Petra Marietta Csiki

Dancer, Teacher Assistant

"FootNotes. Dance. It's a world of nonverbal, honest communication. Because our bodies don't lie. It's about meeting eyes, moving in sync, rolling down, floating, and delving into ourselves. A calming and secure routine. Practice, harmony, connection.

It's more than just dancing. It's a community. An environment where everyone can be exactly who they are. There's no competition, no evaluation, but there's always challenge and individual growth.

A safe space, where you can step into in any mental state. We smile at each other a lot. I love when the room murmurs as one from our laughter. 🙂 But there were also a lot of times when I cried. We come from very different places, bringing a bunch of stories, backgrounds, and battles with us. We can leave these out of the room, but we can also bring them is; get rid of them, confront or release them. Here, we have the possibility to truthfully live through what's going on in our lives, what's going on in ourselves. Transforming thoughts into movement, accepting what is. Embracing and letting go of feelings with the help of our pulsing breathing. It's not psychotherapy, and yet it heals. These walls guard the memory of a lot of sweat, smiles and personal grief.

It's about turning off, it's distraction. A Bubble World.

Music. But not Rihanna. Or, it can be Rihanna too. 🙂 From classical to pop, from folklore to techno, we danced to all of it. The drawing power of music (or of silence!). The freedom of genres and the freedom of grooves. Letting go of societal expectations, that it has to be pretty, sexy or "normal".

The performances form these continuously evolving stories into a wonderful, and inspiring framework. Half a year of preparation. Which is, of course, about making sacrifices, logistics and about humility too, but then it pays off, multiplied. Since the end is a celebration.

And the process itself is a celebration as well. I am sending a weekly reminder with all the synopses in my brain and with all the muscle-fibers in my body, that I am alive and I am dancing. Isn't it difficult? Yes, sometimes it's so hard it hurts, but other times it's unutterably uplifting. This was not only the privilege of my teenage years and I truly hope that it will last until the very last minute of my life, until my body looks like a prune. 🙂 Since, this is already a part of our identities. Here, all of us are dancers. Not professionals of course, but still dancers. I would have never thought that being an amateur would make me feel this proud, but I guess the confession of FootNotes is exactly this. We dance self-identically, without any external benchmarks. We dance independently of gender, age, previous experience, or of personality. This is our life, a part of how we take care of ourselves. And this is what ties us together. Because each of us became a part of that phenomenon that we call: lélekbugi (=groovessence). And this world was introduced to us by You, Zsófi. There will never be enough words to properly express our gratitude for you."

Zsuzsi Horánszky

Dancer

"FootNotes is my home. It's a place I deliberately chose, but over time, it transformed into a sanctuary of its own. Here, I can truly be myself, free from any judgment. It's my refuge, the place I instinctively turn to, even when I resist the idea. Yet, somehow, I always find myself returning home. Even on days when finding inner peace feels impossible, just being there brings a sense of comfort.

For me, FootNotes represents a constant. It's a beacon of support and a source of magic. The classes and the team infuse me with energy, even on my toughest days. It's an experience I crave to relive again and again. Sometimes, I feel almost as if I was addicted, but it's an addiction I never want to quit.

The dancers at FootNotes are like a second family to me, offering unconditional acceptance and support both on and off the dance floor. Zsófi, in particular, exudes a nurturing presence that envelops you without physical touch. FootNotes is nothing short of a miracle—a place that every person deserves to experience. Without it, I might not even believe such a haven exists."

Gábor Szabó

Dancer, Videographer

"By just participating in Zsófi's classes at Footnotes, I gained so much self-confidence already. Frequenting a community where they teach me how to be in harmony with my body and soul through dancing plays a huge part in this confidence-boosting journey.

Here you can learn, you can make mistakes, you can encourage others and you can lean on to each other - literally as well - . You can completely let go, be free and just enjoy the moment.

I've already learned so much and am still constantly learning about myself. I could even get rid of certain barriers I didn't even know I had.

Even when the class is over, it's not really over, because all that we learn keeps impacting us in our day-to-day lives. The creative processes that happen in the group, the discussions, the activities we do together further build and strengthen our relationships and just overall color our lives."

Lia Kajári

Dancer, Creative Assistant

"To my shy, never-speaking, constantly panicking, self-deprecating teenage me: It's worth it to hold on to dancing.

I didn't know back then that the time I found FootNotes was the one when I needed it the most, and it saved me. Even though I wasn't a small kid when I started, it's still FootNotes that I consider the place where I could safely grow up in, while also being able to stay a child. My love for dancing led me here, but throughout the years it gave me so much more that I realized, this is about much more than just dancing.

Being a part of this wonderful community, surrounded by all these amazing people gives me so much strength and energy, that I have enough left to live through the weekdays. I am now capable of things I never thought were possible.

FootNotes is my "safe space", it's like the fireplace you want to warm up next to after spending a long day in the cold. Or, it's like the first sip of your morning coffee that wakes you.

I learned that there's always room for improvement, that nothing is black or white and that things are the most beautiful when they are shapeless, when they are changing.

And whenever after a bad day I drag myself to class, it still gives me exactly what I need.

This is what FootNotes is to me. Breathing, being in the moment and opening my soul to all the miracles that surround us. Because when I close my eyes, that's when I can truly see."