A Successful Czech-Moravian-Slovak Festival in San Diego

It was WONDEFUL! It took place on February 19, 2011 in a local church hall. Around 4 P.M. guests started to arrive because they knew that many good things were being prepared for dinner. There was roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut, goulash, cabbage soup, breaded veal cutlets, "langoshes" and more. And people kept on coming! Some of the last arrivals did not find chairs to sit on, but they stayed anyway. More than 200 people attended the gathering.

The festival was organized by two ladies. The first one was Anna Hrabcakova- Hradska. She was born in Slovakia in a family where folk songs and dances were cultivated. Her father was a musician who organized a folklore group. The whole family loved to sing and dance. Anna studied at a school of education and majored in music and Ukrainian. In this country she works as a substitute music teacher. The other organizer was Marketa Hancova- Kanerova, who studied music and literature in Prague. She has been a teacher all her life . At present she is Dean of Education at a small local art school.

The two ladies founded a folk dancing group in San Diego. And soon others joined them: B. Holkovicova, K. Capkova, L. Matuskova,, J. Fiserova, V. Migosova, H. Bajova and Alena Hancova.

Around 6 P.M. a truly artistic and professional program started. First all sang the Czech and Slovak national anthems. Then Lukas Hanc played the American national anthem on his saxophone. Beautiful colorful national costumes brightened the room. Anna Hrabcakova sang folk songs and accompanied herself on an accordion. Our little children danced in costumes. They were followed by many group and solo dances. Professor Jiri Svoboda, a virtuoso on classical guitar, played and sang and was joined by other musicians. Also Marketa sang folk songs and finally all ladies danced in costume. Eric Macek, a Slovak born in the USA sang and played beautiful music. Each number was followed by lots of enthusiastic applause. The program took over 2 hours. People stayed around after the program and nobody wanted to leave. Everyone was happy that the festival was so successful. We did not see such a program here in San Diego for at least thirty years!

There were also several guests from Los Angeles- The Slovak and Czech consuls and Bishop Esterka. Thank you all who worked hard and shared their talents with others.

WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT A NEW GENERATION TOOK CHARGE, AND WE- THE OLDER FOLKSARE VERY HAPPY AND PROUD AND WE WISH THE NEXT FESTIVAL LOTS OF SUCCESS!