Hungarian State Folk Ensemble coming to the Phillips Center

March 29, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — One of the greatest folkloric dance ensembles in the world will be making its way to the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts next month.

The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble will perform April 12 at 7:30 p.m., with a pre-performance discussion with the company scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble was established in 1951 to collect and play authentic folk music, and to preserve the traditional folk dances and costumes of Hungary. Not only has the ensemble achieved its goal of preserving Hungarian culture, it also has been a key instrument in revitalizing the culture and spirit of the Hungarian people.

All of the choreography in the program is based on authentic, original Hungarian dances. Some of the dances were collected from isolated villages and are hundreds of years old. Hungarian folk music – the same music that inspired composers such as Liszt, Bartók and Kodály – is played on traditional instruments by members of the Folk Orchestra and the world-famous Gipsy Orchestra.

Many of the dances are reflections of both the culture and geography of Hungary. “Scenes Along the River” gives the viewer a sense of the Danube, the largest river in Europe. The dance is a reflection of the many different peoples who lived along the Danube. “Scenes Along the River” features skill-demanding bottle dances, which go back to the Middle Ages, as well as unique and original “couple dances” from the Sáköz region of Western Hungary.

Because of its political and geographical separation, Transylvania – a region that once belonged to Hungary prior to World War I – preserved an archaic collection of dances and music which is reflected in “Turning Dance” and “Czardas.” The choreography is made up of men’s dances and couple dances from the Transylvanian “Mez?ség” region.”

Other dances on the program reflect or evoke past conflicts in Hungary. The tarogato, an instrument used in “Dance for Voice and Tarogato,” was forbidden in the early 18th century and subsequently became a symbol for the struggle for freedom. Other dances, such as the “Shepherds Dance,” are based on medieval war dances. While the modern-day version of the “Shepherds Dance” reflects the virtuosity and skill developed through many centuries, the dancers use sticks instead of swords.

Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-2787 or 800-905-2787 or by calling Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309. Orders may be faxed to 352-846-1562. Tickets are also available at the Phillips Center Box Office, University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Student Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the Web at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Phillips Center Box Office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and two hours before performances.