Dancing provided the primary source of recreation for village people before the electronic entertainment forms of the modern world penetrated filtered into the lives of the tiniest settlements.

The captivating motions accompanied by music and/or singing is a spectacular visualization of the Hungarian peoples rich emotional world which they strive to preserve in spite of the unstoppable spread of modern lifestyle.

Singing folk songs and dancing enlivened not just country peoples holidays but it brought some cheerfulness in their workdays, too. Dancing was also an integral part of a wide range of social occasions. It provided an effective forum for group and couple interaction including courtship.

In order to get along in a village one had to have good dancing skills. A lad with skillful dancing ability tended to be more popular with lasses and vice versa. Parents and the elderly members of the village community prompted youngsters to acquire and preserve folk traditions as means of strengthening social integrity.

Hungarian folk dances can be divided into two main categories:

1. Old style dances dating back to the Middle Ages
Jumping dances (ugrs): solo or couple dances accompanied by old style music, shepherd and other solo mans dances from Transylvania, and marching dances along with remnants of medieval weapon dances belong in this group.
Karikz, a circle dance performed by women only accompanied by singing of folksongs

2. New style dances developed in the 18-19. centuries
Verbunk, a solo mans dance evolved from the recruiting performances of the Austro-Hungarian army.
Csrds the national couple dance of Hungary which seems deceptively simple with its to steps to the right and two steps to the left, followed by turning the woman around choreography however numerous regional variations have developed since the 19th century.

Couple dances formed the core of community entertainment because of their lively step patterns. The most popular couple dance is the csrds which became known as the national dance of Hungary all over the world. Besides csrds and its variations the so-called jumping dances, twirl dances from Transylvania and other old style slow dances were also favoured. Solo mans dances existed as integral part of dance life until the I. world war.

Only the most talented lads were able to learn and master some of the dances that required outstanding skillfulness (verbunk, jumping dances). Some mans dances became part of the dance repertoire in certain parts of the country even after the I. world war (Rbakz: verbunk, karj, dus, Northeast Hungary certain verbunk varieties: sarkantys verbunk, magyar verbunk).

Along with entertainment dances, certain rituals, customs (weddings, harvest, vintage) had their own characteristic dances, as well. Weddings were regarded as prominent social happenings in villages, the events of which lived vividly in peoples memories for long.

External influences had significant impact on evolution of countryside dance life. Craftsmen, soldiers, maids returning from town built the elements of civil fashion dances in their homelands dance choreography. Dance traditions of the neighbouring countries have also shaped Hungarian folk dances. In Transylvania, where Hungarians, Romanians, and Saxons lived together, adoption of each others dances was inevitable. The dance heritage of Bukovina in Transylvania reflects several ethnic influences (German, Romanian, Russian, Hucul).

In terms of regional aspect three main dialects developed in Hungarian dance culture:

• The characteristic dances of the Western or Danube dance dialect are the shepherd and jumping dances, verbunk, lenykarikz (womens cicle dance), slow and quick csrds and the colourful palette of wedding dances.

• The Central or Tisza region preserved many old style dances along with a wide range of new style dances: shepherd dances, stick dances, lenykarikz, jumping dances, verbunk, slow and quick csrds and the oszttnc from the wedding dances.

• The Eastern or Transylvania region has the most versatile and archaic dance heritage due to the isolation of this area from Western influences.

Communism didnt oppressed folk dancing, on the contrary the era added new impetus to the development of dances. The dance house movement started in the 70ies became very popular with young people living in towns in no time. Bands and ensembles formed, amateurs set out to collect the remaining traditions of folk dance and music in the countryside while looking for their roots.

The choreographies were resurrected in dance houses where anybody could learn the basic steps then practice them by joining the other enthusiasts on the dance floor. The dance house phenomena evolved into a movement acknowledged and known all worldwide enriching the world of folk music and dance with talents like Mrta Sebestyn, or the Muzsiks Band.

The fact that the Hungarian name of the movement without the accents (tanchaz) rooted in the English language demonstrates the popularity of the movement the best.

The political changes started in 1989 facilitated the preserving of folk traditions even more. Folk dance schools were founded, folk dance lessons became part of school lectures, and the Hungarian Dance Academy launched a folk dance course. Today many civil associations, festivals (National Tanchaz Festival) and countless folk ensembles (both professional and amateur) cultivate folk dance traditions in Hungary.

Through the performances of the three most successful representatives of Hungarian folk dance culture (Hungarian National Folk Ensemble, Danube Folk Ensemble and the Rakj Folk Ensemble) you can learn about and became a fan of this colourful art form. The 3 ensembles look back to more than 50-year professional past. They conquered the heart of their audience in numerous countries evoking and making memorable to them the rich folklore treasures of Hungary. The ensembles versatile repertoire has preserved many precious dances which would have been forgotten otherwise.

Zoran Ibrahimpasic is living in Budapest, Hungary and he is webmaster for few Budapest related web sites:
Programs in Budapest

Budapest Tourist Informations and Travel Guide

Budapest Photos