Program
Here's the Main Stage program promising a great day of Czech and Slovak culture:
Main Stage
|
12.00 |
Czech School of Melbourne | Children's Spring welcoming dance and singing performance |
| 12.30 | Festival Opening Ceremony | |
| 13.00 | Slovak Little School in Melbourne | Children's dancing and singing performance |
| 13.45 | Competition | Try the luck in our beer competition |
| 14.00 | Rauza Family |
Family Folk music in traditional costumes |
| 14.30 |
Marcy Taylor | Violinist introducing Czech songs and her own compositions |
| 15.15 | Briar Wolfe | An emerging local talent playing famous Czech artists |
| 15.35 | New talent: Marika Danihlikova | We will introduce you a new talent playing czech and slovak songs |
| 16.00 | Liptar Slovak Folk Dance Group |
Traditional folk dancing performance |
| 16.45 | Competition |
Tug of war |
| 17:00 | Vintage Blue Music | Czech Country music band |
| 17.45 | "Tombola" (Raffle) |
Win some valuable prizes |
| 18.15 | Polonez |
Special guest - The Polish Song & Dance Ensemble |
| 19.00 | Vendulka |
Czech origin X-Factor finalist 2012 |
Exhibitions
| All day | Traditional Costumes | Czech and Slovak traditional costumes in scope |
| All day |
Martina Cervenkova | Czech Contemporary Artist, Colours of Double Heartbeat |
| All day |
Monika Brunacky | Slovak Contemporary Artist |
| All day | Easter crafts and traditions | The art of Easter Eggs, whips and other traditions |
| All day |
Embroidery |
Czech and Slovak embroidery on scope |
Children's activities
Bouncing castle, traditional Easter craft hands on workshops, painting the eggs, making willow whips, creating Easter cards, bunny masks, fairy tales screening and other.
Kids can also enjoy variety of sport activities such as soccer goal kicking, slaloms, three legged race, egg and spoon race, throwing gumboot or rings, skipping rope jumping and much much more.
Other activities
Please check out our competitions to win a some valuable prizes.
Here you can find more about some of the performers at VodaFest 2013:
In the short 15 years of her life, Vendulka has become the seasoned performer. When she was only four years old she took up the cello and she played it until she was 12. Until she turned seven, Vendulka and her brother played together in local talent shows and Christmas concerts.
When she turned 13, she stopped performing with her brother, picked up a guitar and was determined to be able to accompany herself. Through hours of practice which ended up in blisters, tears, frustration and determination she finally learnt her first song. Eventually the blisters became callus’ and the song became too easy. Although she’s no Tommy Emannuel, her guitar playing improved and still continues to do so.
Most recently of course, she competed in the X factor Australia 2012. Making it to the final 24 out of over 90,000 people inspired her to push harder than ever before at a career in music. As she is still in high school, finding the balance can be tough, but so far she’s been successful. The X factor brought in gig opportunities, a fan base, but also recording hours at Cubbyhouse Studio in Canberra. In the past few months, Vendulka has been working hard on her E.P. which has 5 compositions of her own.
From covers to originals, from folk to pop to soul, Vendulka will have you captivated with her voice that is like no other. Never sticking to a specific genre, Vendulka keeps the audience in anticipation of what is coming next.
Polonez was formed in Melbourne in 1965, with the aim of performing and promoting Polish folk and national dances as a means of perpetuating an adherence to, and an understanding of Polish culture, both within the Polish community and the broader Australian context. Polonez has always participated in charity and multicultural forums, in Polish commemorative celebrations and in all the PolArt Festivals held all over Australia.
Polonez has participated In all of the Pol-Art Festivals, starting in 1975 in Sydney, circuiting Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and recently Hobart and the latest, Perth, in 2012.
Polonez has also been involved with the Polish Debutante Balls from their inception in 1966. These Balls, initially organised by The Polish Community Council, have seen hundreds of young girls make their debut. These balls have combined the best of Polish tradition while evoking the dignity, grace, ceremony and splendour of bygone eras, especially highlighted in their most recent setting of the Malvern Town hall. For most of this time, Janina Czech has prepared the debutantes and their partners, in later years Barbara Czech has continued the tradition.
Polonez has always been a community ensemble, based very much within the core of Polish community life, and gaining its strength from community support., and strong family involvement. This year as a special guest at VodaFest 2013, Polonez will introduce beuty of polish folkloric dance.
