On a recent Saturday night, the Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble of the San Francisco Bay Area and their children’s group, the Mazsola Hungarian Children’s Folkdance Ensemble, brought the community together for a truly special evening – an end-of-year gala followed by a lively táncház.
“It was the most ambitious event we’ve put together in the last eight years, since our 40th anniversary celebration,” says Attila Egyedi.
A Show with Depth and Variety
The 90-minute show, directed by Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Program Fellows Ilka Dajka and Gergő Bolgovics unfolded as a carefully built arc. It began by evoking the roots of Hungarian folk dancing, carrying the audience to the present, by showing how those traditions are still alive and evolving in the Bay Area.
From there, the show came alive with even more expansive choreographies performed by eight couples, intimate chamber pieces, and musical interludes from Gyanta Band. Short video segments and narration gave context and pacing.
“The highlight of the evening was the Kisgömböc choreography, originally created by Katalin Herczeg and brought to life by the Mazsola children with infectious energy and charm,” recalls Egyedi.
A Táncház for All Ages
After the show, the performance space transformed into a táncház. As always, the children’s dances opened the program, followed by the adults. Dajka and Bolgovics led teaching circles before each dance cycle, and a record number of people participated — from experienced dancers to complete beginners. The music ranged from well-known kalotaszegi and palatkai dances to rarer treasures like the felcsíki – the energy in the room only built as the night went on.
Community Spirit on Full Display
Around the edges of the hall, food prepared by scout leaders kept everyone going. A bake sale organized by Mazsola parents and Eszterlánc dancers also turned out to be a hit. A small market added to the lively atmosphere: guests browsed paintings by Bolgovics, handmade jewelry from the Modern Heritage collective of Dajka, Viktória Kovács, and Szonja Vajda, Eszterlánc-themed fridge magnets, and CDs from Crossroads Band, the Bay Area’s own Hungarian cover band.
For the first time, the community also held a raffle. Prizes included two LEGO sets and a táncház voucher from Eszterlánc, a painting from Bolgovics, a jewelry set from Vajda and Dajka, and a CD player paired with a Crossroads CD.
A Night to Remember
Over 150 people attended this event, ranging in age from toddlers to grandparents. The evening was partially sponsored by the Tulipán Foundation, but the real credit belonged to everyone who pitched in — dancers, parents, teachers, volunteers, and friends — to make it all happen.
“The entire evening was an example of what’s possible when Hungarian groups in the Bay Area come together to further one goal. More importantly, these kinds of programs underscore the idea that even when far from home, we can grow folk traditions among new generations. And bring joy and life to our communities,” says Egyedi.
