The Princesses Who Wore Out Their Shoes
The Princesses Who Wore Out Their Shoes continues the series of family dance productions created by Zsuzsa Zs. Vincze and Zoltán Zsuráfszky. Their 2003 production of Sleeping Beauty broke new ground by reimagining the classic fairy tale through the rich traditions of Hungarian folklore. The familiar characters took on the qualities of figures from Hungarian folk tales, while folk music, traditional games, authentic dances and spectacular stagecraft brought the story vividly to life for young audiences.
This tradition continued with Fairy Tale, a production that wove together motifs from several well-known Hungarian folk tales into a rich and imaginative stage world. The Twelve Dancing Princesses is a reimagined version of that production.
It follows the adventurous journey of Jánoska, who, with the help of the Good Fairy, enters an enchanting fairy-tale world. Along the way he encounters the Golden Goose, the Twelve Dancing Princesses, fairies, witches, a royal court and many other beloved characters from Hungarian folklore.
The production's greatest strength lies in the way the story is told—not only through words, but also through dance, music, play and striking visual imagery. Here, folk culture is not merely decorative; it is the natural language of the performance. From this emerge the humour, magic, vitality and theatrical world that captivates children while allowing adults to rediscover the timeless joy of fairy tales.
In 2026, the production returns in a renewed form, featuring redesigned sets, costumes and visual effects while remaining true to the spirit of the original. The Twelve Dancing Princesses is at once a magical adventure, a playful introduction to the world of Hungarian folklore, and a memorable theatrical experience for the whole family.
current performances
