Historical Layers of Hungarian Folk Dances

Excerpts from the book “Hungarian Ethnography and Folklore” written by Iván Balassa and Gyula Ortutay. Video examples selected from the collections of the Hungarian Heritage House and the Institute for Musicology by Eszter Szabó.

OLD STYLE DANCES

Girls’ round dances

“The circle is always tight. Dancers hold each other’s hand in various ways and, unlike the Balkan forms, they do not open the circle. Meanwhile, three kinds of movement are made. They all step inward or outward, so that the entire circle seems to be undulating. At other times they turn the circle in two ways. In the first they make two steps forward, one backward, but still moving forward with this asymmetrical form. Sometimes they all move around rapidly, taking small steps, at the same time regularly changing the direction of the ring. The roundels of girls are danced to their own singing.”

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Karikázó
Őcsény, 1973.04.21.
MTA Ft. 0816.02
Karéj
Egerszolát, 1976.05.23.
MTA Ft. 0929.12
 Fércelés
Drágszél, 1968.08.20.
MTA Ft. 0641.03
Leánykörtánc
Magyarlapád
MTA Ft. 0681.25
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Karikázó
Nyíri, 1973.08.18.
MTA Ft. 0825.02
Karikázó
Sióagárd, 1973.04.23.
MTA Ft. 0818.01
Körtánc
Domaháza, 1976.05.23.
MTA Ft. 0929.36
Karélás
Hosszúhetény, 1975.11.23.
MTA Ft. 0916.06

Herdsmen’s dances

“[…] the herdsmen’s dances are a direct continuation of the Heyduck dances, and in general of weaponed dances. These are known not only in Hungary but also among the Slovaks, Gorals, Ruthemans, and the Rumanians of Transylvania. Today traces have remained in the north-eastern linguistic region and in the central part of Transdanubia.

The most beautiful forms of the cudgel (botos) dances are known from the north-eastern fringes of the Great Plain. The most important accessory of the dance is the herdsman’s cudgel or stick. Dancers may dance alone, while trying to demonstrate their virtuosity at twirling and jumping over the cudgel. Or they may dance the paired men’s dance with the cudgel, where they fence duel-like with each other to the rhythm of the music. Naturally, the striking and defending always creates new situations, so that there is much improvisation in the dance. More rarely, these dances are danced by a couple. The man playfully attacks the woman with the cudgel, who dodges away while trying to hinder the twirling of the weapon.”

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Botoló
Ura, 1968.10.13.
MTA Ft. 0644.04
 Kanásztánc
Alap, 1973.04.24.
MTA Ft. 0819.05
Laskanyújtós tánc
Györgyfalva, 1983.09.11.
MTA Ft. 1153.26
Seprűtánc
Madocsa, 1968.05.12.
MTA Ft. 0624.06
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Üvegestánc
Berzence, 1981.11.20-22.
MTA Ft. 1112.49
Botoló
Nyírvasvári, 1975.09.07.
MTA Ft. 0894.20
Baltástánc
Nagydobos, 1955-56
MTA Ft. 0249.15
Pásztorbotoló
Nagydobos, 1955-56
MTA Ft. 0249.06

Leaping dances

“The leaping dance (ugrós) relates in many regards to herdsmen’s dances, except that it is always danced without accessories. In antiquity, ugrós often also meant dance in general. Therefore, we do not always know what exactly lies behind this designation. Certain of its forms were already mentioned in the 17th century: “The highest lords leap the dance with woman folk.” The leaping wedding dance of Transdanubia (lakodalmi ugrós) is one of the most widely spread forms, although it is really a procession dance, performed when they follow the bride to church. The jumping dance of the Great Plain is danced to the same rhythms as the swineherd song, and a similar type of dance is known by the Bukovina Székelys.”

