Defence Ministry to Relaunch Activities of Janosik Military Artistic Ensemble

Zvolen, 27 April (TASR) - The Defence Ministry will restart the activities of the Janosik Military Artistic Ensemble, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) told a news conference in Zvolen (Banska Bystrica region) on Monday. The professional folklore ensemble will officially be based in the House of Culture currently owned by state-run railway network operator ZSR in Zvolen, said Kalinak, adding that the ministry will purchase it from ZSR for some €1 million. According to the minister, the aim is for the cultural facility to remain in state hands. Other children's ensembles will also be based there. Kalinak declined to estimate the exact amount needed for Janosik to operate at the moment, noting that this is only being prepared. However, it will be several million, he added. Money will also be invested in reconstructing the House of Culture, said the minister, adding that more detailed figures could be available in the summer. The director of Janosik will be a folklorist from the Podpolanie area called Jaroslav Cernak. He said that the plan is to launch the selection procedure for the ensemble in the near future. "The musical section should consist of 11 musicians in the orchestra, while the dance section should have 16 members, i.e. eight pairs. The vocal section should have five members," he said. Cernak confirmed that the professional ensemble will focus not only on folklore, but also on modern and scenic dances, and he didn't rule out theatre performances, either. He stressed that the selection procedure will be open to both soldiers and civilians. MP Roman Malatinec (Independent) said that professional posts for 40 artists will be created. He noted that nothing from the former ensemble could be found, not even costumes. "We can't trace where they ended up or how. No one can say at this point," he said. Janosik was scrapped based on a decision by the then defence minister in 2012. The ministry cited a lack of financial resources within the defence sector as the reason for the move. ko/df