5th International Tango Festival of Pécs!

PROGRAMME CHANGES FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!

SCHEDULE

Friday, 26 September 2025

18.00–22.00 Milonga Encuentro

 Venue: Zsolnay Cultural Quarter – Hercules Workshop

A special MILONGA gathering awaits you with DJ Kata Bartha, who will also surprise guests with a real musical curiosity!!

This evening offers a chance to unwind, connect, and add a touch of magic to your preparations for for those preparing for the Saturday’s contest. For tango dancers, it’s a great opportunity to dance freely together, get to know each other’s energy, and tune in to Saturday’s celebration!

Admission is free for milonga

Everyone is more than welcome — come to dance, cheer, and celebrate!

Satelite event

18.00 Film screening

Venue: Művészetek és Irodalom Házában

Muchachos! – Argentina in Football Fever (Muchachos, la película de la gente, 2023)

Argentinian documentary, 100 minutes, in Spanish with Hungarian subtitles

Saturday, 27 September 2025

1st Pécs Amateur Tango Dance Competition — Call for Entries

Venue: Zsolnay Cultural Quarter – E78 Concert Hall
Date & time: Saturday, 27 September 2025 — Preliminary Round, Final & Awards Ceremony: 14.30–16.50

Entry: advance registration required, together with payment of the entry fee.
Registration email: pintertunde66@gmail.com
Entry deadline: 20 September 2025
Entry fee: HUF 5,000 per couple
Category: Tango de pista – “Örömtánc” (joyful/social tango)
Rondas: 3–4 couples per ronda
Dancing time: 1 full tanda (~12 minutes), to 3 traditional tango tracks (selected by the organisers; not disclosed in advance)

Jury

•   Maíia Lorena Capra – Ambassador of Argentina to Hungary
•   Mária Glotz – dance pedagogue, dance artist
•   Gyula Groó  – dance-sport trainer, international judge
•   Kata Bartha – violinist

Evaluation criteria: overall impression; posture & body awareness; partner connection; leading technique; musical sensitivity. The jury’s aim is to support development and individual expression.

Awards announcement: at the final’s venue, approx. 16.30.
Prizes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place receive a trophy and a gift, and will be invited to perform at the evening Tango Ball. The Ball’s ceremonial opening dance will be a shared tanda danced by all competing couples.

Accommodation: There is an opportunity to book your accommodation at discounted price at the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter Guesthouse at HUF 8,500 / person / night for 26–27 September 2025, subject to order of application and availability.

Note: You may register as a couple or individually – we will help with finding you matching dancers!

During Saturday’s event, tango-related books can be purchased between 15.00 and 18.00.

Saturday’s event is free to attend, except for the ball.

14.00–14.15 OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 5TH PÉCS INTERNATIONAL TANGO CELEBRATION

Welcome speeches by Attila Péterffy, Mayor of Pécs, and María Lorena Capra, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Hungary.

14.15–16.10 The 1st Pécs Amateur Tango Dance Competition

Preliminary round

Showcase dance by László Budai and Maya Hegyi

Final

MIXTURA CRIOLLA DUO CONCERT AND MILONGA FOR EVERYONE

Guitar: Felipe Aguirre Saravia
Bandoneon: Matias Rullo

The Argentine duo conjure the authentic atmosphere of tango. The concert is milonga-style; feel free to join the dance.

 I. Awards announcement for the 1st Pécs Amateur Tango Dance Competition

 16.15–16.45 Colores De Tango (Colours of Tango)                                                            

 The beauty of tango lies in its thousand faces, moods and colours.

 A glimpse of tango’s moods:

 Dancers: Mária Glotz and Gábor Reichardt
Maya Hegyi and László Budai
Johanna Kulik and Josip Bartulovic

16.50–17.50 Tango with Heart and Passion – a concert by the Tango Harmony Budapest ensemble

 The Tango Harmony Budapest ensemble’s special concert within the framework of the 5th Pécs Tango Celebration invites everyone on a unique musical journey to experience the depths and heights of Argentine tango. The concert brings together passion, delicacy and dynamism – from classical tango through Astor Piazzolla’s revolutionary innovations to the ensemble’s own arrangements. The performance offers not only music, but emotional stories told through sound – the living heartbeat of tango resonates in every note. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed for both dancers and listeners.

Members of the ensemble:

 Katalin Bartha – violin

 György Lázár – piano, vocals

 Péter Bartha – bandoneon

Gábor Piukovics – double bass

18.00–18.30 Free tango class with TangoLiora in the foyer

18.40–19.40 ARGENTINE TANGO DANCE THEATRE

 Existence / Tango performance

The tango dance piece Existence is not one person’s story. It is the story of all of us – we who carry the same questions in different forms. In movement, individual destinies merge and a shared human experience takes shape: searching, encounter, separation, understanding. As time passes, the movement becomes purified. After the tempests of youth come understanding and then quieting. Time does not take away – it lays down layers that become wisdom. In the end we no longer wish to possess, we no longer seek answers – we simply wish to be.

EXISTENCE does not offer a story. It holds up a mirror. The spectator sees themselves in it — as a child, as a lover, as a seeker, as a learner, and then as one who accepts.

Cast:

László Budai — Maya Hegyi

Zsuzsa Tűz

Máté Benczúr — Anna Gaál

Ádám Molnár — Hanna Kiss

Martin Havrilla, István Mersits — Dóra Nyeső, Evelin Ősz, Zsuzsanna Vincze

Dénes Gajda — Erna Kőrösi-Dénes

Performed by Argentine Tango Dance Theatre

Director, choreographer: László Budai
Assistant: Maya Hegyi
Costume designer: MAIA
Music editor: László Mádi
Technician: Tibor Sipos

21.30–03.00 TANGO BALL

Venue: Zsolnay Cultural Quarter: E78 – Concert hall

Ticket price: HUF 5,000 in online presale; HUF 7,000 on the door.

 The frencetic musical atmosphere will be provided by DJ Dénes Mogyorósi.

The Ball’s ceremonial opening dance will be a shared tanda danced by all couples entered in the 1st Pécs Amateur Argentine Tango Dance Competition — a celebration of the joy of tango, togetherness, unity and love.

23.30 Showcase dance by the 1st–3rd placed couples in the competition.

24.00 Candlelit Tango Vals – shared dance of gratitude at the Ball

 As the most intimate moment of the Tango Ball, we will light candles, and everyone who wishes may bring their own light into a shared tango vals. It is not the steps that matter, but the light of togetherness. We are also preparing to make this moment even more magical. We can provide only a limited number of tealights, so please bring your own light in a small, safe glass holder so that we can create this special atmosphere together. We wish you intimate, wonderful tandas!

September 28, 2025 – Sunday

11:00 am – 6:00 pm – Tango Picnic at the Tettye Ruins
Venue: Stage and park of the Tettye Ruins
Rain venue: Zsolnay Quarter – Hercules Workshop

The Tettye Ruins are among the best-known landmarks of Pécs. The romantic park surrounding the impressive medieval ruins, along with its metal stage, provides a perfect setting for an exciting tango picnic, enhanced by the warm hospitality of the local tango community.

From 10:30 am – Welcome by the Pécs tango dancers

Do not miss this wonderful event, as it is the grand finale of the 5th International Tango Festival of Pécs!

Supporters and organisers of the 5th International Tango Festival of Pécs include the City of Pécs, Zsolnay Heritage Management Nonprofit Ltd., the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Hungary, and the Hungarian–Spanish Society of Pécs.