It is difficult to imagine the celebration of folk music without this celebration of folk dance. Fortunately, there is no need to imagine it, since for years the annual evening gala programme has been ‘bookended' by free dance houses in Müpa Budapest's atrium. This year will be no different, with two featured ensembles who will also have to prove themselves as part of a tighter programme in the concert hall.
From 6 pm, visitors will get to shake a leg along to Budapest-based Csángálló's music of the Csango ethnic group of the Romanian regions of Gyimes (Ghimeș) and Moldavia while also ‘keeping pace' with dance music from Bulgaria, Macedonia and Turkey, as well as elsewhere in Romania. The dance house run by this group - consisting of Csobán Sára (saxophone), Bálint Bagi (tárogató), Zoltán Tamás Gárgyán (clarinet), Johannes Olsson (accordion) and Tamás Jean-Pierre Bősze (drums) - is naturally not about ‘order' and rigid forms, but liberation, originality, youthful energy and the irresistible power that makes its way into anyone who has never taken part in this magical communal experience. Of course, those who require a little initial ‘push' will get one from dancers Máté Módos and Berta Almássy, both members of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble.
At 10 pm, after the gala programme, Kecskemét's Zoord will be the ones to get the party moving. In spite of their ‘grim' name, they promise a genial atmosphere - and more. This trio (Áron Szilágyi - jaw harp, Krisztián Almási - drums, Béla Drabant - violin, zither) with its raw, visceral sound will be joined tonight by kobza player László Szlama and recorder player András Lőrincz. Dance instructor Fábián Gyurka will be there alongside them to make sure that everyone gets into the spirit of these Moldavian dances.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest