43rd National Táncház Festival & Fair • 5–7 April 2024
Issue:
Starting page: 38
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Vasil Imre – traditional dancer from the village of Magyarböd (Bidovce) in Southeastern Slovakia near the town of Kassa [Kosice]. Born in 1940, his mother was Slovak, his father Hungarian, he considers himself to be Hungarian. The story here well illustrates the situation of someone from this part of the Hungarian language region: during his schooling he was switched back and forth between Slovak and Hungarian schools. At one time a totally Hungarian village; presently the village has 1700 people – 80 people speak Hungarian, 320 people are Gypsy and the rest Slovak. Also included here is a quote of Vasil Imre’s thoughts on dancing. This gentleman is (or has been?) nominated for the Master of Folk Arts award. By Busai Norbert