Liptar Slovak Folk Dance Group
Folk lovers will e
njoy the performance of this professional Slovak folk dance group, active in Melbourne as a part of the Slovak Social Club "Ludovit Stur". Their special program called "A journey of life" will immerse visitors into the dances and traditions of different stage s of human life within various regions of Slovakia.
Moving from West to East, you will experience a traditional youth ball at Myjava, wedding tradi tions at Horehron, recruitment of young men to the military in Raslavice, and others. The performance will end with an Australian colonial dance symbolising the arrival of immigrants to Australia, where minority cultural groups such as Slovaks are becoming a vital part of this beautiful land of opportunities.
Enjoy this unique exhibition of traditional Slovak life, its colourful folk music, and distinctive traditional costumes at VodaFest 2013.
For more information about Liptar visit:
Marcy is also known to country fans as Marcela Koldova, formerly a member of The Country Sisters band. Marcy is a violinist, performer, singer, composer and a violin teacher classically trained at The Music Conservatorium in Teplice, Czech Republic.
Her passion for music and versatility is evident from the number of different bands she performs with, such as blues, jazz, gypsy, country and celtic ones. Marcy Taylor's professional success is undeniable. In 2007 she won "The Best Fiddle Soloist" Award in The Golden Fiddle Awards. Further 3 awards followed.
In The Australian Songwriting Contest 2010, Marcy won with her own composition "Black&White", which is available for purchase as part of her album "Move on". She has collected further nine accolades both here in Australia and overseas. In 2010 Marcy won 2nd place at the International Songwriting Contest in Nashville, U.S.A. with her composition "Sand Storm".
Marcy is also a dedicated violin teacher committed to her students. She calls Melbourne her home and is looking forward to playing for you at VodaFest 2013. For more information about Marcy Taylor visit www.southerncrossfiddlers.com.au
Ka
trina Wilson and David O’Brien formed Briar Wolfe in 2010 after collaborating together on two Czech inspired theatre pieces that invoked the ghost of Katrina’s long past Czech Great grandfather. Katrina on voice and David on guitar play music that is a melding of Czech Republic’s famed folk artists and Melbourne’s vibrant music scene. Colette Mortreux, a friend and fellow theatre collaborator, joins the pair with her gypsy infused clarinet and French sensibility.
trina Wilson and David O’Brien formed Briar Wolfe in 2010 after collaborating together on two Czech inspired theatre pieces that invoked the ghost of Katrina’s long past Czech Great grandfather. Katrina on voice and David on guitar play music that is a melding of Czech Republic’s famed folk artists and Melbourne’s vibrant music scene. Colette Mortreux, a friend and fellow theatre collaborator, joins the pair with her gypsy infused clarinet and French sensibility.
New talent: Marika Danihlikova
Marika Danihlikova origins from a little Slovak town close to Zilina. Studies psychology and currently is enjoying her holiday in Australia. Marika is a dedicated dancer but her biggest hobby is her guitar and singing. Marika will guide you through the famous songs of Czech and Slovak interprets such as Zuzana Smatanova, Katka Knechtova or Nedved’s brothers.
Vintage Blue Music
The famous Czech band active in Melbourne in various formations since 2000 has prepared a special program for VodaFest 2013 visitors. The traditional guitar band formation of singer Ivana Kolingerova, solo guitarist Premysl Kunz and acustic 12 string guitarist Ivan Zachar will introduce some of their own songs and will also take you to explore the Golden period of Czech and Slovak popular music.
You can look forward to this unique combination of music and singing which will not leave a foot on the ground.
Opening the Vodafest festival, children from the Czech School of Melbourne, aged
2 – 10, will embrace the Czech celebration of the arrival of the European spring. You will experience the happiness and joy of life through the lively Czech children’s songs, rhymes and movement. Their performance, depicting the awakening and new beginning of life, will be the perfect start to this year’s Vodafest festival.
Slovak Little School in Melbourne
It's ti
me for 'circle' is a name of the performance where a group of children from the Slovak Little School aged 2 - 15 will present some typical Slovak children songs, rhymes, hands tapping, little feet stomping and little bodies moving full of joy and happiness.
Slovak Little School in Melbourne has been opened since July 2012 with the aim to develop children's interest in the Slovak culture via learning the Slovak language through various themes, activities and games appropriate to their age and understanding. It may be a good inspiration for new children to start learning some Slovak too and find new friends.