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Páros kanásztánc
Berzence, 1953.05.22-26.
MTA Ft. 0203.02.
Páros kanásztánc
Berzence, 1981.11.20-22.
MTA Ft. 1112.52c
Háromugrós
Szeremle, 1979.01.20-21.
MTA Ft. 1010.11
Cinege
Bogyiszló, 1976.11.27-28.
MTA Ft. 0945.09.
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Ugrós
Sárpilis, 1952.02.09.
MTA Ft. 0174.07a
Mars
Drágszél, 1953.05.06.
MTA Ft. 0200.01
Mars
Drágszél, 1968.08.20.
MTA Ft. 0641.01
Dus
Szany, 1971.04.17.
MTA Ft. 0759.05
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Oláhos
Apátfalva, 1956.02.24.
MTA Ft. 0277.07
 Oláhos
Tápé, 1952.03.09.
MTA Ft. 0154.03
 Ugrós
Alap, 1973.04.24.
MTA Ft. 0819.02
“Verbung”
Hosszúhetény, 1975.11.23.
MTA Ft. 0916.07

Transylvanian men’s dances

“The more primitive versions of the young men’s dance (legényes) are known among the Székelys; however, this type of solo dance developed in its complexity in the Hungarian villages of Kalotaszeg and Mezőség. It is part of a whole dance programme: the young men dance it in front of the band, while the girls waiting to dance surround the lads in a rotating circle. […] The legényes is one of the most developed, extremely varied forms of dancing. Its music and wealth of motifs are equally connected to the Heyduck and to the herdsmen’s dances, and, after assimilating several European influences, it became the forerunner of the recruiting dance and its music.”

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Silladri
Andrásfalva, 1978.06.17-18.
MTA Ft. 0990.31a
Féloláhos
Csíkszentdomokos, 1995.11.28.
HH 1295565
Sűrű magyar
Bonchida, 1969.05.31.
MTA Ft. 0682.08
Pontozó
Lőrincréve, 1968.06.09.
MTA Ft. 0625.01
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Pontozó
Magyarbece, 2001.09.03.
HH 130892
Legényes
Bogártelke, 1968.07.28.
MTA Ft. 0637.01
Legényes
Méra, 2001.09.10
HH 1305696
 Sűrű tempó
Szék, 1969.03.09.
MTA Ft. 0671.27

Slow men’s dances

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Ritka tempó
Szék, 1969.03.09-10.
MTA Ft. 0671.28
Verbunk
Makfalva, 1968.06.09.
MTA Ft. 0625.03
 Verbunk
Szucság, 2001.09.10
HH 1306569
 Verbunk
Nyárádmagyarós, 2003.07.11.
HH 1185186
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
 Lassú pontozó
Magyarlapád, 2001.09.03.
HH 1308723
Szegényes
Magyarózd, 1990.08.26.
MTA Ft. 1366.06
Lassú magyar
Bonchida, 1969.05.31.
MTA Ft. 0682.07
 Verbunk
Gyimesközéplok, 1980.08.02.
MTA Ft 1063.05 b

Old couples dances

“Certain paired dances must also be briefly discussed, versions of which can be found in different parts of the linguistic region as the last remnant of the old style. Various western dances also affected these, and most of them can be viewed as a transformation, a Hungarianization of some of them. Among its motifs there are several resembling the csárdás, but differences in rhythm still preserve old traditions. Most of these dances have survived in Transylvania, where the rapid spread of the csárdás did not push out the older forms with such boisterous speed as it did in other parts of the linguistic territory. In Transylvania, the melodies of former paired dances are often sung to the more novel forms, such as the slow dance of Mezőség or the gypsy dance, and while singing the couples walk about for a while to the rhythm of the music.”

Slow walks

 [Video not found]  [Video not found]  [Video not found]  [Video not found]
Kettős jártatója
Sötétpatak, 2003.10.24.
HH 1183877
Lassú
Szék, 2002.11.22.
HH 1306089
Lassú cigánytánc
Magyarpalatka, 1987.03.01.
MTA Ft. 1246.11
Lassú cigánytánc
Magyarpalatka, 2004.03.26.
HH 1061262
 [Video not found]  [Video not found]  [Video not found]  [Video not found]
Lassú magyaros
Sötétpatak, 2003.10.24.
HH 1184110
Lassú magyaros
Sötétpatak, 2003.10.24.
HH 1183887
 Lassú
Szék, 1969.03.09.
MTA Ft 0671.40 b
 Kettős jártatója
Gyimesközéplok, 1980.08.02.
MTA Ft 1063.04 a

 

Spinning dances

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Kettős sirülője
Sötétpatak, 2003.10.24.
HH 1184884
 Forgatós
Székelykál, 2003.07.12.
HH 1184638
Csárdás
Szék, 1969.03.09-10.
MTA Ft. 671.29
 Sebes magyaros
Sötétpatak, 2003.10.24.
HH 1183893
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Szökős
Magyarszovát, 2004.09.24.
HH 1184260
Forduló
Vajdaszentivány, 1990.07.22.
MTA Ft. 1363.01
Forduló
Vajdaszentivány, 2004.01.24.
HH 1067926
Gyors forgató
Jobbágytelke, 1971.08.20.
MTA Ft 0761.01.b

NEW STYLE DANCES

“The new Hungarian dance style reached maturity in the 19th century, but like the new folk music, it was closely linked to the traditions of previous centuries. Western paired dances became well known and served as a foundation for the development of new dances. The rhythm of dance music changed, the 4/4 rhythm being replaced by 2/4 rhythms, while for the faster dances the accelerating eighth note was added.”

