Slovak Ball 2019
Talented photographers Cody Raisig and Maynard Wallace documented The 2019 Slovak Ball with flair! To view and download more photos and order prints, please visit the websites below.
http://codyraisig.pass.us/slovak-ball-2019/
The 26th Annual Slovak Ball, hosted by the Slovak-American Cultural Center, took place on February 23, 2019, at The Royal Manor in Garfield, NJ. This year’s Slovak Ball was again an enchanting evening of special entertainment, fine food and drinks, and community spirit, with over 420 guests in attendance. Guests were immersed in a magical "Under the Sea" theme as they entered the grand reception area featuring a guest harpist who played music ranging from opera to rock. The theme was echoed in stunning table centerpieces accentuated by submerged orchids, as well as whimsical mermaid decorations and starfish details on all tables, and a stage flanked by ocean waves. The highlight of The Slovak Ball was special guest, Pavol Hammel, the legendary Slovak singer, songwriter, and guitarist, who performed for 30 minutes to an enthusiastic crowd who sang along to his greatest hits. Express Band, led by Marek Soltis, had the dance floor swinging all night to Slovak and American hits.
Ballroom dancers Slovak-American Vanesa Falisova, born in Hummene, and her partner, Yusif Amsatr, opened The Slovak Ball with a traditional waltz and later performed their signature Latin moves with style and flair.
Guests enjoyed a variety of delicious foods during cocktail hour. An exceptional traditional Slovak cauliflower soup was served as the first course at The Royal Manor, which recently hired a Slovak chef from Kosice! Main courses included a choice of chateaubriand, salmon, and chicken rossini, served with a side salad. For dessert, guests enjoyed tiramisu as well as an SACC—themed cake. As a midnight snack, guests feasted on roast pig, pierogies, and Slovak halusky. A three-foot tall ice sculpture in the shape of a mermaid spewed vodka shots throughout the evening.
Sabina Sabados, Chairwoman of The Slovak Ball and President of the Slovak-American Cultural Center, along with Secretary and Master of Ceremonies Peter Krajnak, welcomed the honored guests from the diplomatic community, including Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations, Michal Mlynár, and his wife, Andrea; Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas at the United Nations; Consul General of the Slovak Republic in New York, Ladislava Begeç; Consul General of the Czech Republic in New York, Miroslav Rameš; Deputy Consul General of the Slovak Republic in New York, Matej Saloň; Deputy Consul General of the Czech Republic in New York, Karel Smékal and his lovely wife; and, from the Office of the Slovak Ambassador to the United States, traveling from Washington, DC, Jana Bilotti and her husband, Justin.
The First Catholic Slovak Union was well represented, with members from Branches 45, 716, and 746 in attendance, as well as members Fr. Marek Visnovsky, Mrs. Miriam Visnovsky and Terezia Rozmus from Branch 24 attending. Mrs. Nina Holy represented the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association and the Slovak League of America, while Estera Mlch, President of the Czech and Slovak Association, and her husband traveled from Boston to attend The Slovak Ball. The LUX New York team, including Mrs. Aneta Lisa Jimenez and her husband, Omar, and Mr. Michal Lysak were also present.
Pastors and parishioners from various Slovak parishes in New Jersey and New York were also in attendance: Branch 45 member Fr. Richard Baker and Fr. Martin Kertys from St. John Nepomucene, Fr. Ed Cimbala, Fr. Marek Visnovsky, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Cleveland, and representative of the Eparchy of Parma, Fr. Mariuz Luksza, Fr. Francis Conka, Fr. Roman Palecko, Fr. Peter Bujdos, Fr. Martin Vavrak and his lovely wife Anna, and Fr. Patrik Hakos from Slovakia.
Once again, this year's Slovak Ball Raffle did not disappoint. Once-in-a-lifetime prizes included lunch for four with the newly appointed Slovak Ambassador to the United States, dinner for eight at the residence of the Slovak Ambassador to the United Nations, a weekend in the Hamptons, an original painting by Slovak artist Brona Wingell, a signed NHL hockey stick and puck by Boston Bruin Zdenko Chara, a weekend in Costa Rica's VIP Treehouse hotel, a collection of Goral Vodka Master, and so much more! For information on The Slovak Ball sponsors and corporate donors please visit SlovakAmericanCC.org. Photo credits to: Cody Raisig Photography and Maynard Wallace. All photos of The Slovak Ball 2019 are featured on the website.
