The community, Haver Vagy, was founded in May of last year, by local Csaba Kéri. Meaning “you’re a friend”, it’s a community of mainly Hungarian individuals between around 20 and 40 years old. The group organizes parties, film screenings, book clubs, dog walking and charity events; in short, whatever its members are interested in.
It’s organized around an online members area, much like a social networking site, but unlike things like Facebook, you need to be invited. Each member’s entitled to invite only three others, and though it sounds exclusive, elitist and closed, the aim and central ethos of the group is apparently the opposite. Csaba explained that he began it as a reaction to finding it “difficult to meet kind, friendly people in Budapest… I know there are lots of nice people here, but it’s not always easy to find them. I wanted to make it easier.”
The group, which is now around 600-strong, organizes events almost weekly, though not all members always attend or are invited. Large, community-building parties also happen sporadically, in various bars and cafés, where something akin to platonic four-person speed-dating takes place. The aim of these events, and the group as a whole, is for its members to be open towards each other, and hundreds of new friendships have been forged so far.
The group’s sub-section, Haver Vagy Tánc, was born last December, after group member Lili Kovács proposing it to Csaba, but being met with concern over what he expected to be a lack of interest. His concerns, though, were unfounded, and it now takes the form of hundreds of people performing flash-mob style dance routines in public spaces, originally inspired by T-Mobile’s London Liverpool Street Station ad campaign. The routines are choreographed by established Hungarian choreographer Tímea Papp, and their first performance took place in Mammut shopping center on April 8th, with 200 (mainly non-professional) group members appearing from the crowd of surprised shoppers to dance for two-and-a-half minutes. As a follow up, they took over Gödör’s vast outdoor area, last Thursday, and Haver Vagy Tánc’s members are swelling towards 600.
Practice sessions tend to take place in a few of the city’s party spots out of hours, and dancers of all abilities are welcome. Timi described how, “Most have never learnt dance before… It’s especially for everyday people who want to have fun and express themselves. The steps are easy but look advanced when many people do them.” According to her, the aim of the group is “to show people that even if we’re strangers, we’re fellow human beings.” She went on to explain that “We urge you to notice others. Look around you. Bring joy to this country, and start by accepting those around you.” Apparently, her ideal Haver Vagy Tánc spot is “Oktogon, at peak time”. Watch this space.
While you need to be invited to join the Haver Vagy group proper, it’s possible to register as a member of Haver Vagy Tánc at www.havervagy.hu (click “Táncolni szeretnék!”) You can also join the Haver Vagy online community as a non-invited member at the same address (click “Haver lennék!”). If you’d like to be invited to the group itself, Csaba’s advice is to get out there and be nice to people. Simple.