Verbunk

“The recruiting dance included the elements of several former men’s dances (young men’s dance, leaping dance, etc. ); its unified style developed in the last century. It was generally the opening dance in the dance programme, and somewhat prepared the way for the paired dances. Two kinds can be differentiated. One is free in structure, assuring plenty of opportunity for improvisation and for displaying individual dancing skills. […] The recruiting dance of the more regulated form consists of fewer and mostly slow and brisk parts. They dance it in a half circle under the direction of the dance leader.”

Freeform solo verbunk

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Verbunk
Nagyecsed, 1968.08.20.
MTA Ft. 640.1a
Verbunk
Turkeve, 1956.10.11.
MTA Ft. 266.4
Verbunk
Szilice, 1981.09.26.
MTA Ft. 1332.10
Verbunk
Bag, 1955.06.26.
MTA Ft. 235.2a
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Verbunk
Decs, 1952.04.05.
MTA Ft. 164.1
 Magyar verbunk
Nagyecsed, 1968.08.20. MTA Ft 0640.01 d
 Székely verbunk
Marossárpatak, 1969.05. MTA Ft 0679.08
 Magyar verbunk
Tardoskedd, 1966.12.28.
MTA Ft 0590.06

Structured verbunk

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Körverbunk
Halászi, 1955.10.16.
MTA Ft. 254.1
Körverbunk
Kapuvár, 1971.04.17.
MTA Ft. 759.7
Körverbunk
Kapuvár, 1905.05.10.
MTA Ft. 349.9
Körverbunk
Kunszentmiklós, 1968.06.20.
MTA Ft. 639.1

Csárdás 

“The best known dance of the Hungarians, the csárdás, expresses in its name (csárda, tavern) the opposite of the palotás (palota, palace), the dance of the nobility. It came into general fashion in the second quarter of the 19th century […]. The csárdás assimilated in itself the numerous traditions of the various paired dances which were increasingly gaining ground from the Renaissance period on. The music itself grew out of the music of recruiting dances, to the tunes of which a great many different kinds of csárdás were danced among Hungarian ethnographical groups. Only men have an active role in paired dances, and in the Hungarian csárdás of 4/4 beat, they do a movement at every quarter-value. The basic double step is partly repeated, partly the couples spin around in different fashions. As a relic of the old round dances, 2 to 4 pairs sometimes join together and dance in a circle.”

Couples csárdás

[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Csárdás
Madocsa, 1968.05.12.
MTA Ft. 624.4
Csárdás
Nagyecsed, 1968.08.20.
MTA Ft. 640.2
Lassú és gyors csárdás
Méra, 2001.09.10.
HH 1306755
Lassú és gyors csárdás
Türe, 1969.04.11.
MTA Ft. 690.43
[Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found] [Video not found]
Csárdás
Kapuvár, 1905.05.10.
MTA Ft 0349.10
Lassú csárdás
Bag, 1955.06.26.
MTA Ft 0235.12 a
Csárdás
Magyarlapád, 1969.05.26-27.
MTA Ft 0681.28
Lassú és friss csárdás
Rimóc, 1984.03.29.
MTA Ft 1164.05
[Video not found] [Video not found]  [Video not found]
Lassú
Vajdaszentivány, 1990.07.22.
MTA Ft 1363.10
 Gyors csárdás
Csíkszentdomokos, 1995.11.28.
HH 1295589
 Lassú csárdás
Szilágysámson, 2004.02.20.
HH 1184306

Triple csárdás

[Video not found] [Video not found]
 Szásztánc
Magyarszovát, 1997.10.18.
HH 1304701
Hármas csárdás
Geszteréd, 1955.12.17.
MTA Ft. 0281.14

Circle csárdás

[Video not found]
 Szöktető
Jobbágytelke, 1971.08.20.
MTA Ft 0761.01 c

 

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