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A DANCE AND MUSIC SPECTACULAR |
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featuring the BUDAPEST ENSEMBLE from Hungary in its performance of
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| N O R T H A M E R I C A N T O U R | |
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INFO and REVIEWS |
TOUR SCHEDULE |
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New York Show: Sunday,
October 30, 2005 Lehman Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West Tickets: $ 20, 25, 30 PRODUCER: Centrum Management
CSÁRDÁS – The Tango of the East Dance
and Music Spectacular After its successful tour of 2000 and 2004, the Budapest Ensemble happily returns to North America. Encouraged by reviews that called it “admirable
…vibrant …compelling” (The New York Times) and this company of fabulous dancers and superb musicians is set to charm audiences once more with its popular production : CSÁRDÁS – The Tango of the East. Part of the secret of the show’s success is that it is far more than monoethnic nostalgia. CSÁRDÁS is an engaging - at times breathtaking - production that captures the hearts not just of people of Central European descent but of North Americans from all backgrounds. The story line of the show would do Disney proud. It starts with a modern day Táncház – an urban dance revival session and then takes a fantasy time-trip through the historical regions of Central Europe. There are love spells and enchantments; hardships and conflicts; jealousies and star-crossed lovers. The story culminates in a grand celebration that will set your toes tapping and your heart warming. All this, of course, to fiery Gypsy music with some of the most intense and spectacular dancing you’ll ever see. Csárdás, the national dance of Hungary, was also wildly popular among Slovaks and is adored by Transylvanian-Romanians, Polish Highlanders, Croatians and Serbs. And when it came to Csárdás music, Gypsies were the undisputed master musicians. No wonder classical composers like Liszt, Brahms, Bartók and Kodály drew inspiration from the music of these legendary musicians. Zoltán Zsuráfszki, the Artistic Director of the Budapest Ensemble, is one of the world’s leading folk-choreographers. He has staged successful productions on themes as varied as regional folk customs, the passion of Christ or the legend of Dracula. He is also a great motivator and mentor for his dancers. The Budapest dancers are masters at their art. Unlike Riverdance-style or Broadway companies, who can appear mechanical - though technically excellent - the Budapest dancers infuse their performance with individuality and personality. That’s because their role models are the old village dancers in Central Europe, women with regal bearing and men whose verve, strength and native elegance was legendary. The “BUDAPEST” is a popular ensemble at home as well as being celebrated throughout the world, having toured extensively during its 46 years of existence on six continents. Their most recent visit to North America in 2004, was with their exciting show “Gypsy Spirit”, which garnered popular and critical acclaim. REVIEWS: The New York Times - January 19, 2000 – Anna Kisselgoff “…admirable presentation of Hungarian folk dances…” “A strong sense of community and intimacy peers through… and the dancers impress…with their mind-boggling stamina and fleet virtuosity.” “A stick-dance duel between the groom and rival, with supporting clan, gives this play-within-a-play a vibrant edge.” “Above all there is the
company’s compelling way with rhythm in dance and music.” “…superb musicians ..lively, seductive music..” “…young agreeable dancers…” “Yet you feel you’ve dropped in at a local celebration rather than bought tickets to a show.” “Zsurafszki takes the floor himself…csardas soars into the realm of art.” The Star Ledger, New Jersey – January 17, 2000 – Robert Johnson “…exuberant, on-stage party that opened ‘CSARDAS! – The Tango of the East’,…..” “Yet anyone in the audience who remembers shaking a leg on Saturday night could identify with the thrilling, muscular energy and high spirits on display.” “…Budapest Ensemble was an ethnographers dream-come-true. Director Zoltan Zsurafszki has refrained from adding theatrical “refinements” and distortions. Non was needed.” “As for attitude, the members of this troupe performed with a candor that impressed far more than any glittering, Las Vegas revue.” “pumped full of adrenaline
and drunk on wild Gypsy music, these dancers made the csardas a festive
escape from daily cares, and carried the audience away with them.” “But tango never had the kind of boisterous and exuberant high spirits exhibited by Zoltan Zsurafszki’s Budapest Ensemble…” “’Csardas! – The Tango of the East’ had a nearly full house of enthusiastic fans stomping, hollering, and clapping right along with the performers in a rousing afternoon of music and dance.” “…a remarkable diverse series of dances – solo, couple, group, fast, slow – that show the range of the Csardas.” “These men play off the pulsating rhythms in the music with rhythms of their own…” “The men seem to have ball bearings in their knees and ankles, as legs swivel and kick in sharp angles at fast speeds." “There is one especially fantastic stick dance resembling a Hungarian version of “Stomp,” in which pulsating rhythms of the sticks and heels send dust and testosterone flying in a powerful display of machismo.” “The dancing of this company is terrific all through, and the seven-piece music ensemble, led by the violinist Istvan Papp and featuring impressive cimbalom playing by Kalman Balogh, is beautifully integrated into the show.” The Daily Gazette [Schenectady], January 27, 2000 – Wendy Liberatore “But placing the tango alongside the csardas is far too limiting. The fluid csardas is much, much more. That became clear on Wednesday night when the ensemble of 30 dancers and musicians presented its brilliant touring program.” “In the csardas, the dancers can exude elation, tenderness, aggression, and, as with the tango, desire.” “But what made this particular folk program so luminous, and so distinct from other traditional music and dance shows, was how Artistic Director Zoltan Zsurafszki cast it… it is a wonderful idea as it gives the overall display more substance. Surely, Zsurafszki’s device can serve as a model for other groups.” “It [Csardas!] expresses the sweetness of first love in a swirling duet from Transylvania, the treachery of the villain in a rambunctious dance from Szatmar and a final duel in rhythmic, boot-slapping extravaganza form Mehkerek.” “While the csardas is more
