The Influence of Membership in a Folklore Ensemble on the Formation of Local and Reginal Identity: The Case of the Bítešan Folklore Ensemble

Evidence of folklorism in the town of Velká Bíteš (western Moravia) dates back to the first half of the twentieth century, whereby these efforts reflect a blending of various types of collective identities. After a period of decline following World War II, we can observe a resurgence of interest in folk traditions, leading to the establishment of the Bítešan Folklore Ensemble in 1965. In the 1990s, the organisational structure and future direction of the ensembles were influenced by its association with a club formed around the local museum. The current leaders of the children´s groups are motivated by their own identity-based attitudes, which they aim to cultivate in the children alongside their relation to tradition. The ensemble plays an important role in strengthening local identity and serves as a key element in the construction of regional identity.