'Palotás' – Court Dance
The Palotás or “Palace” Dance has its origins in the 15th
century with the development of an extensive life at court.
The Palotás reached its peak in popularity during the reign of
Rákoczi Ferenc II, and it was in this period that the dance became so
famous. The Palotás was
generally performed in front of the King in his Court, where young
nobility and military men would get a chance to flaunt the lovely
ladies they were courting. It
generally highlights the men and allows them a chance to display
themselves to the King, as they danced with confidence and an air of
arrogance.
New
musical instruments, new music, and a new spirit influenced the
Hungarian nobility to evolve their own form of genteel dancing.
Mark Rózsavölgyi composed the oldest Csárdás in 1835.
Although in essence the Csárdás was a peasant dance, it
became the popular dance of the nobility.
The first Hungarian Couples dance is also linked to his name:
The Körmagyar or Circle Dance came into fashion in the
1840’s. The Palotás is
partially based on the Verbunkós and its similarities in the
“quick” (friss páros) of the Couple Dance are a case in point.
Eventually a very dignified flowing dance developed – the
so-called Andalgó, which gained great popularity. It was named Palotás
by Ferenc Erkel, the composer of the National Anthem and
the creator of the Hungarian State Opera House for the purpose
of his opera, Hunyadi László. The
Palotás became the traditional opening dance of all formal balls in
Hungary, and today wherever Hungarians live, and keep their old
traditions, they perform this dance with great feeling and dignity.
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