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The Beseda: The Czech National Dance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2014

Helen Chadima
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Extract

The nineteenth century brought a tidal wave of immigrants from many European countries to the United States. The immigrants tended to cluster in various areas across the country. One group came from what is now known as Czechoslovakia and settled in an area of eastern Iowa. Today, Cedar Rapids has the largest Czech community in the state. The population of the town and its metropolitan area is 125,000 and the Czech population is estimated at 30%, counting third and fourth generation Czechs.

From their earliest arrival in the community around 1852 the Czechs congregated in an area that became known as “Little Bohemia,” where they formed their own community life. They continued their traditional hobbies of lace-making, egg-painting, theater, music, gymnastics, and dancing.

Type
Articles
Information
Dance Research Journal , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , Fall 1990 , pp. 23 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © Congress on Research in Dance 1990

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References

Notes

1. Svec, Melvina, interview, January 5, 1989.Google Scholar

2. Griffith, Martha, The History of Czechs in Cedar Rapids 1852–1942, Vol. 1 (Cedar Rapids: The Czech Heritage Foundation, 1982), p. 7.Google Scholar

3. Griffith, , p. 1Google Scholar

4. Capek, Thomas, The Cechs in America (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1920, reprinted Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishers, 1970), p. 4.Google Scholar

5. Griffith, , p. 38.Google Scholar

6. Griffith, , p. 38.Google Scholar

7. Griffith, , p. 41.Google Scholar

8. Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, May 2, 1906, p. 5 reported that the Hall, C.S.P.S. was finiished in May, 1891.Google Scholar

9. Lowe, Irma Hajek, interview, January 20, 1989 Mrs. Lowe was a member of Ochonitcke Druztva.Google Scholar

10. Griffith, , p. 39.Google Scholar

11. Evening Gazette, February 21, 1925, p. 12.Google Scholar

12. Smith, Kveta Vondracek, interview, January 3, 1989, and Lowe.Google Scholar

13. Turechek, Alma, interview, January 10, 1989.Google Scholar

14. Hajek, Irma Lowe has a program dated May 8, 1920 that lists the “Bohemian Beseda, National Folk Dance,” performed at an “International Meeting.”Google Scholar

15. Anderson, Elaine Joy, Old World lowans (Mason City, Iowa: Klipto Loose Leaf Company, n.d.), p. 25.Google Scholar

16. Nejdl, Marge Kopecek, interview, January 5, 1989.Google Scholar

17. Moehlmann, Patricia, interview, January 12, 1989.Google Scholar

18. Turechek.

19. Naxera, Max, interview, February 1, 1989. Mr. Naxera reported that in 1948, when he was in Czechoslovakia, the Czechs, dressed in full costume, still observed religious days with festivities. After attending the church service, the entire town joined in a procession through the streets accompanied by a band. Dancing the beseda was a part of the day's celebration.Google Scholar

20. Naxera, . The copy was brought from Czechoslovakia by Naxera's mother. Because of its fragile condition and because he values it so highly, Naxera guards the manuscript religiously, never allowing guests to touch it—only to look at it as he carefully turns the pages. Hence, it was not possible to obtain full publication information on the music.Google Scholar

21. Beseda, Cesky narodni tance (New York: Hlas Lidu, 1918).Google Scholar

22. Beseda, Bohemian National Dance (Chicago: Vitak Elsnic Company, n.d.).Google Scholar

23. Opatrny, Charles and Svec, Melvina provided translations of the songs.Google Scholar

24. Naroda, Hlas [Nations Voice], August 18, 1976 states that the polka originated in Bohemia in 1830. According to that source, the dance was created by a Bohemian girl named Anicka Chadimova.Google Scholar