Táncdalfesztivál (literally Festival of dance music) was series of Hungarian pop music competitions and exhibition shows, airing on the National Television from 1966 to 1994.

Significance

In a country with only one television channel, Táncdalfesztivál was the premier chance for young musicians to showcase their skills and become well known in the Hungary of the '60s. It was the starting point in the career of the era's most popular performers, like Kati Kovács, Pál Szécsi, Klári Katona or Zsuzsa Koncz.

As television sets were just becoming widespread, it also meant a good opportunity to musicians already popular from the radio, but never seen performing live. Performers who gained fame through the show include Éva Mikes, Mária Toldy, Katalin Sárosi, János Koós, and László Aradszky. According to János Bródy, the Táncdalfesztivál series played a key role in the renewal of the contemporary Hungarian music scene, which spread beyond national borders.

The TV show had similar, equally successful radio counterparts called Tessék Választani and Made in Hungary.

Chronology

The classical Táncdalfesztivál was held annually between 1966 and 1972, followed by irregularly held competitions having varying name and scope until 1994.

Year Title Format Date Venue(s) No. of songs No. of songs in the final Host(s)
The "classic" Táncdalfesztivál era (1966–1972)
1966 Táncdalfesztivál ’66 3 semifinals + final 7 July – 20 August 1966 Madách Theatre (semifinals)

Erkel Theatre (final)

 60 12 Marika Takács, Judit Lénárd, Eszter Tamási, József Varga
1967 Táncdalfesztivál ’67 20 July – 20 August 1967 Madách Theatre (semifinals)

Erkel Theatre (final)

 60 15 Marika Takács, József Varga
1968 Táncdalfesztivál ’68 20 July – 18 August 1968 Madách Theatre (semifinals)

Erkel Theatre (final)

 60 18 Klári Poór
1969 Táncdalfesztivál ’69 19 July – 16 August 1969 Erkel Theatre 60 18 Klári Poór
1971 Táncdalfesztivál ’71 24 July – 24 August 1971 Madách Theatre (semifinals)

Erkel Theatre (final)

 46 16 Júlia Kudlik, Ferenc Ősz
1972 Táncdalfesztivál ’72 22 July – 18 August 1972 Attila József Theatre (semifinals)

Erkel Theatre (final)

 48 12 Júlia Kudlik, Ferenc Ősz
Revived songfestivals (1977; 1981)
1977 Metronóm ’77 3 semifinals + final 9 – 30 July 1977 Magyar Theatre 42 15 Imre Antal
1981 Tánc- és popdalfesztivál 1 – 21 August 1981 Magyar Theatre 36 15 Júlia Kudlik
Interpop Festivals (1986; 1988)
1986 Interpop Fesztivál ’86 2 semifinals + final 15 – 19 July 1986 Siófok Open Air Stage Katalin Bogyay
1988 Interpop Fesztivál ’88 19 – 23 July 1988 Siófok Open Air Stage Brigitta Palcsó, Péter Geszti
The songfestivals of the ’90s (1991–1994)
1991 Popfesztivál ’91 2 semifinals + final 9 – 23 February 1991 Fővárosi Művelődési Ház (semifinals)

Honvéd Cultural Center (final)

 István Vágó
1992 Egri Táncdalfesztivál 3 semifinals + final 14 August – 5 September 1992 Géza Gárdonyi Theatre (Eger) 45 16 Gábor Mohai, Brigitta Palcsó
1993 Pop-Rock Fesztivál ’93 6 February – 6 March 1993 Stage 8 of Magyar Televízió (semifinals)

Budapest Congress Center (final)

 András Bárdos, Kinga Czuczor (only in final)
II. Egri Táncdalfesztivál 7 – 28 August 1993 The courtyard of Eszterházy Károly Catholic University (Eger) 42 15 Gábor Mohai, Marcellina, Kata Csongrádi
1994 Fesztivál ’94 15 January – 5 February 1994 Stage 4 of Magyar Televízió 45 15 Dorottya Geszler

Sources

  • István Zoltán Kiss. Magyar könnyűzenei lexikon 1962-től. Budapest: ZAJ-ZONe, 1998. ISBN 9789630360562
  • Dénes Gáncs, János Zoltán. A dallam diadala – A táncdalfesztiválok története. Budapest: La Ventana, 2004. ISBN 9789638646552
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