Slovácko Verbuňk as a Tradition and Performance

Abstract

The Slovácko verbuňk is a solo male dance of jumping nature. Originally, it was part of military recruiting and was danced by soldiers or, much more often, by the recruiters. Verbuňk had many functions. Some of them, for example the psychological and the symbolic and social ones, have already disappeared, some others, such as the identification, erotic, and competitive ones have survived to date. It is due to the competitive feature of the dance that a “dance race” has been organized at the International Folklore Festival in Strážnice since its foundation; the Festival has given rise to the Contest for the Best Dancer of the Slovácko Verbuňk. This has significantly changed the form of the Slovácko verbuňk - for example, the Contest has supressed the improvisation, but increased the awareness of the dance and attracted many dancers who want to learn it. The performance of the Slovácko verbuňk by child dancers is a phenomenon of the last twenty years. This fact has its supporters and opponents among Slovácko verbuňk dancers and leaders of folk ensembles.