Intermediate/Advanced Dance

Dances of Örkői

Örkő is located in Transylvania. A teasing and playful interaction between the man and the woman is very characteristic of örkői gypsy dances. A large vocabulary of steps are decorated with small, fine movements. The man and woman don’t spend much time dancing in a couple hold, but it is very evident in their facial expressions and body language that they are dancing together. The dance is embellished with the men’s slapping and women’s playfulness. The music is very rhythmic.

See a video of the dances of  Örkői here.

Dances of Ördöngősfüzesi Mezöség

Ördöngösfüzes is one of the oldest Hungarian settlements in the northern Mezőség area, nestled between the neighboring villages of Szamosújvár and Szék. The figures that are characteristic of ördöngösfüzesi couple dances include: couples turning with an up accent, frequent crossovers, under arm turns, and throwing of the women. Multiple heel turns are a unique element of the women’s turning. These same figures that are characteristic of the slow csárdás are also typical of the fast csárdás. The men’s dances, the „rare” and „dense” magyar, are virtuosic and rich in motifs. The dance order consists of the following dances: rare magyar, dense magyar, csárdás, and fast csárdás.

See a video of the dances of Ördöngősfüzesi Mezöség here.

Beginning Level Dance

Dances of Marossárpatak

Marossárpatak can be found to the northeast of Marosvásárhely. The typical figures, movements, and turns of szekely dances are very prominent in this dance. The staccato music, couples turning, and opening figures are characteristic of the slow csárdás. In the forgatós (or turning dance), frequent turning dominates the dance. The men decorate the dance with heel clicks and stamping steps. The fastest dance is the csingerálás, which consists of smaller figures. The mens dance is the verbunk, in which leg circles, heel clicks, and a small amount of slapping are distinctive.

See videos of the Marossárpataki dances: Couples Dance and Verbunk.