Dancing House Cycle of the Dragúni association

The first forerunners of dancing houses in Slovakia began to appear sporadically at some folklore festivals at the end of the 1920s and were known as dance schools. They were inspired by the Táncház movement which had already existed in Hungary for about two decades. The Dancing House Cycle of the Dragúni association represents a systematic educational event with specific dramaturgy, organised in Bratislava continuously since 2002. The organisers and executors of this activity are the members of the Dragúni civil association. Even though there are, beyond the Dancing House (Tanečný dom), other similar activities in Slovakia, inspired by the Táncház movement (or dancing schools), the Dancing House Cycle of the Dragúni association, which combines in a comprehensive manner professional training, ethno-choreological, and ethnomusicological research, popularisation, preservation, and development of the intangible cultural heritage, it pertains to the most developed ones in terms of professional approach and organisation. Compared to the above-mentioned schools, the Dancing House offers, in addition to dancing lessons, dance parties, and thus contributes to the continuation of traditional dancing events intended for the wide professional and lay public from Slovakia and from abroad. The participants as the target group are the recipients of the programme. The dance lessons within the Dancing House Cycle of the Dragúni association, which is held once a month and corresponds to the academic year, are conducted by professional dance teachers, and the musical accompaniment is ensured by folk music bands and musicians dealing with stylish play from all over Slovakia. This cyclical project contributes very effectively and in a user-friendly way to the dissemination and promotion of traditional musical and dancing culture of the different Slovak regions and of the culture of other nations through professionally conducted attractive and communicative teaching of dances and songs.