The Gymnik Folk Dance Ensemble was founded in 1964 by students studying folk dance at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of Comenius University. At its founding membership was restricted to these students, but later on was opened to students from other secondary schools and universities who were well – prepared from their past participation in youth folk dance groups.
The ensemble grew progressively in both quality and size, and from its tenth anniversary in 1974 began to orient its choreography and artistic program toward creating unified thematic blocks of dances from Slovakia ́s different folk regions.
Gymnik has been considered to be one of Slovakia ́s very best folk dance ensembles till today.
Specific directed programme has followed from natural features already in the beginning. Members of Gymnik – students – come to Bratislava from all parts of Slovakia and that is a reason why programme contains of sce- nic formed traditional dances perhaps from all Slovakian regions. Because Faculty of sports educates sportsmen – there are elements of strenght and skillfulness used in dances as well as humor and playfulness – the typical features of ensemble members.
In these days the group has about 50 members. Director is Mr. Štefan Gerhát.
