Visual Arts
Throughout history and in all cultures visual artists have played a major role in reflecting the world in which they live. In Canada, some artists of Hungarian origin have given expression to their immigrant experience; others have so completely integrated into the Canadian art scene that you might be surprised to discover that they hail from Hungary, Many Canadian artists are attempting to enrich their art through explorations of their Hungarian roots. On this section of our site we will attempt, over time, to showcase and display the works of as many artists (well-known and less well-known) and as many disciplines as we can. Our problem is one of overabundance, an embarras de richesses: we could not decide which ones to select first.
Dance
Eva von Gencsy
Hungarian-born Eva von Gencsy began her dance training at the Russian Academy in Budapest in the mid-1930s. Read about Eva von Gencsy here.
There are several Hungarian community folk dance groups in Canada such as Bokreta in Montreal, Kodaly in Toronto, Maros in Saskatchewan to name just a few…
Negyven éves a montreáli Gyöngyösbokréta Együttes
2007 február 18-án, a harmadik Észak-Amerikai Magyar Táncház Fesztivál keretében került sor a Göngyösbokréta Népitánc Együttes ünnepi koncertjére, melyben megünnepelték a montreáli csoport immár 40 éves fennállását…
Literature
Canadian literature has been “marked from the very beginning by cultural difference” (W.H. New: Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002, p. 265), and has spoken in many voices. Recognition of this fact was slow in coming; Margaret Atwood’s Survival. A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature (1972) was among the first significant explorations by established writers/critics of the place of the immigrant experience and the work of immigrant writers in the Canadian literary canon. John Marlyn’s Under the Ribs of Death (1957) is considered to be a classic of the genre of immigrant writing in Canada.
Music
This section will feature individuals and groups of Hungarian origin, who contributed in many different ways to the Canadian music scene. As more resources will become available the section will be updated and expanded. A variety of music genres including classical, popular, folk music, and jazz will be presented. You will find captivating stories about musicians, including soloists, composers, choral musicians and conductors, whose artistic expression contributed to Canada’s cultural tapestry. Some of them are internationally acclaimed individuals; others have made a difference in their local communities.
Theatre
To discover the Canadian Hungarian roots in Canadian theatre visit the Theatre Section.
Film, Television and New Media
Watch this space for information about the Canadian film industry and the contributions of Hungarian Canadians. In the meantime…