History of the
Magyar Gála
After World War II, a wave of Hungarians immigrated to Canada to start a new life. In Calgary, a group of former soldiers, guided by Fülöpp József and v. Duska László, established the Calgary Chapter of the Hungarian Veterans' Association. They organized their first veterans' dinner in 1956.
Over the years, the annual dinners and dances continued to steadily increase in popularity and size.
Continued Growth and Expansion of the Ball
Growth of the Magyar Gála ultimately necessitated a move from the Hungarian Cultural Centre to larger venues. The event officially became a ball in 1965 when ten couples performed the Palotás dance in front of more than 300 guests in the Trade Winds Hotel. 1967, Canada’s centennial year, the ball was held at the Palliser Hotel Ball Room and marked the first year of the presentation of the debutantes and the inclusion of dignitaries representing Canada and Hungary.
The ball was moved to the Calgary Inn (Westin Hotel) in 1971 to accommodate over 400 guests, and in 1972 the first Attila jackets (the gentlemen's Palotás costume) were introduced. Furthermore, the first official ball patron was the Honourable Douglas Harkness LCol. Minister of National Defense (1960-63). By 1975, 65 dancers were performing in front of an audience of 500, and the Hungarian folk dance had also become a popular element of the evening.
Since its inauguration, the Magyar Gála has evolved into the spectacular showcase of Hungarian culture it is today, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Hungarian Veterans' Association. The event adds to the multicultural fabric of the Canadian community, and it has become one of the most elegant social events in Canada.
Learn more about the Hungarian Veterans’ Association.
The Debutante Waltz
Made popular in the nineteenth century, debutante balls began as an opportunity for young women, usually aged 17 or 18, to be introduced into formal society. The event marked a girl’s transition from child to adult, and also advertised her availability for marriage. Those in society with connections to the royal family would formally introduce her to the king or queen. This formal introduction would occur at a specially appointed time at the palace and was an occasion that was highly anticipated and prepared for. Over time, the roles of women and men, as well as aristocratic society, have evolved dramatically, but the charm and traditions of the debutante ball still hold a nostalgic appeal and continues to evoke a romantic fascination.
At the Magyar Gála, between 10 and 16 young ladies and gentlemen are presented each year to Hungarian society and society at large. The young men are presented as cavaliers. Traditionally, fathers escorted their daughters into the ballroom, a ritual we carry on at the Magyar Gála today. The debutantes ladies, dressed in customary white ballgowns, and their escorts perform the choreographed Debutante Waltz, which they have been practicing for several months. The presentation of these dedicated and graceful young women and men continues to be one of the main highlights of the Magyar Gála.
The Palotás
The Palotás (Palace Dance) is a gallant, dignified dance, which marks the opening to formal balls in Hungary. The origin of the Palotás dates back to the fifteenth century.
Due to their desire to accentuate class differences, the Hungarian nobility created a dance specifically for noblemen, which they called Palotás. It was favoured in the houses of nobility and the princely courts of Erdély (Transylvania), and reached peak popularity during the 17th and 18th century, especially during the reign of Rákoczi Ferenc II. In fact, the Palotás dancers continue to dress in the traditional court attire of that time. The nineteenth century brought forth a resurgence of the Hungarian dances, and the Palotás became the lead dance at every Hungarian ball. Since the fall of the iron curtain, the Palotás is once again the sought-after opening number at elegant or traditional functions.
The Palotás dance performed at the Magyar Gála today brings the time of royal courts and aristocracy back to life, with the ladies' colourful dresses and the gentlemen's Hungarian hussar tunics. With honour and pride, the dancers perform the Palotás – expressing an air of dignity that is enthusiastically welcomed when engaging in such a noble dance.
Vadrózsa Hungarian
Folk Dancers
The Vadrózsa (Wild Rose) Hungarian Folk Dance Group was established in 1974 when a group of Palotás dancers decided they wanted to take their passion for dance beyond the ball. The Hungarian Veterans' Association supported their efforts to represent the Hungarian community in Calgary with the leadership of Tibor Rada. They began to provide entertainment at various events, especially the Magyar Gála.
Over the years, the dancers have learned the various historical dialects of the Hungarian folkdance. They perform in authentic costumes matching the dances of the various regions of Hungary. The group has become well known in Western Canada and performs in the Annual Western Canadian Hungarian Folk Dance Festivals, which is held in various cities from British Columbia to Manitoba. Although it became an independent organization in 1978, it maintains close ties with the Hungarian Veterans' Association.
The group’s dancers dedicate hundreds of hours to practices, and contribute their talent, time, and energy to dance and sing in the Hungarian style. To date, the group has performed for audiences on more than 1,000 occasions. By promoting Hungarian culture through song and dance, the Vadrózsa Hungarian Folk Dancers have provided a wonderful experience both to dancers and audience members.
Hungarian Folkdance
The Hungarian passion for dance is especially evident in the rich history of the Hungarian folkdance. Nearly each village has a folkdance motif of its own, but they each share splendidly decorated costumes, energetic music, and intricate steps.
Historians know little about the dances of the ancient Magyars (Hungarians). We do know that the dances were focused on ancestral worship, and performed for centuries after the imposition of Christianity. When the Magyar tribes moved into the Carpathian Basin, it is said that they brought the drum, the pipe, and the fiddle, which provided the music for Hungarian dances.
By the nineteenth century the folkdance had been introduced into the balls of the upper classes. In 1848, army captains performed men's folkdance solo dances throughout Hungary to enlist soldiers for the war. Young army recruits learned not only to fight, but also to dance. This is why Hungarian soldiers have always been exceptional dancers, and this period produced some of the finest Hungarian folk dance music.