Ballet and Dance Companies in Hungary
Find out everything about dance in Hungary, from information on some of the best Hungarian companies to dance auditions in Hungary.
“Dance is the timeless interpretation of life.”
Shah Asad Rizvi
Hungary & Dance
The first ballet in Hungary was performed during the eighteenth century in Ráckeve, a town 25 kilometers south of Budapest. The Ráckeve ballet company later performed in Budapest as well.
In the early 19th century, the popularity of ballet in Hungary was growing. The first ballet school opened in 1808 in Pest. In 1811, József Esterházy, the owner of the Esterházy estate in Fertőd, in western Hungary, invited Salvatore Viganò, a famous ballet master from Milan, to come to his estate. Viganò brought some of his students from Milan with him and trained dancers at the Esterházy estate.
In 1818, Viganò staged the first ballet in Hungary. It was called The Carnival of Venice and it was performed in the newly built theatre of the Esterházy estate.
After the death of József Esterházy in 1833, the Esterházy ballet company began to perform in Budapest, at the National Theatre.
The popularity of ballet in Hungary grew rapidly in the 1840s. In 1848, the first Hungarian ballet company was formed. It was called the Hungarian State Opera Ballet and it was based in the National Theatre.
In the 1850s, the Hungarian State Opera Ballet gave many successful performances in Budapest and other cities in Hungary.
In 1884, the Hungarian State Opera Ballet gave its first performance outside Hungary. It was in Vienna, Austria.
The Hungarian State Opera Ballet continued to give successful performances in Budapest and other cities in Hungary and abroad.
In the early 20th century, many famous ballet dancers and choreographers from Hungary became internationally known.
In the 1930s, the Hungarian State Opera Ballet was one of the best ballet companies in Europe.
During the Second World War, the Hungarian State Opera Ballet was disbanded.
After the war, the Hungarian State Opera Ballet was re-established. It gave many successful performances in Hungary and abroad.
In the early 21st century, the Hungarian State Opera Ballet is one of the leading ballet companies in Europe.
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Did you know that…?
The Hungarian folk dances have a long and rich history dating back to the early days of the Hungarian people. The dances were originally performed for religious and cultural purposes, but over time they became increasingly popular as a way to express national pride and identity. Today, Hungarian folk dances are enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, and are an important part of the country’s cultural heritage.
The most popular Hungarian folk dances include the csardas, the verbunkos and the komondor. The csardas is a lively dance that originates from the region of Transylvania, while the verbunkos is a slower, more elegant dance that was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. The komondor is a traditional folk dance that is still performed in some parts of Hungary today.
Hungarian folk dances are usually performed in groups of four or more people, and often involve intricate patterns and movements. The dances are often accompanied by traditional Hungarian music, which often features instruments such as the fiddle, accordion and cimbalom.
Hungarian folk dances are an important part of the country’s cultural heritage, and are enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
