Henrik Kovács, folk dance teacher and university lecturer, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship for the first semester of the 2025/26 academic year. The lecturer at the Hungarian Dance University (HDU) will teach Lábán kinetography and Hungarian folk dance at Kenyon College in Ohio until January 2026.
Henrik Kovács’ scholarship is also special because the 200-year-old institution is one of the three best colleges in the state and, according to data from the Hungarian Fulbright Commission, no one from Hungary has ever received a scholarship in dance theme before.
“It’s a great opportunity to be here, but not just for me. In addition to teaching, I think it’s important to introduce Hungarian culture not only to students, but also to a wider audience. At the request of the institution, I have already held a dance workshop and a short dance performance, as well as a folk flute performance. My family accompanied me on the trip, so my wife and I hold dance performances, and my son introduces the locals to Hungarian goat horn music.”
When asked where the university lecturer and his family could reach a wider audience, Henrik Kovács replied as follows.
“There will be performances and dance houses at the founding ceremony of a nearby city, at local elementary schools and kindergartens, at Kenyon College’s autumn dance gala, and I will also give a lecture and hold a dance house at the 64th Hungarian Congress in Cleveland and on Hungarian Day in Bloomington, Illinois.”
It is also interesting to consider what kind of professional challenge it is to be the first Fulbright scholar as a Hungarian dance teacher. In response, the HDU instructor said that he considers the coming months to be a serious professional task.
Kenyon College official
It is also interesting to consider what kind of professional challenge it is to be the first Fulbright scholar as a Hungarian dance teacher. In response, the MTE instructor said that he considers the coming months to be a serious professional task.
“It is an interesting challenge to teach in line with the local education system. The institution is the Liberal Arts College, where students can study in a wide variety of formats. My Lábán kinetography classes have been attended by students studying chemistry, biology, mathematics, and literature at a high level. It should be noted that Lábán kinetography is the only dance subject that counts towards a degree in the sciences. People with ballet and modern dance training, as well as those who have never danced before, have also signed up for my Hungarian folk dance classes. None of them have any previous training in folk dance. This means that great care must be taken in planning and conducting the classes.”
Kovács Hernik emphasized that he is very grateful to the leadership of Kenyon College, her host professor Julie Brodien, and two members of the Hungarian community in Columbus, Ilona Erőssy and Jutka Torma, for their tremendous help!
