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PONITRAN
AND
ITS BRIEF HISTORY
Ponitran as a folk ensemble originated
35 years ago. At the beginning of its existence it was an ensemble consisted
only of girls. Later on also boys begin to attend it Frantisek Milo and Mr. and Mrs. Javor
are considered as founders of Ponitran. They practiced dances of all the
regions of Slovakia what helped Ponitran to get into folk life.
The great turn come when
approximately 20 years ago choreograph Jan Blaho joined Ponitran as a former
dancer of Lusnica, pedagogue of the Faculty of physical education and
sports in Bratislava.
At the same time Ing. Marian
Jarek (member of the, folk ensemble Zobor) came to Ponitran. They both changed
the character of Ponitran in the way of its orientation on folklore especially
from Ponitrie. Seeing and listening to this music that represented new
tradition surprised the audience. Ponitran presented materials from area of
Mala and Velka Lehota, Sladeckovce, Jarok, Drazovce, Janikovce
etc.
Nowadays Ponitran as a folk
group consisting, of 12 pairs and 15 musicians represents on its performances
"dancing blocks" which take 15-20 minutes. The best known are Gajdossky block,
Regrutsky block, Pracovny block and Tekovsko-Nitranske pomedzie, in which the original Hungarian
Cardas on 2 steps is
represented.
Very interesting and original is
Zemiansky wedding. This part of Ponitran's program was restored of materials
from 17th century where the songs from collection of Anna Syrme Kesser
appeared. Songs are very archaic and old. Zemiansky wedding cropped a great
success.
There was one thing that helped
Ponitran to enlarge the number of its members. The University of Konstantin
the Philosopher in Nitra created new cathedra of folklorism and regionalism
that is why many new people could finally find their realization in Ponitran.
As far as costumes are concerned they
are black and white for boys and red mixed with white for girls
Ponitran has represented its great
work almost everywhere in Slovakia. We can see them each year at the Academic
festival in Zvolen and in Nitra. Every 3rd year in Czech republic in
Strakonice. They had performances also abroad as in Tunis, France, Spain, USA,
Turkkey, etc.
Slovakia and especially Nitra can be
proud of Ponitan.
Claudia Veghova
Komarno-Nova Straz
Slovakia
GO
TO FOLKLORE GROUPS
Published in the
Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 6, No. 2, Summer 1998
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1998
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The
above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished,
or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express
written permission of Vladimir
Linder. All rights reserved.
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