| Dancing provided the primary source of | | | | returning from town built the elements |
| recreation for village people before the | | | | of civil fashion dances in their |
| electronic entertainment forms of the | | | | homeland's dance choreography. Dance |
| modern world penetrated filtered into | | | | traditions of the neighbouring countries |
| the lives of the tiniest settlements. | | | | have also shaped Hungarian folk dances. |
| The captivating motions accompanied by | | | | In Transylvania, where Hungarians, |
| music and/or singing is a spectacular | | | | Romanians, and Saxons lived together, |
| visualization of the Hungarian people's | | | | adoption of each other's dances was |
| rich emotional world which they strive | | | | inevitable. The dance heritage of |
| to preserve in spite of the unstoppable | | | | Bukovina in Transylvania reflects |
| spread of modern lifestyle. | | | | several ethnic influences (German, |
| Singing folk songs and dancing enlivened | | | | Romanian, Russian, Hucul). |
| not just country people's holidays but | | | | In terms of regional aspect three main |
| it brought some cheerfulness in their | | | | dialects developed in Hungarian dance |
| workdays, too. Dancing was also an | | | | culture: |
| integral part of a wide range of social | | | | - The characteristic dances of the |
| occasions. It provided an effective | | | | Western or Danube dance dialect are the |
| forum for group and couple interaction | | | | shepherd and jumping dances, verbunk, |
| including courtship. | | | | leánykarikázó (women's cicle dance), |
| In order to get along in a village one | | | | slow and quick csárdás and the |
| had to have good dancing skills. A lad | | | | colourful palette of wedding dances. |
| with skillful dancing ability tended to | | | | - The Central or Tisza region preserved |
| be more popular with lasses and vice | | | | many old style dances along with a wide |
| versa. Parents and the elderly members | | | | range of new style dances: shepherd |
| of the village community prompted | | | | dances, stick dances, leánykarikázó, |
| youngsters to acquire and preserve folk | | | | jumping dances, verbunk, slow and quick |
| traditions as means of strengthening | | | | csárdás and the osztótánc from the |
| social integrity. | | | | wedding dances. |
| Hungarian folk dances can be divided | | | | - The Eastern or Transylvania region has |
| into two main categories: | | | | the most versatile and archaic dance |
| 1. Old style dances dating back to the | | | | heritage due to the isolation of this |
| Middle Ages | | | | area from Western influences. |
| Jumping dances (ugrós): solo or couple | | | | Communism didn't oppressed folk dancing, |
| dances accompanied by old style music, | | | | on the contrary the era added new |
| shepherd and other solo man's dances | | | | impetus to the development of dances. |
| from Transylvania, and marching dances | | | | The dance house movement started in the |
| along with remnants of medieval weapon | | | | 70ies became very popular with young |
| dances belong in this group. | | | | people living in towns in no time. Bands |
| Karikázó, a circle dance performed by | | | | and ensembles formed, amateurs set out |
| women only accompanied by singing of | | | | to collect the remaining traditions of |
| folksongs | | | | folk dance and music in the countryside |
| 2. New style dances developed in the | | | | while looking for their roots. |
| 18-19. centuries | | | | The choreographies were resurrected in |
| Verbunk, a solo man's dance evolved from | | | | dance houses where anybody could learn |
| the recruiting performances of the | | | | the basic steps then practice them by |
| Austro-Hungarian army. Csárdás the | | | | joining the other enthusiasts on the |
| national couple dance of Hungary which | | | | dance floor. The dance house phenomena |
| seems deceptively simple with its to | | | | evolved into a movement acknowledged and |
| steps to the right and two steps to the | | | | known all worldwide enriching the world |
| left, followed by turning the woman | | | | of folk music and dance with talents |
| around choreography however numerous | | | | like Márta Sebestyén, or the Muzsikás |
| regional variations have developed since | | | | Band. |
| the 19th century. | | | | The fact that the Hungarian name of the |
| Couple dances formed the core of | | | | movement without the accents (tanchaz) |
| community entertainment because of their | | | | rooted in the English language |
| lively step patterns. The most popular | | | | demonstrates the popularity of the |
| couple dance is the csárdás which | | | | movement the best. |
| became known as the national dance of | | | | The political changes started in 1989 |
| Hungary all over the world. Besides | | | | facilitated the preserving of folk |
| csárdás and its variations the | | | | traditions even more. Folk dance schools |
| so-called jumping dances, twirl dances | | | | were founded, folk dance lessons became |
| from Transylvania and other old style | | | | part of school lectures, and the |
| slow dances were also favoured. Solo | | | | Hungarian Dance Academy launched a folk |
| man's dances existed as integral part of | | | | dance course. Today many civil |
| dance life until the I. world war. | | | | associations, festivals (National |
| Only the most talented lads were able to | | | | Tanchaz Festival) and countless folk |
| learn and master some of the dances that | | | | ensembles (both professional and |
| required outstanding skillfulness | | | | amateur) cultivate folk dance traditions |
| (verbunk, jumping dances). Some man's | | | | in Hungary. |
| dances became part of the dance | | | | Through the performances of the three |
| repertoire in certain parts of the | | | | most successful representatives of |
| country even after the I. world war | | | | Hungarian folk dance culture (Hungarian |
| (Rábaköz: verbunk, karéj, dus, | | | | National Folk Ensemble, Danube Folk |
| Northeast Hungary certain verbunk | | | | Ensemble and the Rakjó Folk Ensemble) |
| varieties: sarkantyús verbunk, magyar | | | | you can learn about and became a fan of |
| verbunk). | | | | this colourful art form. The 3 ensembles |
| Along with entertainment dances, certain | | | | look back to more than 50-year |
| rituals, customs (weddings, harvest, | | | | professional past. They conquered the |
| vintage) had their own characteristic | | | | heart of their audience in numerous |
| dances, as well. Weddings were regarded | | | | countries evoking and making memorable |
| as prominent social happenings in | | | | to them the rich folklore treasures of |
| villages, the events of which lived | | | | Hungary. The ensembles' versatile |
| vividly in people's memories for long. | | | | repertoire has preserved many precious |
| External influences had significant | | | | dances which would have been forgotten |
| impact on evolution of countryside dance | | | | otherwise. |
| life. Craftsmen, soldiers, maids | | | | |