The Trnafčan university folk ensemble enjoyed a summer full of success on stages at home and abroad.

Published: on 23.10.2025

The Trnafčan university folk ensemble, based at our university, has had an exceptionally successful summer. With its artistry and traditions inspired mainly by the Trnava region, it delighted audiences at prestigious domestic festivals, represented Slovakia during a several-week tour in France, and won a prestigious award at a regional competition.

The ensemble entered the summer season with a brand new choreography, "Pod zeleným" (Under the Green), created by

UFS Trnafčan artistic director Kristína Polachová and musically directed by music director Soňa Speváková. The program is inspired by the festivities in Horné Orešany, which took place outdoors during the summer months, with the dance floor decorated and fenced in with green branches. These festivities were given the name "Pod zeleným" (Under the Green) by those who enjoyed them. From the records and stories, they created a choreography that aimed to bring to life the events of one such entertainment. It was with this new piece that UFS Trnafčan presented itself at the 65th International Folklore Festival Myjava (June 18-22, 2025) and later at a competitive performance at the Andrej Bagar Theater during the Akademická Nitra 2025 festival (July 6-9, 2025).

Other significant milestones included the ensemble's first-ever participation in the 70th anniversary of the Východná folklore festival (July 3–6, 2025). In the program "Naša pieseň" (Our Song), they performed

a popular choreography, also from the Horné Orešany region.

The highlight of the summer was a several-week tour of France, which took place from August 7 to 26. UFS Trnafčan performed dozens of times in cities in northwestern France, such as Quimper, Laval, Evron, and Pontorson, where they presented not only folklore from the Trnava region, but also from other regions of western Slovakia. The ensemble was the main guest at the Mondial'Folk de Plozévet international festival, where it performed alongside ensembles from Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Cuba.

After returning home, UFS Trnafčan confirmed its quality at the regional round of the

JAZYKOM TANCA 2025 choreography competition in Dunajská Streda. On September 20, 2025, it won the Gold Band with a proposal to advance to the national round.

UFS Trnafčan, which has been operating at UCM in Trnava since 2015, has long focused on the cultural heritage of the Trnava region, while its repertoire also includes traditions from other parts of Slovakia.