Hungarian Folk Dance Workshop and Dance House - Magyar Néptánc Műhely és Táncház

Schedule:

4-6pm: Folk Dance Workshop (child-friendly activity)

6-7pm: Recess Break / Szünet (zenével, falatozó)

7-10pm: Folk Dance House / Táncház

The Angyalföldi Vadrózsa Ensemble is one of the most renowned folk-dance ensembles in Hungary and they are making a special stop at Hungarian House for a community workshop and dance house while they tour the United States. During the revolution of 1956, approximately 200,000 Hungarians fled to Western countries, including more than 30,000 to the United States. As Vadrózsa planned its US tour, the group prioritized visiting and performing in those communities inhabited by a significant number of Hungarians, including in many cases descendants of those who fled their homeland in 1956.

Vadrózsa (or wild rose in Hungarian) was established 30 years ago in Angyalföld, (the ’Land of Angels’) –the nickname for the XIIIth District of Budapest. Since its foundation, the group’s mission has been to recognize, preserve, and disseminate authentic Hungarian folk dance and music through teaching and performance. The group is dedicated to highlighting the abundant folk traditions and cultural treasures of the Carpathian Basin on the global stage. The ensemble has an ethos based on community building and educating the next generation.

Vadrózsa manages six other dance groups In addition to their adult ensemble, ranging from ages 3 to 60. The entire ensemble is one large family, consisting of over 250 dancers. Through regular participation in nationwide dance festivals and competitions, they have earned numerous accolades over the past decade, consistently achieving outstanding results in both ensemble and solo categories. Vadrózsa’s artistic directors, Lili Fundák-Kaszai and Kristóf Fundák, are one of Hungary’s most outstanding educators and performers in the folk-dance space. In 2024, Fundák was awarded the highest national honor that a choreographer can receive in Hungary. For years, they have taught and choreographed throughout Hungary and in global Hungarian diasporas including in the United States and Canada.

The Ensemble is open to other artistic genres beyond authentic Hungarian folk dances, which is why its repertoire includes several contemporary works and dance theater pieces. This being said, wherever Vadrózsa is present, broad impact remains one its key aspirations. Making Hungarian dance and music accessible to diverse audiences is a fundamental value shared by the entire ensemble.