The Palóc people have been the subject of research and Hungarian public opinion for 200 years now. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hungarian researcher Szeder Fábián who was born in the Palóc region – in the village of Csáb/ Čebovce in the historical Hont County (today in Slovakia). He wrote about the Palóc people in his book “A' palóczokról” – the first volume of the series “Tudományos Gyűjtemény” [Scientific Collection]. This ethnic group located in northen Hungary and the historical region known as “Felföld” has their own dialect of Hungarian and preserves their own traditions to this day. Today the Fonó celebrates this group, presenting their traditions and folk culture, just as Szeder Fábián did two hundred years ago.
Dr. Agócs Gergely – folk musician, ethnomusicologist, scientific researcher at the Hungarian Heritage House.

There are several opinions on who the Palóc people are. The center of the Palóc region can be considered Hungary’s Nógrád County, but parts of Borsod, Heves and villages in the northern part of Pest County can also be included – not to mention the Hungarian inhabited areas of the former Gömör and Hont counties in today’s Slovakia. Today’s program allows us to present traditional dances and music of this area.

These dances and melodies are less and less often included in the repertoire of the Budapest dance houses. This beautiful material is worthy of note.

Today’s program includes: dance teaching, costume presentation, ethnographic lecture, and a dance performance - to familiarize participants with the colorful Palóc region.

14:00 Dances of Mátra

14:40 Dances of Galga River region

15:30 Womens’s circle dance of Magyarbőd/ Bidovce

15:45 Dances of Kazár

16:20 Dances of Rimóc

17:00 Dances of Gömör

Music: Tarsoly Band
Guests: Nógrád Folk Dance Ensemble (Salgótarján), Vidróczki Folk Dance Ensemble (Gyöngyös), and traditional dances from the village of Rimóc.

18:00 Agócs Gergely ethnographic lecture (in Hungarian)

19:00 Colorful Palóc Country - dance concert with participation of traditional dancers and musicians

After the dance concert: Palóc Dance House with Tarsoly Band

Tickets: 1200 Ft