Shaff's Spur

This national competition for soloist dancers in folk dance with international participation is held annually. The mission of the competition is to spur the interest of artistic directors, choreographers and members of folk ensembles and groups in seeking traditional authentic dancing material, its original interpretation and high-quality scenic rendition, taking account of its original form and protagonists; to create opportunities for the presentation of dancers – soloists that are not organised in folk ensembles and groups; and present to the public the values of folk dance.

The competition is an advancement contest (area and regional rounds, national round). The contest is announced by the National Centre of Culture, and the organisers are the Upper Zemplin Cultural Centre in Vranov nad Topľou and the community Dlhé Klcovo; the lower-level rounds are ensured by the regional cultural centres. Participation in the contest is open to dancers aged from 12 years, having permanent or temporary residence in the Slovak Republic. Those competing are soloists, dancing pairs and trios in five categories; musical accompaniment may be comprised of solo instrumentalists (accordion, helicon, musette, bagpipes, etc) or folk music. Performances of competitors in the national round are judged by a an expert jury appointed by the National Centre of Culture. The best interpreters in particular categories are awarded the title of Laureate. The non-competitive category features dancers from neighbouring or nearby countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Serbia and Ukraine. Another non-competitive category is the Golden Fond, which features the protagonists of folk traditions aged over 60 years - pairs and individuals.