Hungarian
Todd Wagner

Although hundreds of years old, these dances are currently done by people of all ages in Hungarian tanchazak (dance houses) and have wonderful music and songs. People often sing while dancing, or while sitting on the sidelines.

Traditional Hungarian dancing enjoyed a revival in the 70s and 80s because of the Hungarians nationalistic desire to aggravate their Russian “guests” through cultural expression.

These dances are mostly couple dances, although there are men’s solo dances, women’s circle dances, and foursome (two couples) dances. There is no choreography – the man leads and the woman follows just like in ballroom dancing (the man can do anything he wants and the woman can do anything HE wants). If there are extra women is it not uncommon for two women to dance together.

Todd Wagner has been teaching Hungarian folkdances for over 20 years and has been to Hungary more than 30 times. He and his wife Sarah Tull teach “Folkdances of Hungary and Transylvania” in Menlo Park.