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April 26: Family Folk Dance Group Presents, A Major Influence On Classical Music: Transylvanian Peasants

In their colorful 25th anniversary concert in April, the Seattle-based family folk dance group, Kisbetyarok, will illustrate how famous classical composers became mesmerized with Hungarian and Romanian village music and dancing.

In their colorful 25th anniversary concert in April, the Seattle-based family folk dance group, Kisbetyarok, will illustrate how famous classical composers became mesmerized with Hungarian and Romanian village music and dancing, the same music and dancing that Kisbetyarok has performed for a quarter of a century. Melodies and rhythms that were originally played by peasants are now played in major concert halls of the world, such as Bela Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle recently performed by the Seattle Opera.

Authentic Hungarian village musician Laci Orban explains how he collected folk music in Transylvanian villages in the footsteps of Bartok and Kodaly. In his travels, he has met many peasant musicians, such as the gypsy Szaszcsavas musicians. Orban said, "When I first met them, I could not believe my eyes when they were walking to me without shoes, because they could not afford to buy one pair. They could not read or write, but when they started playing music, you were hooked for life."

Peasants who never left their villages during their lifetime developed sophisticated music and dancing skills that inspired great classical musicians; isolation fostered the development of a rich folk music tradition. For centuries, folk dancing and live music were virtually the only entertainment the villagers had. When girls wanted to have a girls' night out, they went to the meadows near the village to sing and dance. Their dancing and singing would attract the young men of the village who would join them and show off their skills - not with the newest cell phones but with masterful dancing.

For 25 years under the leadership of Sue Isely, Kisbetyarok Hungarian Family Dancers has continued the village tradition of teaching folk culture to young people.

On April 26, the group's 60 dancers, age two through adult, present a celebratory concert, "Parallel Paths: From Village to Bartok." The concert features spectacular folk costumes and exciting choreographies such as the Szaszcsavas dances and a bottle dance in which girls and women balance bottles on their heads. Dances are intertwined with interviews of former Hungarian State Folk Ensemble violinist, Laci Orban, and folk music by the Forras Folk Band from Vancouver, B.C. Forras has entertained audiences sharing stages with world acclaimed artists such as Marta Sebestyen. Kathy Butler, Anna Pal-Doak, and Borbala Zaborski will perform classical pieces to illustrate the connection of Hungarian folk music to the classical works of Brahms, Bartok and Kodaly. Graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy, dance master, teacher and choreographer Gabor Simon will perform virtuoso men's solos.

The event at the Mountlake Terrace High School Theatre is sponsored by the Hungarian American Association of Washington and is supported in part by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets may be purchased at 'http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/55714'.

MEDIA: For pre- or post-performance interview, contact Sue Isely at 425-670-2396.

More information may be found at 'http://www.hungarianamerican.org'.
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   Ms. Kati Gyulai
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