Dancing Hungarians - Dance Millennium
This full length program shows the historical process of the birth and survival of our Hungarian dance heritage, from our most ancient folk customs, up to the period of the dance house movement of the 1970s. The ancient Hungarian life and colorful history come alive, but not like pages from our history books that reek of wars and gunpowder, we speak instead - without words - through pictures of social gatherings and celebrations of old.
Scenes of dance and music filled everyday life of cites in the Middle Ages, the splendid military dances of border fortress knights, the atmosphere of the ballrooms of the nobility, wild celebrations at the campfires of 18th century insurrestionist armies - create a deeper impression on us than the period adventure films, as if we were to suddenly be dropped into the depths of the well of Hungarian past.
'Dancing Hungarians' is not just about the year of the Hungarian millenium, and not just for people who already know. Its significance is in the dance as chronicler of bygone times. We can experience the old life style, we are able to touch history through folklore.
The artists have extracted the essence of a folkloric material which is unmistakeably Hungarian.
Video is available: please click here
Part I.
Evokes our historical dances in their original settings with authentic period costumes. City dances of the Middle Ages...
Minstrels' Dance
One of our most ancient peasant customs, still alive today. Pictures of the traditional past dissolve into the music of the Middle Ages. An ancient Mongolian song, Siberian shaman drum and a poem by the famous Hungarian poet, János Arany, all create the atmosphere here.
Village merriment
Girls ritual circle dance accompanied only by their own singing in the churchyard after mass. The serenity of the scene is soon interrupted by the men's virtuoso line dance.
Court Celebration - The dance of the reigning prince
The Transylvanian courts with their arty aristocracy were centres of the arts. A ceremonial, flirtatious dance with gentle hand movements imitating birds.
Orchestra number
Reform period ball
The csárdás, the Hungarian Hussars and the men's verbunk (recruiting dance) are the main characters here.
Part II.
Shows how the historical records changed and how history has become tradition still alive today in our peasant cultures.
Dances of finesse and skill
The men's implement dances of the Carpathian Basin are spectacular displays of dexterity, ingenuity, grace and creative improvisation.
Orchestra number
Dances of the Küküllő River area (Transylvania)
An area long since inhabited by a mixture of ethnic groups; Hungarians, Romanians, Gypsies.
When no one has money to pay a band,
There are ways to get the rhythm going for dancing, such as a Jews harp...
My heart is playing...
For centuries young people have been falling in love, dancing and singing
And finally
We focus on the latest fashion in Hungarian dance - old traditions revived by Hungary's youth in the city dance houses
Music:
Ferenc Sebő,
János Csík,
László Orbán,
András Vavrinecz
Choreography:
Zsolt Juhász
Gábor Mihályi
Tamás Szappanos
Zoltán Varga
Miklós Végső
Performed by
the Ensemble dance company, Galga Band, Major Band
Costume: Beáta LőrinczProduction
Designer: László Érchegyi
Technical consultant: István Kiss
Artistic consultant and specialist: Dr. Ernő Pesovár
Artistic director: Ferenc Sebő
Dance company director: Gábor Mihályi
Ballet director: Zsuzsanna Németh
Musical Director: András Vavrinecz
Assistants: Richárd Kőkény, Marianna Majorosi
Photo: Béla Kanyó, Péter Korniss
Graphics: Géza Barcsik
