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Learn what the Czech Heritage Club does and why we want to promote Czech culture. |
 Photo taken at the 2017 Hometown Holidays event |
Zpívejte S Námi ty Naše Ceské Písnicky!!!! (Sing with us our Czech songs) 2018 Members: Jan Rezac-Leader/Director. |
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This group disbanded in December 2018 but left us with a great history link to article in the New Prague Times  2017 members The Domácí (Hometown) Czech Folk Dancers started in 2000 directed by Arnie and Deb (Dvorak) Ziskovsky. Their mission is to preserve Czech customs and traditions through music, dance and song. They promote this through dance performances done with precision, accuracy and enthusiasm. The costumes (kroje) are imported folk dress from southern Bohemia, where the majority of the communities' ancestors originate. The choreography is modeled from traditional dances and performed to authentic Czech folk music. The authentic folk music includes instruments native of the Czech Republic as the dudy (Czech bagpipe) and the dulcimer. The Domácí Dancers started as an adult group with 12 members. Throughout the years, the membership included young adults. Today, the group primarily is a children's group with members between the ages 4 - 13. Arnie and Deb are both of Czech descent, graduating from New Prague High School. They have been participating in Czech folk dancing since 1984. The idea for the name of their group, Domácí, was due partly when they moved back to their hometown to live on a family farm. |
The Ziskovskys acquire their repertoire directly from the Czech Republic. They have traveled there many times and attended folk dance camps for the purpose of bringing dances back to the group. While on their travels to the old country, the Ziskovskys attend local folk festivals as well as visit relatives. Czech folk dancing is a traditional folk art that has been in the MN Czech Country (New Prague and surrounding communities) since ancestors arrived in the 1800's. The first group performances were done by the local Sokol organization. In 1976 the 'New Prague Czech Dancers' formed. They promoted the Czech heritage in many festivals and parades throughout the Midwestern states. Today, the Domácí Dancers continue to promote the heritage. The group today not only offers its members the opportunity to learn folk dances, but also language, singing and traditions. They have performed at a variety of venues including nursing homes, expos and plays as wells as ethnic festivals. The Domácí Dancers want to pass on the traditions of our Czech heritage, especially to younger generations. They continuously encourage enrollment of new members of any age. Anna Eichhorst, Olivia Eichhorst, Caitlyn Gare, Marissa Gare, Melanie Lebrun, Sylvia Lemke, Megan Marek, Mikayla Marek, Ruby Nazzal, Anna Novak, Natalie Novak, Kailey Mach (Jr Dir), Connor Raduenz (Jr Dir), Jules Rotter, Kristin Siebsen, Ashlyn Simon, Grace Tumasmith Directors: Deb and Arnie Ziskovsky, Assistant Director: Lizzie Trnka  More pictures of the Domácí Czech Folk Dancers Article from Jordan Newspaper - July 2014 15 year Anniversary of Domácí Dancers |
