Group Berka of Csángóföld.

The Group Berka was formed in September 2008, by several young people, who played together earlier. Our permanent dance-house opened in October, in Budapest, and since than, we have been playing music by-weekly, on Thursday's, at Café-Pilinszky. We have met Kriszta Máté in the summer, at Rákosszentmihály, at the "God-parents" meeting and she kindly invited us, for a return-visit, during the year, when possible. We decided on December, for these few days, and also, decision was made, that if needed and asked, we would be glad to perform our music in other villages. This is how our organization took shape! We would like to express our special thanks to Attila Hegyeli and Endre Farkas, for their help in this endeavor and for contacting more and more villages on our behalf!
We started out from Budapest, at midnight, on Thursday, after finishing our engagement to play music, at the dance-house. Arriving in Lészped after 18-hours, somewhat late, because of wind-damage to our vehicle. We began our dance-club program about 8 o'clock in the evening, thanks to Adrian Neagu. Great many children were waiting for us, in the Hungarian-hall 20and after some tuning, they were dancing and singing. After the dance-club, we have gone to sleep in Frumosa.
The next morning, the children arrived around 10 o'clock. First, the younger children and later, in the afternoon, the older children sang and danced. We left, for Pusztina's Magyar-house, that same afternoon, where the older people also came to join us, and after greeting each other with a shorter program, the eating, drinking and dancing lasted into the late evening. We were very happy, that "uncle" István Legedi honored us, with his presence. From here, a long journey was ahead of us, on our way to Magyarfalu's house of culture, where more than 150 people waited our arrival. In the evening, we were welcomed by Fábián Gyurka's (our dancer) family, with kindness and delicious food. On our last day, we had gone to the village of Csik, where "aunt" Erika Ládi had presented our band with a rich, festive meal, in the local Hungarian-house. Later, we traveled to Külsőrekecsin, where the children gathered at the disco-club, after church-services. Here, with the help of Aurél Mandache, people danced the many nice folk-dances, including the "kecskés" and "zdrabuleánka". From here, we drove back to the inn at Csik, where more than 100 people gathered, after the evening church-services. Here, after we listened to a lot of beautiful songs by the children, the dancing began and to our great delight, the older people also joined in. After the dance-house (inn) and a quick evening meal, we bade farewell and began the long way home.
These few days were most enjoyable for us! Thanks to our hosts, for all their kindness! We were glad and gratified of the great interest and attendance. In the 7 villages we visited in 4 days, more than 600 people enjoyed the singing, dancing and music. We hope, that we will succeed in finding more and more supporters, so that it will be possible to hold dance-house "get-togethers" in many other villages!

With regards: Group Berka of Csángóföld.

Ágota Manninger - singer
Szabolcs Endrődi - flute, kaval
Márton Komáromi - violin
Tamás Mészáros - drum
István Szengyel - koboz
Fábián Gyurka - dance-teacher (Magyarfalu)
János Szalay Gindl - flute

Máté Endrődi - documentation
László Németh - koboz
Balázs Würfel - managing 

 Ilona Kiss Hooper translated the article from a Hungarian language

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