The csárdás has two main parts. The first part, called lassú (slow), is graceful and measured - the couple moves together in smooth circles, the woman's skirt swaying gently. The second part, called friss (fast), is where it all takes off - the tempo doubles and the couple spins, stamps and leaps. The shift from slow to fast is one of the most exciting moments in any folk dance.
The costumes for csárdás dancing are spectacular. Women wear wide, brightly coloured skirts - often red, blue or white - that flare out beautifully when they spin. Men wear tight black or white trousers, embroidered waistcoats and black boots with metal-tipped heels that ring out when they stamp on the dance floor.
Csárdás is not just for professionals - it is a dance that ordinary Hungarians have done at weddings, festivals and celebrations for over 200 years. At a Hungarian village wedding, it would be unusual if the csárdás was not danced late into the night.
The composer Franz Liszt - who was Hungarian - included the rhythms of the csárdás in some of his most famous piano pieces. Vittorio Monti's 'Czardas' (the Italian spelling) became one of the most performed violin pieces in the world. The dance's energy inspired musicians across Europe.