405 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
Vadrózsa (’Wild Rose’) Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble will take part in a five-city tour of the East Coast of the United States in the fall of 2024 coming to New York City on October 20, 2024, gracing the stage of the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater.
The tour partly pays hommage to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 celebrated annually on 23 October. The revolution is one of the most significant events in Hungarian history, which began with a peaceful demonstration by Budapest university students and within a few days escalated into an armed conflict against the Soviet occupation. Although the uprising was crushed, its international impact played an important role in the process leading to the eventual fall of the Soviet Union. During the revolution, approximately 200,000 Hungarians fled to Western countries, including more than 30,000 to the United States.
As Vadrózsa planned its tour, the group prioritized visiting and performing in those communities inhabited by a significant number of Hungarians, including in many cases descendants of those who fled their homeland in 1956. In addition to commemorating the revolution, Vadrózsa’s performance will treat the audience to a spectacular and captivating authentic dance performance based on the rich folk dance and folk music tradition of the Carpathian Basin. At each city tour, the show will be enhanced by the appearance of a dance or musical performance handpicked from the local talent from the Hungarian community.
About the Vadrózsa Folk Dance Ensemble
The VADRÓZSA FOLK DANCE ENSEMBLE OF ANGYALFÖLD is the pre-eminent non-professional folk dance ensemble in Hungary. (VADRÓZSA=’Wild Rose’) The group was established 30 years ago in ANGYALFÖLD, the ’Land of Angels’, which is the nickname for the XIIIth District of Budapest. Since its foundation, the group’s mission has been to recognize, preserve and disseminate authentic Hungarian folk dance and music through teaching and performing.
The group is dedicated to highlighting the abundant folk traditions and cultural treasures of the Carpathian Basin on the global stage. As a non-professional group, its members place a special emphasis on community building and educating the next generation. In addition to Vadrózsa adult ensemble, there are six other groups, with dancers ranging from 3 to 60 years old. The entire ensemble is one big family, consisting of over 250 dancers.
The ensemble participates regularly in nationwide dance festivals and competitions. Over the past 10 years, Vadrózsa has consistently achieved outstanding results at these festivals, boasting numerous group and individual awards. Vadrózsa’s artistic directors, Lili Fundák-Kaszai and Kristóf Fundák, are one of Hungary's most outstanding couples in the folk dance genre. In 2024, Kristóf was awarded the highest national honor that a choreographer can receive in Hungary.
For years, they have prolifically taught and choreographed throughout Hungary and in Hungarian-inhabited communities across the border, including in the United States and Canada. In addition to showcasing authentic folk dance, the Ensemble is open to other artistic genres, which is why its repertoire includes several contemporary works and dance theater pieces. The dancers are proud of their successes, but at the same time they consider the results achieved to be a serious responsibility, which is why humility and attention to detail are cornerstones to their work. Vadrózsa seeks to set an example for the Hungarian folk dance movement and for future generations.
TOUR DESTINATIONS
Click on the program to learn more and register!
- October 19, 2024 - NEW YORK, NY - Hungarian House
- October 20, 2024 - NEW YORK, NY - The Ailey Citigroup Theater
- October 23, 2024 - WASHINGTON D.C. - The Blackrock Center for the Arts
- October 26, 2024 - CLEVELAND, OH - John Carroll University
- October 29, 2024 - BOSTON, MA - Morse School
- November 2, 2024 - NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Hungarian American Athletic Club
Tour Artistic Directors | Fundák Kristóf and Fundák-Kaszai Lili
Dancers | Al-Shrebche Nárcisz, Balogh Lili, Bazán Enikő, Bianchini Bence, Bocsi Nóra, Császár Réka, Dede Flóra, Domak Luca, Farkas Christian, Fodor Mátyás, Fülöp Zsófia, Gáspár Emese, Grócz Márton, Gyebnár Anna, Kása Bálint, Kelemen Péter, Kinál Janka, Kissimon Réka Viktória, Kovács Dénes Zoltán, Kovács Viola, Kröel-Dulay Viola, Majnikné Végh Hajnalka, Molnár István Dániel, Nagy Franciska Ella, Nagy Izabella, Nagy Ottó, Nagy Vivien Zsuzsanna, Oraveczné Palágyi Dóra, Ország Emese, Pigniczky Keve, Részegh Adél, Rikter Máté, Rusvai Mátyás, Sándor Gabriella , Sóti Zsuzsanna, Szanyó Gábor, Szőcs Milán, Tóth Roland, Tóth Kristóf Soma, Wágner Viktória
Musicians | Boda Márton , Boda Gellért, Böröcz Balázs, Gera Gábor, Hajdu-Németh László