Karička is the Slovak diminutive of “koleso” (circle) and refers to a traditional Slovak circle dance/song, especially from eastern Slovakia.

In cultural use, Karička represents togetherness, community, and folk tradition, often performed at celebrations and festivals

.In 2010, enthusiasts of folklore, under the leadership of Anka Hrabčáková Hradská, founded the Slovak Folklore Ensemble “Karička” in San Diego, California. The main goal of our ensemble is to preserve and develop folk and cultural traditions, customs, and practices from all of Slovakia, as well as from neighboring Moravia and the Czech lands, thereby nurturing both traditional and stylized folklore.

The Karička ensemble first introduced itself to our compatriots at the first expatriate folklore festival in San Diego in 2011. This was followed by additional performances at the San Diego Fair, Oktoberfest, and a short program organized by the Czech‑Slovak House in San Diego, where the ensemble received a very positive response.

Karička is the core group of the Association of Friends of Slovak Folklore, which organizes the Expatriate Folklore Festival in San Diego. In addition, the group strengthens friendships with other national folklore groups, such as Rusyn, Polish, Serbian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian ensembles, which have had the opportunity to perform at our festival.