Articles by Initial Letters
„Táncra ítélem magamat” [I am committed to dance]
![Cover of „Táncra ítélem magamat” [I am committed to dance]](/images/phocagallery/2023/mag23_x.jpg)
Honoring choreographer, dance educator Foltin Jolán (1943-2019) on the 80th anniversary of her birth
Page 2 This special issue builds upon materials included in the photo exhibition entitled „Táncra ítélem magamat” [I am committed to dance]. The exhibition and this publication pay tribute to the life and work of Foltin Jolán.
The exhibition came about through support from the Halmos Béla Program, The Dance House Association and the Martonvásár Brunszvik-Beethoven Cultural Center.
Photographs by: Eifert János, Kádár Kata, Kis Ferenc, Korniss Péter, Rácz Gabriella and archival photographs.
The exhibition opened on August 20th 2023 in Martonvásár, Hungary with opening speech by Salamon Ferencné and music by Papp István Gázsa and his band
Exhibition curators: Liber Endre, Salamon Ferenc
Organization: Tari Dorottya
Installation: Farkas József
After Martonvásár, this travelling photo exhibition arrived in Budapest to open on the 80th anniversary of Foltin Jolán’s birth – September 13th 2023 – at the Fonó Music Hall. Opening speech by Lelkes Lajos
The photos included in this publication portray: Foltin Jolán with family members, dancing as a girl with the Bihári Ensemble, dancing with a traditional dancer in a village in the Hungarian Plains; Foltin in the Transylvanian village of Szék, at work, with colleagues and many photographs of groups performing her choreographies.
Page 4
Printed here is the speech given by folk dance educator, Foltin’s colleague and friend Mrs. Salamon Ferenc on 2023 August 20th in Martonvásár opening the exhibition.
Some excerpts from the speech are translated here:
"[Foltin Jolán’s] work centered around three main intellectual spheres: The Bihari János Folk Dance Enemble, the Honvéd Folk Dance Theatre and [Hungary’s] children’s folk dance movement."
"…Novák Ferenc ’Tata’ was her teacher and dance master. In her choreographic work she also drew inspiration from Szigeti Károly and Györgyfalvay Katalin…"
"… Her choreographic work placed special emphasis on portraying femininity and motherhood; she felt it important to illustrate hidden aspects of the woman’s spirit, her struggles, the mother-child relationship, relationships between women and a woman’s role in society…”
"…Alongside her creative work she also became an inspiring organizer in Hungary’s children’s folk dance movement, which following the 1990 governmental changes ….became the Heritage Children’s Folk Arts Association - of which she served as president for 10 years…"
Page 12-15
Foltin Jolán created communities
Conversation with Novak Ferenc ’Tata’ – Fall 2023 By Grozdits Károly
Tata begins: "Okay let’s begin at the beginning of the story then…. In the Bihári Ensemble the situation was the opposite of what it ususally is in an amateur dance group – there were more boys than girls. One of our dancers, Kiss Albert and his wife taught at the pioneers group out in Kőbánya. In 1961 Albert asked me if he should bring some girls from the Kőbánya dance group. He brought 3 girls. All of them became outstanding members of the Bihari – one of them was Foltin Jolán…..and within half a year it became clear that Jolán was not only a promising dancer but she had an amazing community building personality…when there were problems within the Bihari Ensemble, Joli could put things in order in a moment….”
First Foltin Jolán was Novák’s student, then she became his muse, wife, colleague, and artistic collaborator.
Page 14
A quote from Foltin Jolán: Hungarian folk dance isn’t only suitable for a dancing at a barn dance and boot slapping – it can be made into theatre. Thematic works and folk ballads can be adapted for stage; the poetry and soul of dance can be communicated on the stage […] in the profession of choreography I think a wide intellectual horizen and a high level of cultural refinement are essential. (Foltin Jolán)
Page 28
Short statements from nine of Foltin Jolán’s students and colleagues on what it was like to know, learn from, or work with her.
Page 30
Foltin Jolán 1943 September 13 – 2019 October 27.
