About Vychodna
The Vychodna Slovak Dancers were established in 1984 at the Byzantine Slovak Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Toronto, Ontario. Originally composed of children who attended St. Mary’s Slovak School, the group initially performed plays, poetry, and songs at church functions and local Slovak community events. As interest in Slovak folklore grew within the expanding Slovak community in the Greater Toronto Area, the group naturally progressed into a dedicated folklore dance ensemble. Originally called “The St. Mary’s Slovak Dancers” and briefly renamed “Dolina Dancers,” the group finally adopted the name “The Vychodna Slovak Dancers.”
In its early years, Vychodna's performances were largely local, including at church events and Slovak festivals. With growing popularity, membership increased, leading to the creation of two levels—Senior and Junior—by the mid-1980s. This provided opportunities to invite well-known choreographers from Slovakia, enhancing the group’s repertoire and elevating their skill. In 1990, the Senior group embarked on their first trip to Slovakia, performing at prestigious festivals such as Folklórny Festival Východná and Folklórne Slávnosti Pod Pol’anou. This trip also marked the beginning of long-lasting relationships with Slovak ensembles like FS Zemplín from Michalovce and FS Vranovčan from Vranov nad Topľou.
As the group grew, so did the need for additional divisions. An Intermediate group was formed, and in later years, the Vintage ensemble was added. Vychodna’s success has led to numerous invitations to perform outside the Greater Toronto Area, including performances across Canada, the United States, and Slovakia. The group has performed at iconic venues and events, such as the Canadian National Exhibition and the opening ceremonies of the Skydome, as well as international Slovak Day festivities and numerous Slovak-American cultural celebrations. These performances helped Vychodna forge lasting bonds with other Slovak folklore ensembles across North America.
Vychodna’s repertoire and skill level have developed and improved dramatically over the past 40 years thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of their dance instructors, as well as many professional choreographers from Slovakia.
John Kadet was with the group from its inception in 1984 and taught them until his retirement in 2001. Following John were Jana and Jan Ivano, both veteran dancers with FS Zemplín. In 2009, Simona Dikaszová came from Slovakia to help instruct the group. She was the first of many instructors who came to Canada for an extended period to work with the ensemble. Following Simona were Matej and Mária Červeňan (2011), Lenka Fuleova (2011-2012), and Veronika Misčikova (2014). In the years that ensued, the Junior and Intermediate ensembles worked with instructors Livia Vansačová and Veronica Brazina. Currently, the Juniors and Intermediates are instructed by Monika Farkašová, the Senior Ensemble is instructed by Tim Vrablik, and the Vintage group is instructed by Marek Gabris.
The group’s vast repertoire includes dances choreographed by Ján Blaho, Štefan Kocák, Peter Kocák, Ľudka Bertičová, Jano Ivano, Jana Ivanova, Dana Blahová, Lukáš Cabalka, Stanislav Marišler, and most recently Tim Vrablik and Marek Gabris.
In 2019, shortly after celebrating the group’s 35th anniversary, the Senior ensemble traveled to Slovakia to compete in Zem Spieva III, a televised Slovak folklore competition broadcast nationwide. The group advanced to the semi-final, but unfortunately, the competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so the group never got to see the competition through.
After the pandemic hiatus, Vychodna started operations back up in 2021. This would be a time for the group to rebuild and expand, with the addition of the 'Vintage' ensemble, the group’s fourth level. This also became a time to rejuvenate the community. Vychodna’s first post-pandemic event would take place in 2022, the inaugural Oktobrova Zabava, which was a huge success. The performance at this event was dedicated to the late Ignac Zajac, former President of Vychodna. Zajac was a long-time supporter and leader of the group. Under his presidency, Vychodna grew into the ensemble it is today, with his vision for preserving Slovak folklore in Canada always guiding the group. His passing shortly before the event was a significant loss, and the dedication of this performance was a heartfelt tribute to his enduring contributions.
In 2023, the group hosted more successful events, including Veselica s Vranovčanom, with the visiting folklore ensemble FS Vranovčan from Vranov nad Topľou. Earlier this year, Vychodna also had the distinct honor of performing for Zuzana Caputova, the President of Slovakia, during her three-day visit to Canada.
Vychodna Today
With a dedicated group of talented dancers and a diverse repertoire that highlights the beauty of Slovak folklore, Vychodna has become a cornerstone of Slovak culture, not only in the Greater Toronto Area but around the world. Founded and sustained by Toronto’s Slovak community, Vychodna has shared its love of Slovak traditions with audiences across Canada, the United States, and Slovakia. With 40 years of history and experience, Vychodna remains committed to playing a leading role in upholding and celebrating Slovak culture for generations to come.