INTERWIEV

János Sz ű cs - folk dancer - teacher - art manager

When did you decide to dance? -It started at my school, called Bocskai István Primary School. I was 14 years old and was interested in sports, especially football, basketball and athletics. Our team won the Teenager Sport Cup of Hajdú-Bihar county.Our trainer was István Görög, our P.E.teacher.

15 th March is a national holiday in Hungary,we celebrate the revolution and independence of 1848/49. Many other events accompany the celebrations including musical and theatrical performances.

The pupils of 7 class developed a play for our town citizians that is about the Hungarian Revolution.They wanted to dance, but there weren’t enough boys. I and some friends contacted the person who ran the program.We had a great success and enjoyed ourselves very much. Even it was very interesting and exciting to dance with beautiful girls.

-After my good experience I was invited in the group of Bocskai Folk Dance Company by a pretty girl.

What family do you come from? -I come from a poor family.My father ’s ancestors were farmers since My mother was a teacher in Bocskai Primary School. But his father, my grandfather, was a light operett singer.He could sing and dance very well.

-Working in farms, dancing and acting are combined in folk dance.

Folk dance -At that time people used to go to dance after the church ceremony every Sunday. -They had a good time, and had song hits as nowadays at the discos. Today songs change at the discos day by day. But that songs were values for hundreds of years. -From the 50’s video films were made from folk dances by Hungarian Academy of Scienses.

-Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of the people of a certain country or region. -Folk dancing is great exercise and a fun recreational activity for people of all ages. Anyone can learn to folk dance, as no formal dance experience is necessary to be able to learn most of the steps and formations

-CSÁRDÁS The National couple dance of the Hungarians, which in its simple form is two steps to the right and two steps to the left, followed by turning the woman around. However, its regional variations and intricate additional figures are innumerable.

-KARIKÁZÓ means circle dance, which are women’s dances mostly without music, accompanied by the singing of folksongs. These are the most archaic forms of folkdances found in Hungary.

How long have you been danced? -I’m 30 years old and, I have been dancing since my 15 th birthday. -After attending primary school I stayed at the folk dance group of children, and later I became a member of adults group. 2-3 years later we won a Talent Folk Dance Show called ‘Erkel Students’ Festival’ in Gyula.

- In 2003 I have already been’ the youngest folk dance art director’ ever in the world. I have directed Bocskai Folk Dance Group for 9 years. -Today the Bocskai Group has two hundred members, but some years earlier there were only 30.

What clothes do you wear at the dance group? -Do you know, some hundred years ago poor people had only some clothes. They had clothes for a weekdays, and for a holidays.They didn’t wear them every day, only on special occasions,so it was made from very expencive and good materials.It often lasted for a lifetime.

What schools did you attend? - I attended Arts College of Dance, Reformed Teacher Training College. I won ‘Vásárhelyi László Prize’. It was named after a famous dancer.

What are your plans for the future? -I have three main aims: My dream is first of all, my group will have 300 members. It’s a rather difficult, because the children go to dance proving regularly, they have enough time. But the adults always in a hurry, they find another spare time activities. Secondly, the art developing of the group is important.

-In my private life I want to be healthy and fit.Dancing needs a plenty of energy. -I have won ‘Gold Spur (Heel) Prize’. They are given to the best folk dancers. You can get only three of them. I have already had two of them….

-And there is one more prize,‘the Young Master of Folk Art.’It is given by the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage.I had to take an exam and present a dance…

Thank you for the interwiev and your attention.