Hungarian

Folk Dance (Mini-Unit)

Lesson 1:
o Context- where is Hungary?
o Background of Hungarian Folk Dances
o Overview of the different types of dances
o Csrds
o Background of dance
o Dancing examples (videos)
o Introduction to Friss Csrds song
o Meaning of song
o Part 1- sing
o Part 1- sing and walk to the beat



Lesson 2:
o Review Background of Hungarian Folk Dances
o Karikz ("The maiden's round dance")
o Background of Hungarian Instruments
o Review Friss Csrds part 1
o Introduce part 2
o Combine Parts 1 and 2
o Teach Dance
o Dance and Sing!



Lesson 3:
o Review Background of Hungarian Folk Dances
o Verbunk (Recruiting Dance)
o Background of Hungarian Costumes/Dress
o Review Friss Csrds parts 1 & 2
o Discuss part 3 (I probably wouldnt teach the words because there are too many)
o Introduce part 4
o Review Dance
o Sing parts 1, 2, (hum 3) & 4
o Dance and Sing!








 Hungarian Folk Dance- Friss Csrds
Day 1:

Age: Upper Elementary school & Middle School (5-8th grade, can teach the song to younger
students if you make it a call & response song and alter the lesson plan)

Objectives (SWBAT):
Demonstrate knowledge of the history of Hungarian Folk Dances & Music
Perform part 1 of the Friss Csrds (desanym rzsafja)
Explain the meaning of the words of the Friss Csrds (desanym rzsafja)
Describe the music and dance of the traditional Friss Csrds

Materials needed:
Computer & Sound (Powerpoint presentation, youtube links, song recording)
Hungarian Folk Dance & Music -Information Sheet
Word sheets
Introduction 1. Discussion- what do you know about Hungary?
o Think, pair, share

2. Where is Hungary? (Show map of the world & map of Hungary)

Background 1. Overview of the different types of dances (and purposes)
Information o Pass around book about Hungarian dancing (and any other
Hungarian items- embroidery, clothingetc.)
o Students fill out information sheet to follow along with the
PowerPoint

2. Csrds (Information)
o Discuss: Type of dance (improvised partner dance), 2 main
parts- slow (lassus), fast (friss)
o Video examples

Friss 1. Teach the repeating ru-ru part by rote
Csrds
(Part 1) 2. Teacher sings beginning of phrases, students sing ru-ru (call &
response)

3. Listen to a recording of the song, sing ru-ru part

4. Hand out word sheets- Discuss the meaning of the song

5. Teach beginning of phrases by rote

6. Sing all of part 1

7. Sing all of part 1 while walking to the steady beat

 Hungarian Folk Dances- Background/Information

1. Each town has their own style of dance (like a dialect)

2. Main types of dances:
o Chain Dance
o Karikz ("The maiden's round dance")
Accompanied by singing
Womens circle dances
Often combine childrens games
o Herdsmans Dances (weapon dances)
(Mostly) mens dances
Twirl weapons (or sticks) and jump over them
o Lads and Leaping Dances
Similar to the Herdsmans Dances, but are still very popular
Jumping, running, heel clicking dances
Erdlyi Legnyes (a type of lads leaping dance)- exclusively danced
by men as a solo performance- competition to impress the ladies
o Verbunk (recruiting dance)- recruits men to the army
o Couples dances
Csrds
Partner/courting dance (generally)
Improvised
Starts slow (lassus), then fast (friss)
3. Dances have many purposes
o Courting
o Celebrations to honor gods (sun, spring, fertilityetc.)
Easter became a floating holiday (It is the first Sunday after the first
full moon in Spring) because early Christians converted the
previous existing celebration of spring (praising the Napany-
Mother-Sun-God)
o Social entertainment
o Weddings

4. Music characteristics:
o Old style
Pentatonic base
Fifth construction (the melody is often repeated a fifth lower)
Free rhythms to suit the singers/words
Song structure- usually four lines of equal length

5. Common instruments: Voice, fiddles, cimbalom, citera (string instrument), string
bass, doromb (Jews Harp), bagpipes, drums

6. In 1920 the borders of Hungary were changed through the Treaty of Trianon (after
World War I), and even today in Ugoslavia and Romania, Hungarian dances exist

Hungarian Citera (dulcimer):

Hungarian Cimbalom:

Hungarian Doromb (Jews Harp):

 Friss Csrds (desanym rzsafja)

Dance Instructions:

(These are just a few examples of some common steps- can be used in many types of folk
dances and there are many other steps)

1. Basic: Step (side), step (together), step, lift (One direction then back)- 2x
2. Up, Down (step up with outer foot moving in a circle on beats 1 & 3, step down with
inner foot on beats 2 & 4)
3. 3 steps in, 3 steps out (Circle only)
Leader whistles or stomps to get everyone ready for a change

Couples:
o Face each other- Males place two hands on females hips, females place two hands
on males shoulders (outer)(some regions place palms together instead)
o Men start right foot, Women start left foot (mirror each other)
o Basic Step (side), step (together), step, lift
Women- Step left, together, Step left, Lift (right)
-Step right, together, Step right, Lift (left)
Men- Step right, together, Step right, Lift (left)
- Step left, together, Step left, Lift (right)
o Up, Down in a circle- support with your hold and lean out for more speed


Chain- follow the leader style and zig zag around the room!

Circle- hold hands between people or hold hands behind backs
Same partner step from above but in a circle
Up, Down
3 steps in & pause, 3 steps out & pause