The Lajtha László Foundation was established as an independent and non-political institution in Sfântu Gheorghe in July 1992, with the well-defined aim of supporting the traditional folk music and folk dance movement. During its activities so far, the Foundation has managed to operate profitably and in addition to its occasional programmes, it has organised two successful events on an annual basis.
The annual Folk Dance and Music Festival in Sfântu Gheorghe is one of the Foundation's outstanding events, which aims to keep alive, preserve and transmit Transylvanian folk culture. The role of these festivals is twofold: on the one hand, they provide an opportunity for amateur and professional collectors alike to collect invaluable folklore material, while preserving and keeping alive the transmission of dance and music material between different generations. On the other hand, they provide an opportunity for meetings between professionals, data providers and ordinary people, thus acting as ambassadors of folk culture, introducing and promoting our traditional folk culture and folklore treasures to the citizens and guests of Sfântu Gheorghe through their programmes. The meeting is open to everyone and is primarily aimed at the citizens of the city, but it also promotes networking through its guests.
The meeting's events for children play an educational role, and the children can learn the elements and basics of folk culture, which is characteristic of our culture and defines our identity, without a single moment of it being a burden for them, as they learn about the spiritual and material values of our people through play.
Another outstanding project of the Lajtha László Foundation with an international resonance was the Gypsy Folklore Camp in Kommandó, which was organised 23 times between 1999 and 2021. The camp gave all interested parties an insight into the culture of gypsies, their peculiar, anachronistic way of life, thus offering the opportunity to take the first step towards tolerance and acceptance. During the one-week camp, the participants listened to lectures on the history, culture, social situation and current problems of the Roma people, and learned their songs and dances. The most important feature of the camp, however, was the week-long experience of living together, dancing and talking with the invited gypsy performers, dancers and musicians. Since 2022, the camp is organised by the Pro Cultura Foundation.
The professional activity of the Foundation also includes the support of the Folk Dance House movement in Sfântu Gheorghe, the organization of monthly festive folk dance houses related to the significant occasions and customs of folk tradition (carnival folk dance house, St. George's Day folk dance house, Catherine's Day folk dance house, Christmas folk dance house).
The Lajtha László Foundation supports the artistic activity of the Háromszék Dance Ensemble through its projects: new performances, outstanding tours, events, as well as the education of young dancers and the support of young talents. This is the spirit behind the launch of the Lad's Dance Competition from Szeklerland , which was held for the eighth time in 2022 in Sfântu Gheorghe. The event has an important role in the region, as there was no professional forum focusing on lad's dances in Szeklerland. In the spirit of preserving and passing on folk music and folk dance traditions, the aim of our event is to pass on lad's dances, to motivate and provide professional feedback to the young generation of dancers.
Contact:
Phone nr: +4/0747813629
E-mail:
