On Saturday, February 7, 2026, the Slovak-American Cultural Center had the distinct honor of hosting the 32nd Annual Slovak Ball, an evening devoted to celebrating Slovak culture, traditions, and our shared heritage. This year’s theme invited nearly 400 guests to step into an enchanted forest inspired by the ancient woodlands of Slovakia, places rich with story, strength, beauty, and deep roots. The ballroom was transformed into a setting of quiet magic and connection, and it was our hope that the atmosphere truly očarilo—enchanted—everyone in attendance.
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The highlight of the evening was the extraordinary Mária Čírová, who traveled from Slovakia for her U.S. premiere concert. A beloved singer, composer, and pianist, Čírová is widely recognized for her emotive performances and numerous chart-topping albums, and she has been honored with multiple Slovak music awards celebrating her artistic excellence and contribution to contemporary Slovak culture. Her powerful and deeply moving performance perfectly captured the spirit of the night and left the audience spellbound. The celebration continued on the dance floor, which remained lively throughout the evening thanks to the wonderful music of the Express Band.
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Guests were also treated to a display of ballroom excellence with an exhilarating performance by professional dancers Alex Lavrov and Slovak-American Vanesa Falisova, who presented a graceful waltz and a touching tribute to the legendary Slovak artist Miro Žbirka.
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We were deeply honored by the presence of distinguished diplomatic guests, including H.E. Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the United States and his wife and daughter; H.E. Peter Hulényi, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations and his wife; and Ms. Beatrice Szabóová, Consul General of the Slovak Republic in New York. Their presence underscored the enduring ties between Slovakia and the Slovak-American community.
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The evening was further enriched by the presence of special guests, including Slovak actress Lívia Bielovič and renowned Slovak musician Martin Valihora, whose perfomance along side our guest star added an additional note of pride and connection to Slovakia’s vibrant artistic community.
We were also delighted to welcome many valued friends and leaders from our broader community: Dr. Cecilia Rokusek, President and CEO of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library; Kevin Collins, Chief Operating Officer of FCSU Financial; Anna Florek-Scarfutti, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union; Thomas Duch, Bergen County Administrator; and Megan Moucha, Miss Czech-Slovak US Second Runner-Up and U.S. Navy veteran.
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Representatives of Slovak and Czech organizations from across the United States joined us as well, along with clergy serving our Slovak communities, Fr. Peter Bujdos, Fr. Francis Conka, and Fr. Tadeusz Mierzwa whose presence reflected the faith and traditions that continue to unite our community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our corporate sponsors: FCSU Financial, Polish & Slovak Federal Credit Union, and NovaKera, LLC as well as to all donors and raffle supporters. You generosity directly supports the S-ACC Scholarship Fund for Slovak language studies at the University of Pittsburgh, helping to sustain the next generation’s connection to our heritage.
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Finally, our deepest appreciation goes to the extraordinary S-ACC Board of Directors and dedicated volunteers of the Slovak-American Cultural Center, whose tireless efforts throughout the year made this enchanted evening possible.