VAL Folkloric Dance Group (Folklore Association)
Piran, Slovenia

The folkloric dance group VAL from Piran has been active already from the year 1961. In its ranks it gathers the youth from the entire Slovenian coast. Each year the group exhibits in many performances. It has been a regular guest all over Europe and also abroad. It performed on various festivals in Europe and also Canada.

The group has received many prizes and commendations from the Commune of Piran for its work.

Folklore Association VAL Piran has 6 groups:
- Folk dance Group VAL ("Wave") Piran - first and second group. This group is the Heart of the Association. It gathers aprox. 35 members. Art Director: Nina Luša.
- Tthe Academic Folk Dance Group of Univerity of Primorska. Art Director: Irena Olenik.
- Etno music group.
- Etno chore group. Art director: Jerica Fili.
- Folk dance group Senior VAL - the Senior Folk Dance Group. It gathers aprox. 20 members. Art Director: Andrej Butina.
- Folk dance Group VALČEK ("Small wave" - the Junior Folk Dance Group. Different Junior Folk Dance Groups are set up and are active in the Elementary Schools on the Slovenian coast.

The folkloric group VAL Piran presents a programme of ten Slovenian dances: Istrian šagra (festivity), Ca to šuška (What whispers), Night in the Salt Field, Juca Moja (Istrian Dances), Dances of Goriška, Dances of Karst, Dances of Bela Krajina, Dances of Gorenjska, Dances of Štajerska and Dances of Prekmurje.



Istrian dances
The dances of the Slovenian Coast and Istria differ in many aspects from the dances of the rest of Slovenia. They are accentuated by elegance and easiness. The dances are in its majority of bourgeois origin.

Dances from Gorica
In the coastal region it was danced from ancient times mainly on ŠAGRAs (folk festivities). Far renown was Goriška šagra which represented a special event for the young and old. In the dance cluster there are consequently at the time fashionable dances as SETE PAŠI, DENCIK, ŠPIC POLKA, MAZURKA, ŠTAJERIŠ, CVAJŠRIT. According the old scriptures it was danced in elegant and courteous manner.

Upper Carniolan Dances - Dances from Gorenjska
The quick revolutions and rhythmical knocks are peculiarity of these dances, be it the "POTRKAN PLES" (Knock Dance) or "PLES Z MAJOLIKO" (Dance with Majolica). To prove the fact that the inhabitants of this region do not lack goodwill and joy of life is the humorous "PLES Z METLO" dance (Broom Dance).

Styrian Dances - Dances from Е tajerska
The people of Е tajerska dance vivaciously, rotate quickly and in good mood even circle in groups of four. They sing quite a lot during dancing.

Dances from Prekmurje
In Prekmurje survived predominantly male dance called TKALEČKA, which is not known in the rest of Slovenia. In this dance the young males compete in adroitness of quick succession of kerchief draws under the knees of on and the other leg.

Dances from Bela Krajina
Bela Krajina has a rich tradition of folklore, especially of coming spring celebrations. By the midsummer pyre the entire village was celebrating until the fire went out. After that the procession of firefly-girls was walking the village wishing it with a song happiness and a good harvest. The old and new dances are intertwined. Characteristic are simple steps and genuine exhibition of joy.

From the year 2003 the group also organizes the Festival. The folklore association VAL Piran is the founder and manager of the MIFF [link na www.miff.si] - MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL - that is held on the Slovenian coast every year.

Folklore Association VAL Piran is a member of the Cultural Association of the Community of Piran and the member of the national CIOFF section.

Contact information:
Folklore Association VAL Piran
Prvomajski trg 2
SI 6330 PIRAN
SLOVENIA (EU)
phone: +386 5 673-45-73
           +386 5 673-45-75
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  
web site: www.drustvo-val.si