Youth dance group of the UBZ Baja/Hungary

The youth dance group of the Hungarian-German Education Centre (UBZ) in Baja can look back on a history of over 65 years. Shortly after the founding of the German-language grammar school in southern Hungary, it was founded by committed young people and teachers with the aim of preserving and passing on the folk dances and songs of the Hungarian Germans in the region.

In addition to the Hungarian and South Slavic population, Germans have also lived in the region around the town of Baja for around 300 years. This population group, known as the Danube Germans, still cultivates their language, culture and traditions today and passes them on from generation to generation.

The current youth dance group consists of 22 members, 12 of whom represent the UBZ at the Donaufest. The group is led by teacher Zsanett Melcher, while the musical accompaniment is provided by Josef Emmert, head of the UBZ's culture department. The dance group will also be supported by Theresia Szauter, representative of the board of the sponsoring foundation and head of the UBZ alumni dance group, and by Aliz Munding, an employee of the culture department.

As part of their performance, the youth dance group will present the choreography „Come my darling and dance with me...“, which picks up on the typical motifs of the region and focuses in particular on the waltz and polka dance forms. The programme is complemented by the so-called „window dance“ and the choreography „Tanzfreude“. The aim of the performances is to provide a lively insight into the dances of the Batschka, the region north of Baja, which are still practised today.

The work of the youth dance group still aims to pass on cultural traditions to the younger generation and offer them guidance and creative expression. At the same time, the joint activity strengthens the sense of community and contributes significantly to the personal development of the young people by promoting team spirit, a sense of responsibility and cultural identity.