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The domestic dance house movement was a grassroots initiative that emerged spontaneously in the early 1970s from the needs and enthusiasm of intellectuals, musicians, and dancers. Young people sought authentic, meaningful community experience as an alternative to official cultural programmes. Dr. Lajos Lelkes (1940–2026) was one of the most important yet lesser-known founding organizers of the Hungarian dance house movement. As founder and perpetual president of the Kertész Dance Association (today known as Kertész Dance Association Cultural Society), he played a key role in organizing the very first dance house on May 6, 1972 in Budapest at Liszt Ferenc square, in what is now the Writers' Bookshop.
"The event was organized by dancers from the Bihari ensemble, Jolán Foltin, Lajos Lelkes and Antal 'Huba' Stoller; the backbone was provided by dancers from the Bartók, Bihari, Vadrózsák and Vasas ensembles, and the opening dance was provided by the Halmos-Sebő-Éri trio. His primary spiritual mentor was György Martin." Béla Szilárd Jávorszky
The evening begins with a screening and recollections by Lajos Lelkes's good friend, photographer Péter Korniss, featuring his photographs from Szék and memories of Lajos Lelkes.
An exhibition will present the "Present Past" book series founded and directed by Lajos Lelkes through Planétás Publishing, one of the most important collections in Hungarian ethnographic, folk music and folk dance research, now of historical significance to the discipline.
Following this, a dance house will run until midnight, featuring only Szék music - we will announce the participating bands shortly!
If you have Szék folk costume, come dressed in it!
Ticket price: 2500 Ft in advance, 3000 Ft on the day of the event
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