Balkan folk dance music downloads

This week's dance is Csardas Es Friss, from the Paloc region in Hungary.

Dunatuli Ugros is a couple's dance from Transdanubia (Dunatul in Hungarian), the western part of Hungary.

The dance is called Egy Pár Tánc Mezöségröl (a couple's dance from Mezoseg. The song, "Én az éjjel nem aludtam egy órát" (tonight I couldn't sleep a wink...), is well known all over Hungary and the Hungarian population of Transylvania. The music is from the Muzsikas with Marta Sebestyen CD.

Hungarian music for wedding games.

Kapuvari Verbunk is a recruiting dance from the town of Kapuvar in the Gyõr-Moson-Sopron region of northwest Hungary. It was originally introduced by Alice Reisz in the early 1950's and again in the 1970's by Andor Czompo, Csaba Palfi, and Kalman Magyar. In-between, there were other versions, including one from Andor, but all of the versions from the 1970's were closer to the original.

Ketri Ketri is a very slow Cocek from Hungary. This version is sung by Kalyi Jag group (Karingszo Me Phirav).

Kezes is a dance from Hungary. Like the Bulgarian Reka, it means hands, and hands are a dominant feature in this dance.

Kortance is a walking dance from Hungary.

Lassu Sergo (pronounced LAWSH-shoo-SHER-go) is a Hungarian dance that was originally introduced by Csaba Palfi.

Legenyes is a "lad's dance" from the Kalotaszeg in Transylvania, Romania, although older men may also dance it. You don't sing to it, but you *do* shout verses (called csujugotasok) to it. Before, or sometimes after, the couple's dance, the lads get up and, one by one, show off their rhythmic capabilities in front of the band, while women hook arms and stand in short lines and shout verses of encouragement or teasing insult or downright bawdiness! Sometimes the women turn in a very fast rida, first right for a while, then left, then right again, (3 turns total, always!) then stop and open up the circle to face whatever guy is doing his little show. They also do the shouts while turning. Each region has its own style, with its own dance figures, and calls.

Mahala is danced by gypsies in the Hungarian area of Romania and is thought to have been brought there by gypsies from Turkey.

Olahos is an "oldie" from Hungary - one of those fun dances with great music that has withstood the test of time.

A karikazo is a traditional circle dance for girls that was done to the girls' singing without instrumental accompaniment. This one is from the Dunatul region in Hungary.

A woman's circle dance from the region of Somogy next to the Croation border.

Szatmari Csardas is a couple's dance from the Szatmar region in Hungary. It's one of our classic dances and has been around for as long as I can remember - probably because of the fantastic music.

A karikazo is typically a girls dance that was done to the girls' singing without instrumental accompaniment. If you've been dancing for a while you may remember this one from way back. The recording is an instrumental piece and the music is very fast, or at least it seems that way when you are trying to get your feet to make all those patterns on the floor in time to the music.

Szegeuyes is a Hungarian man's dance from Transylvania.

This week, another Ugros (leaping dance) from Hungary.