Thousands of Turks applaused the surprise of Hungarian dancers by standing

The Hungarian Folk Dance Group, participating in the International Istanbul Büyükçekmece Culture and Arts Festival, received a standing ovation from thousands of spectators filling the amphitheater after their performance, during which they surprised everyone by reading İzmir anthem “İzmir Marşı” in Turkish.

Audience applaused the dancers for minutes

he surprise from the Foras National Dance group from Hungary, participating in the International Golden Bridge Folk Dance Competition, one of the main categories of the festival, moved and received a standing ovation from the thousands of spectators in the amphitheater. On stage, after showcasing their traditional folk dances, the Hungarian group returned to the stage once again at the end of the show, holding Turkey and Hungary’s flags. The Hungarian dancers collectively sang Izmir anthem “İzmir Marşı” in Turkish. The thousands of spectators in the amphitheater were initially surprised by this unexpected act, and then they stood and applauded the Hungarian group for several minutes.

A gift of friendship and brotherhood between Turks and Hungarians

Jozsef Szigetvari, the director of the Foras National Dance group, expressed his fondness for Turks and stated: “I’m Hungarian, and I love Turks. One of the main reasons I chose this song is because we’ve been living on the same lands for centuries. We visit each other’s homes and countries. That’s why I chose this song. I know very well what this song means for Turks and what it represents. When you come to a land, learning the language of that land is one of the greatest gifts you can give, and today, I had my team perform this song, which is a gift of friendship and brotherhood between Turks and Hungarians.”

(Note: The “İzmir Marşı” mentioned in the text is a well-known Turkish patriotic song that has historical significance in Turkey.)