eloquent, the footwork of the dance does have much in common with the
tango.” “… there was an honesty that is nearly impossible to capture in high-tech and highly polished folk tour groups.” “… Zsurafszki himself
leading the pack in a riotous, infectious and happily improvised finale.” “…the guest artists quickly transported the small audience to the Old World for a remarkably unified and immensely rewarding show.” “The show was brilliant from a technical standpoint,…” “…fascinating bottle dance….” “…the dance master himself giving a stunning display of intricate and demanding styles,….” “The evening’s highlights were brilliant, often virtuosic display of instrumental playing --…” “…--and some first rate dancing from the 21 members of the distinguished ensemble, who appeared in a dazzling array of richly-colored traditional costumes,…” “It was, in sum, a
heart-warming evening of people-to-people diplomacy in which
representatives of one culture demonstrated the best they have to offer to
members of an other. In the process, many hearts were won, on both sides.” “The rousing folk
production…” “…a colorful array of raucous-sounding folk instrument, the music sets the dancers stamping, stepping, singing and whirling at ever accelerating tempos.” “…Zsurafszki brings the audience back to the present with a show of intricate solo dances that involve quick footwork and deep knee bends.” “The predominantly ethnic audience got into the spirit of the performance early in the evening. By the end, they joined the party by clapping to the infectious rhythms…” Chicago Sun Times, February 21, 2000 – Hedy Weiss "…rollicking performance…" "Had the irresistible fiddlers continued playing, the whole thing might have turned into a giant party" "The ensemble is a vivid. living treasury of the grand folk idiom of Central and Eastern Europe" "The ensemble of 20 dancers and seven superb musicians who form the Budapest Ensemble [including Kalman Balogh, master player of the cimbalom...]" "[the Ensemble] ... works in the tradition of Russia's Moyseyev company. It maintains the spirit of fading culture with ethnographically accurate rendering of folk dances transformed into a theatrical feast appealing to a modern audience" "The competition among men, as well as their camaraderie, was sensual,..." "...simple, deeply romantic duet ... was danced winningly..." "The groom and his rival brought fire and a sense of prideful danger to their danced match." "And the company's
charismatic director-choreographer, Zoltan Zsurafszki, arrived for the
finale to spice things up even further with his brilliant, seductive,
wild-eyed dancing." "...the "Csardas" program is unquestionably choreographed, but in a relaxed way that makes you feel part of the action." "Even the lavish, authentic costumes--embroidered, bejeweled, richly hued--seem lifted from a hope chest." "At a time when the new nationalism often has negative connotations, this company is an example of its most positive face, something the audience at the Chicago Theatre--abuzz with Middle European accents--only confirmed." |
Thursday, October 20,
2005, 7:30 PM Boston, MA Sanders Theater 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 20, 32, 37 $ no discounts 617-496-2222 www.fas.harward.edu/memhall/sanders Friday, October 21, 2005, TBA Montreal, PQ Hungarian Folk Dance Workshop L'Eclusierurs de lachine at #70 15th Ave.in Lachine, H8S 3L8 $10 er sessioin / $50 all workshops 415-455-5254 or 514-4999-2809 www.csardas.org Saturday, October 22, 2005, 8:00 PM Montreal, PQ Theatre Outremont 1248 Bernard Avenue West, Outremont, PQ H2V 1V6 CAD 25, 35, 45 514-495-9944 www.theatreoutremont.ca Sunday, October 23, 2005, 8:00 PM Kitchener, Ont The Centre in the Square 101 Queen Street North Kitchener, Ont. N2H 6P7 from 25$ 519-578-1570 info: 800-545-7807 www.centre-square.com Monday, October 24, 2005, 8:00 PM Toronto, Ont Roy Thomson Hall 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ont M5J 2H5 from $15 416-872-4255 information: 800-545-7807 www.roythomson.com Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 8:00 PM Hamilton, Ont Hamilton Place Theatre 10 McNab St. S. Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y3 tickets from $29.50 905-527-7666 www.hefci.on.ca Thursday, October 27, 2005, 7:30 PM Friday, October 28, 2005, 8:00 PM Saturday, October 29, 2005, 8:00 PM Sunday, October 30, 2005, 3:00 PM Monday, October 31, 2005, 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 01, 2005, 7:30 PM Thursday, November 03, 2005, 7:30 PM Friday, November 04, 2005, 7:30 PM Sunday, November 06, 2005, 7:00 PM Monday, November 07, 2005, 8:00 PM Wednesday, November 09, 2005, 7:30 PM Thursday, November 10, 2005, 7:30 PM Saturday, November 12, 2005, 8:00 PM Sunday, November 13, 2005, Monday, November 14, 2005, 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 8:00 PM Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 7:30 PM Thursday, November 17, 2005, 8:00 PM Friday, November 18, 2005, 8:00 PM Saturday, November 19, 2005, 7:30 PM Sunday, November 20, 2005, 7:00 PM Monday, November 21, 2005, 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 8:00 PM Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 7:30 PM Thursday, November 24, 2005, 7:30 PM Friday, November 25, 2005, 7:30 PM Sunday, November 27, 2005, 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 29, 2005, 7:30 PM Thursday, December 01, 2005, 8:00 PM Friday, December 02, 2005, 7:30 PM Saturday, December 03, 2005, 8:00 PM Sunday, December 04, 2005, 4:00 PM
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