Kengugró Kalotaszegi Tábor
Kengugró & The Transylvaniacs are thrilled to present our 4th Hungarian folk dance & music seminar in Sydney. Bringing our dream to life, Csűrös Band plus dancers Zoltán Varga & Katalin András will be joining us all the way from Méra, in the Kalotaszeg region of Transylvania. Joining us as our third dance teacher, is György Kubányi from Hungary.
This will be an amazing opportunity to learn the traditional dances and music of Kalotaszeg directly from the source. There will be a truly electric connection between these artists and we are lucky enough to have them share their culture right here with us in Australia.
Venue
Heathcote Scout Camp, Freeman Road, Heathcote, Sydney, Dharawal Country.
50 mins to Heathcote by car from Sydney CBD or by train from domestic airport station.
The same venue as our previous three camps in 2000, 2002 and 2012.
Dates
Music: 12-16 April / Dance: 16-21 April 2025
You can choose to do either the Music or Dance Camp or go for the whole lot.
Music Camp
The music camp will be a chance for anyone wishing to learn some traditional Hungarian music no matter what level you are at. Beginners and advanced students will be catered for with classes running throughout the day over 3 days. Music will be taught by members of Csűrös Band from Transylvania, The Transylvaniacs (Sydney) and Sofia Chapman from Vardos (Melbourne). 3 days of lessons and workshops will be given in the following instruments: Violin, 3 & 4 stringed Viola (brácsa), Double Bass, Cello and Accordion. Singing will also be offered. The musical material taught will be Kalotaszeg.
Rest Day
The day in the middle of both camps (Wed 16 Apr) is considered a rest day. There will be no formal teaching on this day. It is a chance for our Transylvanian guests and teachers, as well as folks attending both camps, to have a day off at the beach or go bushwalking. Breakfast will be served to music camp people in the morning and dinner will be served to dance camp people in the evening. No lunch will be served. Dance camp kicks-off with táncház in the evening.
Dance Camp
Teaching at the dance camp will be led by Zoltán Varga & Katalin András, professional dance teachers from Méra, Transylvania and founders of FolkOtthon. A second set of dance teachers, György Kubányi (Hungary) & Michelle Turcsányi (Sydney) will teach the beginners and those not so familiar with Hungarian dance. Throughout the day, beginners and advanced classes will run simultaneously with táncház every evening. All dance classes will be accompanied by live music by Csűrös Band and The Transylvaniacs and will incorporate singing as well. Region of dance will be Kalotaszegi. The adult dance classes cater for 14 years and over.
Arts, Crafts & Bushwalking
There will be plenty of art and craft activities for children and adults throughout the program including: Transylvanian flower painting, beading and Easter egg design. The track leading into the National Park from the rear of the property is a great place for a bushwalk to explore the creek.
Food
Three fabulous meals a day will be served in the camp dining area by professional chef, Tony Benton and his trusty assistant Csilla Turcsányi.
Accommodation
Dormitories or camping on site. Dormitory accommodation is available in family-sized rooms and large rooms with lots of bunks. Booking early will ensure you get the type of accommodation you prefer. There are plenty of flat grassy areas for camping, some close to the action, some further away. Bathrooms are shared by dorm dwellers and campers alike.
Fees
All profits from the seminar will go to covering the cost of bringing CsűrösBand and the dance teachers to Australia. See registration form for fees.
Facebook Event
https://www.facebook.com/events/760777919590769