Liz Kovach is no stranger to Folklorama performances, as her 35 years of involvment will tell you.

Since starting to dance at the age of six, Kovach has always used this form of expression as a way of embracing her Hungarian roots. After both her parents immigrated to Canada from Hungary in the 1960's and 70's, they were able to form connections that allowed them to stay closely in touch with their culture. Even before Kovach started dancing, her parents were volunteering at the Hungary Pavilion, which used to be attached to their church on Burnell Street.

"It's a unique event," Kovach said of Folklorama. "Anyone who's from Winnipeg [I think] forgets to cherish the uniqueness of Folklorama, because no one else has anything like it. There are other small-scale folk festivals in different parts of the world, but they're not Folklorama. They don't have the bus tours, they don't have these pop-ups for an entire week where people are preparing food and it's this well-oiled machine of volunteers who are already up at seven [in the morning] making fresh cabbage rolls."

When it comes to perserving your own culture, Kovach believes Folklorama is so much more than a simple celebration of where you've come from. "You start to drift away from tradition as a human society as you start to get older, and I think that Folklorama certainly helps us keep connected to our heritage, but it's also a greater community of other people who love and support your heritage and everything you have to offer from a cultural standpoint."

Kovach said that assuredly, our cultures help shape who we are.

That is just one of the reasons she has continued to perform for as long as she as. "I love to dance because Hungarian folk dancing is extremely difficult," explained Kovach. "It looks easy, but it's not... it just gives me this sense of freedom, a sense of calm and it fuels my soul. I love the music, I love the connection you have with the other people on stage."

Sidelined from dancing in her pavilion this year, Kovach says the experience hasn't been the same. Though grateful to be able to remain connected to her Folklorama family by acting as the master of ceremonies at the Hungary Pavilion, but she misses the sense of relief dancing in the performances brings her.

"I certainly love it."