The Slovak-American Cultural Center cordially invites you to The Slovak Ball 2020, which will take place at The Royal Manor on 2.22.20!
26. Slovensky ples
Zladiť všetko tak, aby ples dokonale odzrkadľoval tému "Pod hladinou mora" je dozaista výzva. Organizátori 26. Slovenského plesu ju však zvládli bravúrne!
Neuveriteľné nasadenie členov Slovensko Amerického Kultúrneho Strediska (S-AKS), ktorí hodiny pripravovali každý detail sa isto vyplatilo. Viac ako 420 účastníkov, ktorí v ten slávnostný večer vstúpili do Royal Manner v meste Garfield, v New Jersey, privítala dokonale decentná, tak trochu rozprávková, a zároveň elegantne realistická výzdoba, s ktorou sa v rebríčku krásy okrem nádherných rób úťastníčok pretekali aj bohaté švédske stoly. Pri pochutnávaní si na delikatesách a výborných drinkoch dotvárala atmosféru vynikajúca Erin Hill, uznávaná harfistka, ktorá vystupovala s hviezdami ako Enya či Cyndy Lauper. Svojimi tónmi doprevádzala aj fotenie sa na červenom koberci, ktorý samozrejme nesmel chýbať. S logom Slovenského Americko kultúrneho strediska v pozadí sa na okamih každý stal žiarivou hviezdou večera!
Následne sa všetci hostia presunuli do rovnako elegantne pripravenej sály. Usadili sa ku stolom a do ďalšej časti večera ich walzom ako aj horúcimi latinskými pohybmi pretancovali výborní profesionálni tanečníci Vanesa Falisova (narodená v Hummennom) a jej partner Yusif Amsatr. Rovnako profesionálne bolo aj privítanie od moderátorov, čarovnej Sabiny Sabadoš, predsedníčky S-AKS a zároveň predsedníčky plesového výboru, a šarmantného Petra Krajniaka, tajomníka S-AKS, ktorí nás s nemiznúcim úsmevom a entuziazmom sprevádzali celým večerom. V úvode predstavili všetkých vzácnych hostí najmä: Jeho Excelencia Stály predstaviteľ SR pri OSN veľvyslanec Michal Mlynár s pani manželkou Dr. Andreou Mlynárovou; pán Miroslav Jenča, zástupca OSN pre politické otázky; pani generálna konzulka Slovenskej republiky v New Yorku Ladislava Begeç, pán generálny konzul Českej republiky v New Yorku Miroslav Rameš, konzul a zástupca Slovenskej republiky v New Yorku Matej Saloň, konzul zástupca Českej republiky v New Yorku Karel Smékal s pani manželkou.
Ich vstup bol však svižný, a v priebehu pár minút už radostne pozvali všetkých do prvého tanečného kola. Do skorého rána hrala tanečníkom hudobná skupina Express pod vedením Mareka Šoltísa. A odviedli teda vynikajúcu prácu. Parket bol neustále plný, nikdy však neprestal ponúkať zabávajúcim sa dostatok miesta na tanečné kreácie. Aby však mali priestor i nabrať druhý dych, večerný program mal rôznorodé časti. Výstúpenie, na ktoré mnohí čakali, odohral legendárny Pavol Hammel, ktorý v priebehu niekoľkých minút dokázal preniesť ľudí v spomienkach do rokov dávnych, minulých. Jeho piesne ocenili azda všetky prítomné generácie, ktorých zástupcovia speváka aj riadne vytancovali. Samozrejme nechýbala ani tombola s fantastickými cenami a lahodné dezerty či typické bryndzové halušky, pirohy a pečené prasiatko.
Slováci a Americkí Slováci opäť raz ukázali, ako dobre a radi sa bavia. Všetci sa už nepochybne nevedia dočkať budúcoročného Slovenského plesu, lebo skúsenosti toľkých rokov dokazujú, že sa je na čo tešiť!
Slovensko-Americké Kultúrne Stredisko vás už teraz srdečne pozýva na ďalší ročník Slovenského bálu, ktorý sa uskutoční v sobotu 22. februára 2020! Úplný zoznam sponzorov bálu a fotografie nájdete na webovej stránke: SlovakAmericanCC.org.
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