Dance Mirror

Nine centuries of western fashion have influenced and intermingled with unique Hungarian eastern tradition. The waves of fashion have arrived to the area piling up in layers, one on top of another, changing depending on the region and the ethnic group living there. The dance traditions have survived through the 20th century; forming a great puzzle before our very eyes. As we put together the pieces, we can see that the Carpathian Basin is a small Europe, with circle and line dances of the middle ages, soloistic dances displaying skill and couple dances.

Despite the Gothic cathedrals, this area was still the border between Europe and the Turkish Empire. The traditions of the specific regions show differences in the use of the dance vocabulary and how the course of history has shaped the proportion of newer and older dance styles.

The closed communities of the one time feudal estates preserved the oldest layer of dance custom: the many forms of the jumping dance.

Dance customs of the Mezőföld region:
Jumping dance, swineherder's dance, bottle dance, dance game, 'the shepherd is looking for his sheep'

Sárköz:
Women's circle dance, 'Cinege', songs for guarding the vineyard, recruiting dance

Madocsa:
Recruiting dance, csárdás, fast couple dance  

II. The Plain (the Tisza River region) 

Centuries of foreign rule, first with the Turkish invasions and then under the Habsburg rule, affected the character of dance customs of this region - the fighting dances; heyduck dances, stick and other implement dances, recruiting dances, solo men's dances have all been preserved down to our times. The romantic period and a national dance style had a strong influence on the couple dances as well.

Dances of Szatmár region:
Shepherd's stick dance, men's dance, recruiting dance, slow and fast csárdás

Hegyköz:
Old recruiting dance

Nyírség area:
Women's circle dance, slow and fast csardás  

III. Transylvania (the eastern dialect) 

Transylvania remained relatively independent during the times of the Turkish wars. The Renaissance style which flowered in the 15th - 16th centuries independently flourished and developed in this area.The men's dances done solo or in groups, and the turning couple dances reflect a time prior to the evolvement of the national dances. Just as in the Renaissance period, at dance events even today, the dances are danced in a series - in suite fashion. Here we present a taste of these dances.

Tunes from Szilágyság region

Maros (Mures) River region:
2 men's dances, couple dances

Dances of the Mezőség (central Transylvanian heath) region:
from the villages of Szék (Sic) , Bonchida (Bontida), Visa (Visea)

Musical material selected by:
Álmos Gáspár
Zsolt Juranits
Géza Kovács
László Orbán
Ferenc Pribojszki
András Vavrinecz

Director: Dr. Ernő Pesovár

Musical director: András Vavrinecz

Scenery: Péter Horgas

Costume design: Zsuzsa Imrik

Artistic Director: Alfréd Wiegman