Folk festival features ensembles of Slovaks living abroad

Eight folk ensembles made up of foreign Slovaks from Europe and one from Australia have performed in a compatriot programme called 'Caro pastierov' (Charm of the Shepherds), which was held on Sunday afternoon as part of the 54th annual Folklore Festival under Polana in Detva (Banska Bystrica region), according to the programme's director Vlastimil Fabisik. Nearly 250 dancers, singers and musicians showcased their artistic skills in the town's open-air theatre. "As each ensemble is from a different corner of the world, each year we fine-tune the programme into its final form just a couple of days before the festival, here in Slovakia," said Fabisik. "However, apart from those overseas, I visit all ensembles that are due to perform at the Detva festival in January, and together we choose choreography related to the festival's theme," he said. The compatriot programme began at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday. Compatriot Sunday, which has been held during the Detva festival for 46 years, was joined by Compatriot Yard five years ago. Associations of Slovaks living in Montenegro, France, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine and the USA are offering their craft products and gourmet specialities here this year. "All the associations that have come to the Detva festival have brought with them a piece of the environment into which their ancestors moved," said Milina Sklabinska of the Office of Slovaks Living Abroad.