Foltin Jolán’s work and career: a listing of her activities, accomplishments, poets that inspired her work, awards, titles of main choreographies, Source: Hungarian Academy of Art
"Her mother tongue was folklore, but she used that language in such a personal way, with such a subjective manner of speaking – that in her work it became poetry."
Page 2 This special issue builds upon materials included in the photo exhibition entitled „Táncra ítélem magamat” [I am committed to dance]. The exhibition and this publication pay tribute to the life and work of Foltin Jolán.
The exhibition came about through support from the Halmos Béla Program, The Dance House Association and the Martonvásár Brunszvik-Beethoven Cultural Center.
Photographs by: Eifert János, Kádár Kata, Kis Ferenc, Korniss Péter, Rácz Gabriella and archival photographs.
The exhibition opened on August 20th 2023 in Martonvásár, Hungary with opening speech by Salamon Ferencné and music by Papp István Gázsa and his band
Exhibition curators: Liber Endre, Salamon Ferenc
Organization: Tari Dorottya
Installation: Farkas József
After Martonvásár, this travelling photo exhibition arrived in Budapest to open on the 80th anniversary of Foltin Jolán’s birth – September 13th 2023 – at the Fonó Music Hall. Opening speech by Lelkes Lajos
The photos included in this publication portray: Foltin Jolán with family members, dancing as a girl with the Bihári Ensemble, dancing with a traditional dancer in a village in the Hungarian Plains; Foltin in the Transylvanian village of Szék, at work, with colleagues and many photographs of groups performing her choreographies.
Page 4
Printed here is the speech given by folk dance educator, Foltin’s colleague and friend Mrs. Salamon Ferenc on 2023 August 20th in Martonvásár opening the exhibition.
Some excerpts from the speech are translated here:
"[Foltin Jolán’s] work centered around three main intellectual spheres: The Bihari János Folk Dance Enemble, the Honvéd Folk Dance Theatre and [Hungary’s] children’s folk dance movement."
"…Novák Ferenc ’Tata’ was her teacher and dance master. In her choreographic work she also drew inspiration from Szigeti Károly and Györgyfalvay Katalin…"
"… Her choreographic work placed special emphasis on portraying femininity and motherhood; she felt it important to illustrate hidden aspects of the woman’s spirit, her struggles, the mother-child relationship, relationships between women and a woman’s role in society…”
"…Alongside her creative work she also became an inspiring organizer in Hungary’s children’s folk dance movement, which following the 1990 governmental changes ….became the Heritage Children’s Folk Arts Association - of which she served as president for 10 years…"
Page 12-15
Foltin Jolán created communities
Conversation with Novak Ferenc ’Tata’ – Fall 2023 By Grozdits Károly
Tata begins: "Okay let’s begin at the beginning of the story then…. In the Bihári Ensemble the situation was the opposite of what it ususally is in an amateur dance group – there were more boys than girls. One of our dancers, Kiss Albert and his wife taught at the pioneers group out in Kőbánya. In 1961 Albert asked me if he should bring some girls from the Kőbánya dance group. He brought 3 girls. All of them became outstanding members of the Bihari – one of them was Foltin Jolán…..and within half a year it became clear that Jolán was not only a promising dancer but she had an amazing community building personality…when there were problems within the Bihari Ensemble, Joli could put things in order in a moment….”
First Foltin Jolán was Novák’s student, then she became his muse, wife, colleague, and artistic collaborator.
Page 14
A quote from Foltin Jolán: Hungarian folk dance isn’t only suitable for a dancing at a barn dance and boot slapping – it can be made into theatre. Thematic works and folk ballads can be adapted for stage; the poetry and soul of dance can be communicated on the stage […] in the profession of choreography I think a wide intellectual horizen and a high level of cultural refinement are essential. (Foltin Jolán)
Page 28
Short statements from nine of Foltin Jolán’s students and colleagues on what it was like to know, learn from, or work with her.
Page 30
Foltin Jolán 1943 September 13 – 2019 October 27.
Foltin Jolán’s work and career: a listing of her activities, accomplishments, poets that inspired her work, awards, titles of main choreographies, Source: Hungarian Academy of Art
"Her mother tongue was folklore, but she used that language in such a personal way, with such a subjective manner of speaking – that in her work it became poetry."