The exhibition has been shown in several countries, the first being in Innsbruck, Austria last November.Continue reading
On Friday afternoon, the György Martin Folk Dance Festival in Szeged will begin with a musical parade of the participating ensembles, the Szeged International Folk Dance Festival Foundation informed MTI.
The first large-scale summer folk dance festival was held in Szeged in 1966. Since the 1970s, based on the idea of Ferenc Novák, the event has featured international Hungarian ensembles in one year and Hungarian and cross-border ensembles in the other. The latter festival is named after György Martin, a folklorist who died in 1983.
At the festival, the ensembles can present their new choreography in front of a jury, and they will be assessed and awarded prizes by experts. A few years ago, the organizers decided to offer youth groups the opportunity to perform in a professional competition, as this age group already possesses the dance skills to offer a complete aesthetic experience, while their enthusiasm, passion, and dedication are unmatched.
This year, groups of six ensembles will perform at the festival, besides the host Szeged Dance Ensemble, the Figurás Dance Ensemble from Nyíregyháza, the Bartók Dance Ensemble from Békéscsaba, the Dobbantó Folk Dance Ensemble from Szegvár, the Árendás Folk Dance Ensemble from Hódmezővásárhely, and the Tiszavirág Folk Dance Ensemble from Deszk and Szeged.
On Friday afternoon, the participants in folk costumes accompanied by music will march from Széchenyi Square via Kárász Street to Dugonics Square, where they will give a taste of their performances at the festival opening. The following evening, the ensembles will present their programs in front of a jury and audience at the Kisszínház. In addition, the young dancers will have the opportunity to participate in a professional program of dance demonstrations, a jury will give a detailed professional evaluation of their performances, and as is tradition, the day’s activities will end with a dance party until dawn.
Featured image via the Szeged International Folk Dance Festival and Martin György Folk Dance Festival’s Facebook page