The Törekvés Dance Ensemble was founded in the Kőbánya district of Budapest in 1961. Initially numbering only 10-20 young members, the group has more than 200 dancers to its name today, who are broken down into seven age groups and taught the traditions of Hungarian folk dance, the pearl of Hungarian culture. At the beginning, the founders probably had no inkling that one day they would be celebrating their 50th anniversary together. They would not have suspected that the little sapling they symbolically planted would grow over half a century into a mature tree with seven strong branches and countless beautiful flowers. The seven branches are the seven dance groups and the flowers are the dancers who wish to celebrate this occasion with you. The ensemble has visited almost every country in Europe over the intervening five decades, representing our country and within it Kőbánya and its railway workers’ culture. The accolades and successes it has garnered would be almost impossible to enumerate. The greatest source of pride, however, is that the ensemble and the dance groups within it have cemented into a tightly knit community that has stood the test of time. The leaders of the ensemble – Miklós Manninger, Eszter Vizi and Tibor Vizi – would like to thank the founders, each of the ensemble’s sponsors and all the outstanding professionals who have helped the ensemble in its gratifying work over the past 50 years. Unfortunately many are no longer with us and, in invoking the most beautiful moments of the past half century, we dedicate this show to their memory. Presented by the National Dance Theatre

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