Israeli Folk Dance:History and Presence with a Particular Focus on Dancing in the Czech Republic

This thesis intends to introduce Israeli folk dance from a number of different perspectives. In the first part, based on literature review, the author presents the origins of Israeli folk dances in Israel as well as their roots and the way they further function in a current Israeli society. Special attention is given to the problematic labeling of Israeli folk dance as "folk". The second part of the thesis is based on the author's own field work and describes the ways Israeli folk dances are practiced in the Czech environment. Whereas in Israel these dances are mostly connected with demonstration of Israeli identity, they get different meanings in the Czech environment. Firstly the author attempted to reconstruct the history of spreading of Israeli folk dances in the Czech environment and to map the different groups involved in these dances. Collection of these facts can be further used as an information source for all researchers wishing to conduct studies on Israeli folk dances in the Czech Republic in the future. Secondly the author concentrated on the ways of practicing Israeli folk dances in a Prague group called Besamim. Based on participant observation and interviews with the dancers the author attempted to illustrate the significance of these dances in the lives of people, who practice them..