Discover why young Hungarians are taking up K-pop, salsa, and bachata in Budapest, from cultural curiosity and personal expression to meeting new people.
K-pop choreography, Cuban salsa, and Dominican bachata come from different cultural traditions, yet each has found a place in Budapest’s dance studios. For some young Hungarians, an interest in these styles begins with a favourite song or a video online. For others, an invitation from a friend or family member is enough to encourage them to try something new.
Learning the movements is only part of the experience. Dance classes can also introduce participants to unfamiliar cultures and new ways of expressing themselves. Three young Hungarians spoke to Daily News Hungary about what first drew them to these traditions and why they continued dancing.
A shared interest in Korean pop culture
For Júlia Donovitz, an interest in K-pop began in 2020 with BTS’s Dynamite. Already fond of dancing, she was intrigued by music that felt both familiar and different from what she had previously heard. She began attending K-pop dance classes before exploring hip-hop and commercial dance, eventually becoming an instructor herself.
Today, Donovitz teaches at Under Cover, a Budapest-based K-pop dance school. Her decision to teach grew out of her own experience as a student. “I wanted to teach people so they could have the same experience and happiness I found,” she told Daily News Hungary.
Read more: K-pop in Hungary is no longer just a teenage trend: it is becoming a cultural movement – interview
She has also watched friendships develop among students who share an interest in Korean music and choreography. “The friendship they create while coming to classes – they get to know other kids who like the same thing as them: dancing and K-pop,” she said.
K-pop’s presence in Hungary extends beyond individual dance studios. A study examining the development of the Korean Wave in Hungary explored how Korean entertainment encouraged participation in fan communities and cultural activities, including dance.
Meeting people through salsa and bachata
While Donovitz discovered dancing through popular music, Álmos Berzi’s introduction to salsa came through his older sister, who encouraged him to give it a try. He eventually attended a class with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere.
“Everyone smiled, and it was a really good mood there, so we stuck with it,” he recalled.
Berzi attended classes at Balázs Tánc, where he found that the social nature of salsa helped him overcome some of his shyness. Partner dancing gave him a natural way to interact with people he might otherwise have found difficult to approach.
“In today’s world I think it’s hard to approach women, but in a dance class you will dance with them anyway, and you can meet lots of new people there,” he explained.
He also found that attending classes could improve his mood after a difficult day. What began as a suggestion from his sister became an activity he looked forward to.
Krisztina Rikker, Berzi’s girlfriend, discovered bachata through videos online. Originating in the Dominican Republic, the dance attracted her attention through its music, rhythm, and interaction between partners.
Rikker initially found meeting new people challenging and saw dancing as a way to become more comfortable in social situations. She was particularly drawn to bachata’s emphasis on communication and interaction between partners.
For Rikker, one of bachata’s most appealing qualities is the ability to connect with another person without words. She believes this aspect of the dance can make meeting new people feel more natural, particularly for younger dancers.
Their experiences are consistent with a recent Hungarian study on international social dancing, which identified social connections, community involvement, and personal well-being among the benefits reported by participants.
Budapest has an established network of Latin dance schools and social events. Salsa Diabólica, which has operated since 2003, runs salsa and bachata classes and reports teaching hundreds of students each week. Other communities, including Bachata Club Hungary, organise regular classes and social dancing events for participants at different levels.
A wider dance scene for young Hungarians
The interest in international dance traditions extends to other communities across Budapest. Alongside K-pop, salsa and bachata, young people can explore hip-hop, house, breaking and Afro dance through classes, workshops and local events.
Studios such as Vibes and Stuff introduce participants to different street and club dance styles, while events such as We Got the Vibes, held at the House of Music Hungary in June 2026, bring dancers together for workshops and competitions. These activities are part of a larger dance scene in which international influences have become part of Budapest’s cultural life.
For Donovitz, Berzi and Rikker, the decision to take up dancing began with different interests and circumstances. Their experiences show how music, cultural curiosity and the desire for human connection can lead young Hungarians to traditions that originated far outside their own country.
The music may come from thousands of kilometres away, but the friendships, confidence, and sense of belonging that develop on Budapest’s dance floors are very much local.
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