Date/Time

Saturday, September 30, 2023 / 14:00 - 15:00

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Opening event Ontario Hungarian Heritage month. Free street concert at the ByWard Market, Ottawa.

Hungarian Heritage Month was created to recognize the incredible contributions of Ontarians of Hungarian descent and celebrate the history, existence, integration and contributions to our society ,of the Hungarian people within Ontario and Ottawa. This ultimate month-long celebration of Hungarian culture is about celebrating peace, respecting each other, building families, friendships and a safe and better future for our kids and the next generations.

Among North American Hungarian folk music ensembles, the members of Gyanta come from the vibrant Canadian-Hungarian communities of Ontario and Quebec. They belong to the upper echelon of musicians, singers and dancers of North American origin, who specialize in the unique and centuries-old folk music of Hungarian villages in Hungary, Transylvania and Upland.

Its members made numerous recordings and performed at festivals, concerts, Hungarian community events and dance halls. Since its founding in 2006, the band has regularly performed at the largest folk music festivals in North America, including the Drummondville Folk Festival, Mondial des Cultures (North America’s largest world music and dance festival), Winnipeg’s Folklorama (the world’s largest and longest long-lasting multicultural festival), toured the Midwest of the United States (including Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit), performed at large-scale Hungarian folk music festivals in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, as well as at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.

The meaning of the name “Gyanta” is a word with a double meaning for Hungarian folk musicians. Not only is gyanta an indispensable accessory for playing the stringed instruments that form the basis of top-level music, but the verb “gyantazas” also indicates the preparation of the musicians themselves – the consumption of some light and natural juices from the top shelf selection. Gyanta tries to preserve this tough Hungarian tradition and to share with fans and audiences of authentic Hungarian folk music.

In the evening, there will be a concert and dance combined with dinner at the Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre. More information and reservations on the event’s website: Gyanta: Folk Dance Workshop at the Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre