are students of secondary schools, as well as students of college at the age of 16 – 21 years. They all devote their spare time to work in this ensemble.

            Folk ensemble Trenčan ranks among the oldest and best ensembles in Slovakia.      The main aim of the ensemble is to preserve the original folklore of the region of the town Trenčín (western part of Slovakia) and to adapt it in an artistic way. All the activities of the ensemble enable its members to know the folk traditions, to improve their aesthetic feelings and to teach them motion culture. More than 1200 members have worked in the ensemble up to the present time. Many of them formed here their relation to the folk art and many of them continued this activity after leaving the ensemble Trenčan in various folk ensembles at the universities in Slovakia. 103 choreographies have been created so far and about 20 of them make up the contemporary dance repertoire of the ensemble. The girls singing group and the folk music group make up the inseparable part of the dancing group. They both complete the programme and give also their own concerts and performances.

            During 62 years old existence of the ensemble Trenčan it gave more than 2200 performances not only all over our homeland but also abroad. Regularly it took part in various festivals and competitions and it was awarded many prominent appreciations. Trenčan organized more than 570 performances in 27 countries of Europe, Asia and Africa and everywhere the audiences applauded our dances and music. That is why we visited several countries more times.

            We realized a lot of tours to following countries:


 

1958 – Romania

1957 – Russia

1958 – Hungary

1959 – Germany

1962 – Belgium

1965 – Great Britain

1966 – Greece, Italy

1967 – France, Belgium

1968 – Yugoslavia, Hungary

1969 – Iran, Belgium, Germany

1970 – Italy

1973 – France

1974 – Germany, Austria

1975 – France

1976 – Belgium

1977 – Hungary

1978 – Germany, Russia

1979 – Russia, Belgium, Luxemburg

1980 – Bulgaria

1981 – Germany, Spain

1983 – Germany, Italy

1985 – Germany

1987 – Germany, Holland, Denmark

1988 – Greece

1989 – Belgium, Holland

1991 – Italy

1993 – Hungary

1994 – France, Austria

1995 – Czech Republic, Yugoslavia, Germany

1996 – Czech Republic

1997 – Israel, Czech Republic

1998 – Israel, Czech Republic

2000 – Czech Republic, Egypt

2001 – Czech Republic, Italy

2002 – Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland            

2003 – Czech Republic, Finland

2004 – Czech Republic, Holland, Poland, Cyprus

2005 – Czech Republic, Switzerland

2006 - Czech Republic, Germany, Holland

2007 – Czech Republic, Finland

2008 – Czech Republic, Germany, Italy

2009 – Czech Republic, Portugal (The Azores Islands), Malta

2010 - Finland 2011 - Israel

 

 

            The ensemble can give a 2-hour lasting programme involving all three parts: a dance group (about 12 dancing pairs), a singing group (6-8 girls) and a folk music group (8-10 musicians). If required the programme can be shorter or it can involve a smaller number of performers.