By Panni De Cheke Qualls
Norbert Rencz’s life has always moved to the rhythm of Hungarian folk traditions. Born in Nagyvárad and raised in Érmihályfalva, his introduction to the world of dance began simply enough: by following his older sister to a local amateur folk dance group. Despite being the youngest in the room, he quickly emerged as one of the most enthusiastic dancers, immersing himself deeply in Transylvanian dances and the rich folk music of all Hungarian regions.
His passion was so profound that by the age of twelve, he had already decided to become a professional dancer. “I started to teach myself the violin because I loved our folk culture so much that I wanted to actively engage with the music, as well,” Rencz recalls. This childhood dream paved the way to the Art High School in Nyíregyháza, the Hungarian Dance University (HDU) in Budapest, and ultimately earned him a spot in the prestigious Hungarian National Dance Ensemble, where he spent over nine unforgettable years.
The Call of the Southern Hemisphere
Throughout his professional career, Rencz traveled the globe, performing in iconic and emotionally resonant locations—from Csíksomlyó and St. Stephen’s Basilica square to major North American cities like Toronto and Chicago, dancing for large Hungarian diasporal communities. Yet, because he almost exclusively traveled as part of a large ensemble, a desire for a solo adventure began to take root. “When I first visited a truly large airport, I felt that one day I would have to set off on a journey all by myself,” he shares.
The Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Program (KCSP)—a fellowship designed to support Hungarian diasporal communities worldwide—had interested him for years, but he waited until he closed his chapter as a performing artist to apply. Seeking a destination in the Southern Hemisphere where he knew very few people, Rencz reached out to local representatives ahead of time and connected with the Kengugró folk dance group and The Transylvaniacs band in Sydney, Australia. It quickly became clear that this was exactly where he wanted to bring his talents as both a dancer and a musician.
The Nation-Sustaining Power of Dance
As a KCSP fellow in Sydney, Rencz’s daily life is a vibrant mix of organizing afternoon and evening dance rehearsals and music workshops. Because of this schedule, he also has the capacity to visit Hungarian schools and the St. Elizabeth home for the elderly, integrating deeply into the local community.
One of his most profound realizations in Australia has been witnessing the sheer power of folk culture far from the motherland. He notes that folk dance and music serve as the strongest nation-sustaining force next to the Hungarian language itself. “And although there are many members who do not speak the Hungarian language, the love of dance keeps their community together, and this is a very profound lesson for all of us,” Rencz observes.
While he is the expert teaching the dance steps, Rencz is also relishing the opportunity to be a student and life-long learner. He humbly admits to learning a great deal from the “old timers” in the Sydney Hungarian folk band. Professionally, he has successfully adapted to the long-established routines of the historic Kengugró group, while personally, he finds his social boundaries constantly expanding. Living in such a diverse country for nine months has brought him many new friends, which he considers the greatest gift of the KCSP fellowship.
Across the Tasman Sea
Rencz’s impact hasn’t been confined to Australia alone. In March, he and Kengugró Founder Michelle Turcsányi were invited to an Easter Hungarian Day in Auckland, New Zealand. The locals quickly realized they had a professional folk dancer practically in their “neighborhood” and invited him to return (for us) this summer.
During the July school holidays, Rencz headed back to New Zealand. Working closely with Petra Lipóth, the president of the Auckland Hungarian Club, Rencz taught Szatmár dances twice a week to an eager local community. His tour also included weekend visits to enthusiastic, predominantly Hungarian groups in Christchurch and Wellington. “It was a super experience to meet Hungarians living so far from Hungary, who visibly enjoyed hearing folk music and exhausting themselves in folk dancing,” he reflects. Seeing how much it meant to them further confirmed his belief in the incredible cohesive power of cultural activities.
Advice for the Next Generation
For future KCSP fellows or anyone planning a trip Down Under, Rencz offers practical and encouraging advice. First, he jokingly dispels the social media myths about Australia’s terrifying wildlife, assuring travelers that while a little caution is needed, the country is wonderful, and not nearly as dangerous as the internet makes it seem.
For prospective fellows, his message is a heartfelt call to service, urging them to support overseas diasporal communities to the best of their abilities since language and culture hold a completely different value far from Europe. “Even in a foreign language environment, among different customs, it is still possible to find a way forward to promote the spiritual and cultural growth of Hungarian people in Australia (or anywhere else in the world), so go for it!”
Note: Nobert Rencz is also a professional photographer in his spare time. The photos in this story are evidence of his talents and travels in New Zealand.
Photo credits | Auckland Hungarian Community, Kengugró and Norbert Rencz
