Abstract
The Slovácko verbunk 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 recruit- ers.
Verbunk had many functions. Some of them, for example the psychological and the symbolic and social ones, have already disappeared, some others, such as the identifi- cation, 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 verbunk- for example, the Contest has supressed the improvisation, but in- creased 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 verbunk danc- ers and leaders of folk ensembles.