Dance the Resistance

The surge of right-wing populism has left deep marks on cultural life across Europe, as public funding for the arts is dismantled and the societal status of contemporary art is steadily marginalized. Independent contemporary dance—a field in a state of constant precarity—has been hit especially hard. What is happening now beneath the surface of Budapest’s proud façade? Is there still movement, and how might it survive and evolve in a country where democratic rights are under siege?

In Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, a country in the center of the European Union, the pressure on independent artists is no longer subtle. Choreographers, venues, and publications have seen their budgets gutted, and their freedom is shrinking as much as that of critics. Many have left the country. Others continue—defiantly and precariously—with little more than their passion for the art to hold onto.

This story from the heartland of Orbán’s Fidesz party brings together some of the people who refuse to be silenced:

What they share: Not just their commitment to contemporary performative art, but the experience of being pushed to the margins by a regime that seeks to silence dissent.

In June 2025, against all odds, around 200,000 people marched through Budapest for the city’s 30th Pride festival—a moment of resistance, solidarity, and joy. But beyond the colorful images lies a reality in which censorship, financial pressure, and intimidation have reshaped the cultural field.

This is the story of a city under pressure—and of the people who keep it moving.