The Kyjov Moravian Ensemble is active in the historical town of Kyjov – one of the centers of ethnographic events in southeastern Moravia.
Since 1942, it has been dedicated to discovering, preserving and developing the folklore traditions of the Kyjov region and passing them on to future generations.
Learn the story of the Kyjov Moravian Ensemble
Download an electronic brochure mapping the history of the ensemble from 1942 to the present day. Available in Czech language only.
The real beginning can be considered the year 1940, when, after the closure of universities by the Nazi occupants, students returned to Kyjov and, with the support of Dr. Vladimír Úlehla, a circle of people spontaneously gathered around the Academic Club for songs and dances; the meetings took place in private in the back rooms of the Slávia Hotel, in nearby villages and in wine cellars.
In 1941, the musicians play together (Oldřich "Ondráš" Stokláska is prominent), the repertoire is enriched by friends from Uherské Hradiště (Jaroslav Lakosil), there are few costumes, people often play "only" in shirts - but enthusiasm is decisive.
February 14, 1942 is the first dated entry in the chronicle and the year 1942 is taken as the founding of the "Slovácký krúžek". The founding members were mainly František Lukl, Oldřich Stokláska, Josef Sedlář and others).
In Nětčice (part of Kyjov), the Union of Czech Youth was founded, under whose banner the activities of the ensemble continued. After the war, when most of the members returned to school, the remaining part joined the Nětčice youth, which was reflected in the song repertoire, mainly thanks to Kliment Navrátil.
The chairman was Josef Sedlář.
The members submit an application for the establishment of an independent ensemble. The ensemble is authorized and established. L. Fiala, a teacher at the Kyjov grammar school, becomes the chairman.
The ensemble becomes part of the Moravia Glass Factory Club. The chairman is Josef Fridrich (in office until 1961).
In addition to the traditional folk events in Kyjov, public performances are also starting to take place in other cities.
The ceremonial opening of the Cultural Centre provides a professional background for rehearsals and premieres and unites most events "under one roof". At the same time, Bedřich Gazda starts the prep-group for teenage dancers, so the ensemble gains a stable "incubator" of new dancers and strengthens its long-term sustainability.
Especially in the second half of the 1970s the group switches to ensemble (stage) activities. It develops dramaturgically guided programs and at the same time maintains traditional customs (carnival, erecting and felling of the Maypole, harvest festival, Hody-time feast). The number of performances outside Kyjov increases significantly and cooperation with Czechoslovak Television Brno is also established. The highlight for the members was the trip to Belgium in 1978 (Kortrijk, Ieper, Brussels).
At the turn of the decade, the management changes and MUDr. Jan Pavlík's collaboration with CM Jury Petrů begins; choreographer Jan Loutchan is invited to the rehearsals and new program blocks are born.
The ensemble rehearses intensively, films for radio and television and performs at festivals (Slovácký rok, Strážnice, Milotice). It also travels abroad repeatedly.
In 1982–1983, jubilee events are added (40 years of the ensemble, anniversary of Jura Petrů and A. Kůr), radio recordings with BROLN and the ensemble appears on TV.
The Association of Friends of the Ensemble is established as the moral and economic support of the ensemble, which subsequently becomes the founder of the ensemble into which all parts are incorporated (prep group, dance group - "ensemble", male and female choir, cimbalom band and later also Pajtáši – group of experienced dancers). MVDr. František Lukl was elected the first chairman.
The ensemble continuously combines stage programs with maintaining the customs; recordings are increasing (e.g. collaboration on Radioservis and BROLN projects) and regular participation in domestic and foreign festivals. The male choir won the Foskar award in 2002 and 2006. Tomáš Machlínek was the first winner of the competition for the best Slovácký verbuňk dancer from the ensemble. Martin Jelínek (2x) and Jakub Džubera followed.
During this period, the male choir remains stable and at a high level, continues to record and regularly performs at domestic events and projects.
In contrast, the leadership of other groups changes more frequent; this is most noticeable in the dance group after the departure of Milan Pokorák in 2013, when several leaders changed in rapid succession.
These changes did not help the continuity of the preparations and repertoire as the ensemble would have liked; nevertheless, the ensemble continuously maintained its customs and filled the calendar of performances at home and abroad. The winner of the competition for the best dancer of the Slovácko verbuňk in 2017 was Pavel Fridrich.
In the last decade, the activities of the ensemble have been significantly affected by the Covid pandemic, which practically paralyzed the ensemble's activities - rehearsals and public events were reduced to a minimum. After being dissolved again, the dance part and the prep group were merged in 2021 due to interrupted continuity and accelerated generational change.
At the end of 2022, these parts were separated again, the organization stabilized, and the impetus in the form of the 80th anniversary helped, in the program of which previous generations of dancers also participated. It is worth mentioning Martin Vašulka, who won Strážnice in 2019 and 2022 (in 2022, he was no longer an active member). The last major event was the premiere show in December 2024, in which all members of the ensemble presented themselves on one stage.
