We sincerely congratulate him on this recognition!

A member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) as a public body can be any person holding a scientific degree obtained or recognized in Hungary, who meets the conditions defined by the Act on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and whose written application is accepted by the MTA Institute for Research Organization. Public body membership represents a looser affiliation with the Academy, made possible by the enactment of the Academy Act in 1994.

An instructor from the Hungarian Dance University teaches Labanotation and Hungarian folk dance courses at Kenyon College in Ohio until January 2026. As previously reported, Henrik Kovács’s scholarship is particularly remarkable because the 200-year-old institution is ranked among the three best colleges in the state, and according to data from the Hungarian Fulbright Commission, no one from Hungary has yet received a scholarship for a “dance-related” topic.

A Henrik Kovács elected member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ (MTA) Public Body bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

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!

A First Hungarian dance teacher to receive a Fulbright scholarship at the 200-year-old Kenyon College bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

At the conference held in Columbus and Gambier, Ohio, USA, from July 13–19, I conducted a workshop on the depth of notation in the gyimesi féloláhos dance, presented the current institutional background and research programmes related to dance notation in Hungary, and commemorated the recently deceased Dr. János Fügedi by presenting the study he had prepared for the conference. As a great honour, I was invited by the ICKL leadership to serve as chair of one of the conference sessions.

The organization elected me to its higher-level professional decision-making body. Following the evaluation of my submitted materials, I was awarded the Fellow membership status in recognition of my teaching and research work carried out at Hungarian Dance University. From Hungary, only two of us—my former teacher at HDU, Gábor Misi, and myself—are members of the Fellows community.

Over the course of six days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., we participated in a wide range of programmes at the conference. In addition to longer and shorter presentations, practical workshops, and sessions addressing issues in dance notation, there was also time for meaningful conversations and networking. As in previous conferences, I also organized a traditional Hungarian dance session (táncház) this year.

After the conference, I visited the local Hungarian community. Following the Sunday church service, I gave a presentation—using videos and a live demonstration—on the diverse types of Hungarian folk dances and the current state of the field. The programme concluded with a traditional Hungarian dance session, táncház. As a gift, I brought magazines signed by the editorial team of Nők Lapja.

At the request of Bocskai Radio in Cleveland, I gave a live 30-minute broadcast reporting on the professional successes of the conference in the United States.

I would like to express my gratitude to Márta-Fodor Molnár and to the colleagues of our university for their assistance in the implementation of the research grant project No. MEC_R_24 149622, awarded by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary.

Szendehely, July 25, 2025

Henrik Kovács

A Report on the International Council of Kinetography Laban Conference bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.