Slovakia, a picturesque country of fertile lowlands and rugged mountains, lies in the very heart of Europe. Thanks to its geographical location and humble size it has always been a crossroad of cultural influences of the European continent. Traces of the temperament of the East meet with the cultural heritage of the developed West, just as the melodies of the sunny South merge with the secretive magic of the North, all of them reflected in original Slovak lore that has been preserved until today. National folk songs, music, dances and handmade costumes are manifold and diverse, representing the specific regions of our country, each filled with its own poetics and dynamic esprit.
The Slovak artistic ensemble Lúčnica, an awardee of the highest rank at home and abroad, symbolizes the original culture of our nation, genuine in its dance, instrumental and vocal expressions. Slovak national art has found an honest representative in Lúčnica, abundantly spreading its unique and rich heritage to the excited domestic as well as international audience. It has become an artistic and generational link between the traditions from the past and the turbulent yet strikingly beautiful present. Above all, there are two important qualities to Lúčnica. The first one is its eternal youth, represented by the ensemble members, students of the Bratislava colleges and universities, adding up to the astounding number of 2000 people since its foundation in 1948. The second prevailing characteristics is the artistic direction of the ensemble centering on traditional folklore in perfect symbiosis with a one-of-a-kind professional stage adaptation under the artistic surveillance of its Artistic Leader and Choreographer Prof. Štefan Nosáľ. Spectators in more than 60 European countries, in Asia, Africa, America and Australia have already been thrilled to experience the ensemble´s beautiful, youthful, passionate and inspiring performances.
It is safe to say they Lúčnica is a cultural phenomenon and a diplomat of sorts for Slovakia (Czechoslovakia before 1993), representing it in the most universal language which does not need an interpreter – its original national culture.
