The Slavjane Folk Ensemble is a dynamic, dedicated group of 60+ young performers from ages 6 to 18. Throughout the year they tirelessly rehearse and display their representation of the Slavic heritage and culture, especially that of the Carpatho-Rusyn region.
Founded in 1959 and incorporated since 1973, Slavjane has performed extensively in the Pittsburgh and tri-state areas. The group has also performed at Epcot Center in Florida, in Washinton, DC, and in the former Czechoslovakia - in the summer of 1992, Slavjane was the first Carpatho-Rusyn group from the United States to perform in the annual Medzilaborce Arts and Sports Festival. Slavjane had the prestigious honor of being invited to perform at the Rusyn World Congress and Rusyn Youth Rally which was held in Krynica, Poland in June 2005, returning from a successful 2-week tour of the Rusyn homeland that included performances in Uzhorod in Transcarpathia; in southern Poland Lemkovyna; in Presov and again at the annual Medzilaborce Arts and Sports Festival, both in northeast Slovakia, representing the Carpatho-Rusyn Society, the Greek Catholic Union of America (GCU), the Rusynys of the United States and North America, the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and the Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church, McKees Rocks, PA. The ensemble also performs annually at the Pittsburgh Folk Festival representing the Carpatho-Rusyns and has done so for over 40 years.
Supporting Slavjane is the parents organization, Spiritial Director Fr. Ron Larko, Jack Poloka-Program Director and Choreographer, Darlene Fejka-Music Director, Susan Fejka-Junior Ensemble Director, Dean Poloka-Assistant Director, Tom Ellis-Music Instructor, and Cara Fejka, Instructor. Slavjane maintains a very active schedule of rehersals, performances, social events and fund raisers.