Domaci, Inc. will shut down next month

By: 
Wade Young, Montgomery Messenger
The Domaci Czech Folk Dancers performed at the Czech 100 Celebration on October 28. Their final performance before the group ends will be at the Hometown Holidays event on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.  (Patrick Fisher Photo)

A Czech cultural organization whose ambassadors have appeared in events throughout Minnesota and other states for close to two decades will come to an end next month.

Domaci Inc., and its groups, the Domaci Czech Folk Dancers and the Czech Heritage Junior Royalty, will hold its final performance and royalty ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 2. Directors Arnie and Deb Ziskovsky, the founders of Domaci Inc., have been leading and coordinating the ambassadors for 19 years, and they are ending it with their annual event, Hometown Holidays at the Park Ballroom in New Prague.

"Our final Hometown Holidays event will feature an extended performance by the dancers and an out-going ceremony for the current Czech Heritage Junior Royalty," they said.

The couple said multiple factors went into ending Domaci, Inc. ("domaci" means hometown in Czech). One of the reasons is due to the declining numbers of dancers coming from MN Czech Country. They have never had sponsorship from any town or organization and have relied on each other to make it work and attract participants.

They agreed they have a fantastic group of dancers this year, but like everything, numbers rise and fall depending on kids and their extracurricular activities, which often times take precedence over practicing Czech dances.

"I just love watching them dance. We have a great core group this year, but in the spring three are graduating and another is leaving due to other commitments," Arnie said.

The Ziskovskys said they also want to travel more to Czech festivals in the U.S. and the Czech Republic. "We want to take some time for ourselves," they said.

"We are proud to have had the opportunity to share the tradition of Czech folk dancing for 19 years. Our dance group has achieved great heights; with more than 100 chance members and hundreds of performances. We were able to establish a unique look importing coordinating National Costumes (kroje) and feature choreography with music directly from the Czech Republic."

Deb said they talked about someone else taking over the responsibilities of leading the group, but right now there isn’t anyone. However, they are leaving the door open for alumni to take it on if they want. That’s why they are keeping the authentic costumes, music, floats and choreography if any former dancers want to continue the Domaci Czech Folk Dance legacy.

The loss of the dance group and the junior royalty will be a....

To see more on this story pick up the November 15, 2018 print edition of The New Prague Times. 

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