Timeline
Names and founders of the ensemble
- 1942 — 1969 Slovácký krúžek
- 1969 — 1975 Slovácký soubor
- 1976 – Slovácký soubor Josefa Klvani
- 1976 — 1986 Slovácký soubor
- 1986 — today Slovácký soubor Kyjov
Head of the ensemble (by periods)
- 1942 — 1949 Josef Sedlář
- 1949 — 1950 prof. Ladislav Fiala
- 1950 — 1952 Engelbert Kreidl
- 1952 — 1961 Josef Fridrich
- 1961 — 1964 Jiří Wenzl
- 1964 — 1973 Josef Sedlář
- 1973 — 1978 Jaroslav Zavrtálek
- 1978 — 1980 Miroslav Kudr
- 1980 — 1982 Jan Pavlík
- 1982 — 1988 Bohumil Frýbort
- 1988 — 2013 Milan Pokorák
- Since May 2013, the role of ensemble leader has been combined with the role of chairperson — first of the Association of Friends of the Slovácko Ensemble Kyjov, and now of the Slovácko Ensemble Kyjov, registered association.
Chairman, organizational leader
- 1949–1964 Josef Sedlář
- 1973–1980 Josef Sedlář
- 1986–2002
- Zdeněk Langášek
- 2003–2006 Pavel Růžička
- 2007–2014 Jakub Džubera
- 2014–2018 Martin Zrzavý
- 2018–2024 Jakub Švorba
- 2024-2025 Jiří Krist
- 2025-dosud Aleš Vaculovič
Chairman of the Association of Friends of the Ensemble
- 1991–1992 MVDr. František Lukl
- 1992–2007 Zdeněk Langášek
- 2008–2014 Alena Melounková
- 2014–2020 Dušan Janovský
- 2020–2024 Milan Macháček
- 2024-today Jakub Švorba
Heads of rehearsals, choirs and prep group
- Leaders of rehearsals:
- 1942 — 1952 Kliment Navrátil
- 1952 — 1953 Jan Selucký
- 1953 — 1957 Jan Selucky & Marie Navrátilová
- 1957 — 1964 Jan Selucký, Rudolf Hochman, Marie Navrátilová
- 1964 — 1967 Jan Selucký, Ivo Šimeček
- 1967 — 1969 Marie Řiháková
- 1969 — 1972 Bohumil Frýbort
- 1972 — 1978 Zdeněk Šimeček
- 1978 — 1980 Miroslav Jestřabík
- 1980 — 1982 Jan Loutchan
- 1982 — 1984 Zdeněk Vavřina
- 1984 — 1988 Bohumil Frýbort
- 1988 — 2013 Milan Pokorák
- 2013 — 2014 Pavel Růžička
- 2014 — 2016 Monika Mrkvová
- 2016–2018 Petr Michalčík
- 2018–2019 Bára Šalšová, Lucie Polášková, Vojtěch Půček
- 2020–2021 Bára Šalšová Lenka Letochová, Vojtěch Půček
- 2021–2025 Václav Stix
- 2025-today Adéla Růžičková
- Leaders of Prep group:
- 1973 — 1978 Bedřich Gazda
- 1982 — 1985 Zdeněk Šimeček
- 1986 — 1988 Milan Pokorák
- 1988 Renáta Janíčková
- 1989 — 1991 Blanka Pokorná
- 1991 — 1992 Sylva Hudečková
- 1992 — 1999 Ludmila Pokoráková, Pavel Prokeš
- 1999 — 2003 Ludmila Pokoráková, Ladislav Šimeček
- 2003 — 2005 Ludmila Pokoráková, Jindřiška Matějáková, Martin Jelínek
- 2005 — 2006 Ludmila Pokoráková, Pavlína Polášková
- 2006 — 2008 Ludmila Pokoráková, Lenka Pokoráková
- 2008 — 2010 Ludmila Pokoráková, Hana Novosadová, Jakub Polášek
- 2010 — 2013 Ludmila Pokoráková, Hana Novosadová, Petra Lebedová
- 2013 — 2014 Hana Novosadová, Petra Lebedová
- 2014–2016 Zdena Kyněrová, Hana Novosadová, Petra Lebedová
- 2016–2017 Zdena Kyněrová
- 2017–2018 Hana Novosadová
- 2018–2021 Václav Stix
(In 2021, the preparatory group was merged with the dance section; in December 2022, the two were separated again) - 2021 – today Vít Hudec, Marie Folvarčná, Veronika Možíšová, Štěpán Novák
- Leaders of male choir:
- 1961–1979 Jiří & Josef Wenzlovi
- 1980–1984 Jiří Petrů (1922)
- 1985–today Jiří Petrů (1953)
- Leaders of female choir:
- 1972–1974 Josef Wenzl
- 1978–1985 Jiří Petrů (1953)
- 1985–1988 Eva Soldánová
- 1989 Irena Trutmanová
- 1990 Jiří Frolec
- 1991–1992 Irena Trutmanová
- 1992–2007 Eva Soldánová
- 2007–2008 Irena Trutmanová
- 2008–2009 Eva Soldánová
- 2010–2013 Irena Trutmanová
- 2014–2015 Lenka Vymazalová
- 2016–today Eva Soldánová
Significant personalities of the ensemble
- Josef Sedlář (1919 — 2003)
- MVDr. František Lukl (1918 — 2005)
- Miroslav Kudr (1922 — 1995)
- Josef Fridrich (1917 — 2010)
- Jiří Petrů st. (1922 — 1984)
- Ing. Kliment Navrátil (1925 — 2006)
- Marie Navrátilová (1926), Josef Wenzl (1940 — 1986)
- Ing. Bohumil Frýbort (1945)
- Jiří Petrů ml. (1953)
- Zdeněk Langášek (1948)
- Milan Pokorák (1963)
The selection of “significant figures” is a very sensitive matter, as many people have worked — and continue to work — with great dedication for folklore in Kyjov. The selection presented here reflects the views of the respective generations.