Hungarian Heritage House

This year, the Bem Folkdance Ensemble is celebrating its 35^th anniversary. The Ensemble was formed in 1975, when its predecessor, the Polish-Hungarian dance ensemble, had been split into two separate groups. The first leaders of the ensemble were László Vásárhelyi and Mrs. Endre Osskó. Ever since the ensemble has been devoted to perform and transmit traditional Hungarian dances.

Since 1989, the ensemble has been operated by the Bem Folklore Association, funded mostly by the Local Government of Újpest and the Ady Endre Culture Centre where our weekly rehearsals take place.

In the three age groups of the ensemble, there are nearly 120 dancers. We have a children's group, a youth group and an adult group.

The Association is dedicated to the keeping of original folklore traditions alive, and to the sharing of Hungarian folk dance and folk traditions. We make efforts to perform folk dance and folk music on stage with a high artistic quality, and to find and learn elements of the traditional Hungarian village music and dance that have been retained to this date. We intend to build a creative-minded and value-creating community. We consider it particularly important to encourage young people to take part in an activity that enhances their sense of identity, improves their behaviour, and is basically a sustaining force.

The ensemble has been able to take part in lots of national international festivals successfully. We regularly attend prestigious national folk festivals, such as the

• Duna Karnevál in Budapest,
• Bakony Folk Dance Festival at Ajka,
• "Kállai Kettős" Folk Dance Festival at Nagykálló,
• Molnár István Contest for Choreographers in Budapest,
• Chamber Dance Festival at Zalaegerszeg,
• National Solo Dancer Festival at Békéscsaba,
• National Táncház Festival and Fair,
• Folk Dance Festival of Szolnok, etc.

At the National Competition for Folk Dancers of 2006, the ensemble was awarded the title "Excellently Qualified Ensemble", and "Well Qualified" in the year 2008.

Besides dances from Hungary, our repertory includes Hungarian, Romanian and Gipsy dances from the territory Transylvania.

Artistic leaders of the ensemble are István Kis, folk dance instructor, award-winning folklore artist, and Erika Kis-Demeter folk dance instructor. 

 

Bem Folk Ensemble

Budapest

 

They Even Make The Sun Go Round...

 

• Dances from Vajdaszentivány and Marossárpatak: turning dance, men's dance, mixed and gipsy couple dances
• Romanian dances from Mezőszopor: men's dances, turning and couple dances
• Gipsy dances from Szászcsávás: Gipsy men's dance. Gipsy couple dances
• We should live with the one we love... -Girls' round dance from Magyarlapád
• Dances from Magyarszentbenedek: Slow and fast men's dances. Slow and fast couple dances

 

• Girls' dances from Karád
• Dances from the Dél-Alföld region: jumping and couple dances
• Swineherd's dance from Somogy
• Dances from Tyukod - couple dances, men's dances
• Dances from Hegyköz - girls' circle dance, couple dances and men's dances (Choreographers: István Darmos and Éva Darmos)
• Dances from the Kalotaszeg region - Men's dances and couple dances from the villages of Inaktelke and Bogártelke

 

Choreographers: István Kis and Erika Kis-Demeter