Břeclavan – a brief description

The folklore ensemble Břeclavan was founded in 1954 by Josef Kobzík who became the art director of the ensemble for nearly 50 years.

Most songs and dances of the ensemble's repertoire come from its homeland in the Podluží region, an area between Břeclav and Hodonín. Since it was founded, Břeclavan has taken part in many regional, national and international folklore festivals. Many times the ensemble has recorded songs for the Czechoslovak (later Czech) broadcasting company (Český rozhlas). It also has appeared on television, e.g. „The Winter in Podluží“, and in some films.

In 1997 Břeclavan took part in making of the film „A wedding in Podluží“ for the National Institute of Folk Culture (ÚLK) in Strážnice.

In the past, the ensemble has performed almost 1.500 times in the Czech Republic and in abroad. The most significant awards in the history were the IFF Strážnice Award in 1985, the „Bracelete of the Dukes of Burgundy“ Award at the IFF in Dijon in 1990. At that time, Břeclavan was the best of 31 different folklore ensembles. In 2006 Břeclavan was awarded the First Prize at the IFF in Instanbul.

In the history of Břeclavan there were many famous singers. To name at least some of them: Jožka Severin, Jožka Rampáček, Božena Šebetovská, Anežka Bohunová, Ludmila Kobzíková, Maryška Sochorová, Julie Severinová-Kučerová, Květa Černá, Jožka Černý, etc.

Nowadays Břeclavan consists of a dulcimer band (10 members) led by František Blažek and of a dance group (30 members) led by František Juraš. The songs mainly come from the Podluží region, some of them also cover other regions. The current singers are Daniela Červená, Zuzana Martinková, Jiljí Herzán and Jiří Mach.

Dances:

Discography: