I received a degree in modern dance pedagogy at the age of 25, and later I attended a school for choreographers.
Now I mainly teach tango. I am a member of and competitor in the International Dance Organization (i.e. its Hungarian member organization). I won several European, world champion, and world cup titles in the mambo, argentine tango, hot-blues and show categories with my partners, organized by the IDO.
I am the lead choreographer and president of the Argentine Tango Dance Theatre, which works as a civil association.
One of my latest choreographies, 'Seasons in Buenos Aires' was played at the National Dance Theatre in 2002 with much success. The show was renewed in 2004, and it has played throughout the country. Among my choreographies are 'Kiss of the Thighs' directed by Enikő ESZENYI, the dance parts of 'Ping Swing' and 'Captain Störr' which was performed in the Radnóti Theatre, as well as one of the scenes of 'Amazons and Madonnas' in the production of BM Duna Művészegyüttes. I choreographed parts of a play called 'Washwomen' in Pesti Theatre and 'Ball in the Savoy', a musical shown in the Operetta Theatre. The musical was first played in the Budapest Spring Festival.
In 2005 the shows 'Tango Express' and 'Soul Strings' were presented, which were mainly choreographed by me, supported financially by the National Cultural Fund and the National Dance Theatre. In the past few years we regularly did shows called 'Dance magic' in the National Dance Theatre, and we connected it with our teaching.
I teach Argentine tango from Monday to Friday every day in dance schools and in my own courses. I also teach tango in the Hungarian Dance Academy for first-years who want to major in ballroom dance and dance pedagogy. I have been invited to teach in dance clubs in St Petersburg, Moscow, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Padua and Guam (USA). Several couples have visited me from Europe to take private lessons. In September 2004, I and my partner were invited to the Island of Guam (USA) to perform in a charity evening and give a workshop. We took part in the launching of the local tango life, which work we expect to continue. In the 2008 Olympics we will organize a festival and competition there, together with the local community.
My awards with Petra BÁNHIDI:
. September 2000: Miami, IDO WCh - 10th place in Mambo
. December 2000: Dunaújváros, IDO WCup- 3rd place in Mambo
. March 2001: Hong-Kong, IDO WCup - 2nd place in Mambo and AT, 3rd place in Salsa
. May 2001: IDO Hungarian National Competition - National Champion in AT, 2nd place in Mambo
. May 2001: Olten, Salsa WCup - 8th place in Salsa September 2001: Miami, IDO WCh - 3rd place in AT
. May 2002: Jugoslavia, IDO EuCh- 1st place in AT
. October 2002: Dunaújváros, IDO WCup - 1st place in AT
. December 2002: Velbert, IDO Tango WCup - 1st place in AT
. May 2003: IDO Hungarian National Competition - National Champion in AT
. June 2003: Rimini, IDO WCh - 1st place in AT
. May 2004: we recieved the EuroPass prize of the journal called 'Táncművészet' (The art of dance) and we also obtained the title of the 'sportdancer of the year' and the Award of Excellence in the sportdancer category (by the same organization).
. October 2004: Dunaújváros, IDO WCup - 1st place in AT
Name: László BUDAI
Place of birth: Budapest (Hungary), 1966.
E-mail: laszlo.budai @ freestart.hu
Tel. (mobile): +36 20 9754978
Website: http:/www.budaitango.hu/
Private and small group lessons available.