The history of the Beseda began back in ancient history. A number of small tribes settled in the central part of Europe and gradually grew into a group of small states, commonly known as Central European States in early history.

The Central European States were surrounded by savage warlike tribes and they had to band together for mutual protection. Their languages became similar over the years and first one state then another became dominant.

Because of the raiding and pillaging by the fierce warriors of the stronger tribes, the Central Europeans settled in small villages and towns for protection. They went from there straight out to their farms and jobs.  

They soon found that they couldn’t fight the stronger warriors and learned to outwit and outmaneuver them. When the people went away to war, the children were left with the old people of the village. To keep the children entertained, the grandparents told them folk tales of their ancestors and the heroes of the region.

Those tales and old love stories and other tales became folk songs and folk dances.

Early in the year 921 the Bohemians, as they were called at that time, embraced Christianity and the folk songs and dances were used at church celebrations and festivals.

As the country grew and communication and travel became easier, the people went to larger towns and settlements for festivals and they all sang and danced together. The tone of the dances changed from folk stories to a happier type of songs. Each village learned the songs and dances of the neighboring villages so they could all dance together. They sang the words and acted out the stories as they danced.

The word Beseda, to us, means Company or Visitors. When they got together they danced their favorite company dances or Beseda.

Later the state leaders chose some of the most popular Besedas and combined them to make a national dance for the big state and national celebrations.

There are many variations of the Beseda and the costumes as they came from different sections of the country.

After World War I the area was renamed Czechoslovakia.

Here in America we dance the many folk dances brought from Europe like the Highland Fling from Scotland and the Irish jibs and reels.

In Prague, Oklahoma, we also dance the Beseda to try to preserve it and some of the customs and traditions that have been passed down through the years by the people who originated in Central Europe.

Each of the eight parts of the Beseda tells a separate story. A throwback to the origin of the dance.

The first part tells of a group of young people, who are out having fun and the girls decide to look around to see if they can find new partners who are more to their liking.

The second part is part of an old game and so on, each part telling something about the early days.