The MAGURA folklore ensemble was founded in 1954 in the town of Kežmarok, located in northeastern Slovakia. At that time, the group operated out of the Tatraľan factory.
Today, MAGURA features three main sections: music, dance, and singing. The group typically consists of over 30 members between the ages of 15 and 30, with an average age of 19 to 20. The ensemble’s newest members come from two children’s folklore groups: MAGURÁČIK and GORALIK.
The group delivers around 60 performances a year, totaling approximately 2,600 performances throughout its history. Over the years, the ensemble has won numerous Slovak awards.
MAGURA performs choreographies from various regions, including Goral, Spiš, Šariš, Zemplín, and Podpoľanie.
While traditional attire varied across these regions, it generally consisted of:
- Men’s attire: An embroidered shirt, an embroidered vest, embroidered trousers, tall boots with spurs, a long belt, and a feathered hat.
- Women’s attire: An embroidered blouse, an embroidered vest, a pleated skirt, an apron, a petticoat, and tall boots or shoes.
Musical instruments: First and second violins, double bass, viola, accordion, and occasionally the clarinet.
