Alexandra Lengyel Bain - Founder / director

Alexandra started her dance education at the Hungarian Dance Academy and later graduated from the prestigious Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in Torrington, CT. 

Our founder gained artistic and administrational experience performing and directing at various art institutions.  Alexandra become assistant to artistic director at the New England Ballet Conservatory in Burlington, VT and later moved to California where she performed as soloist with the Black Diamond Ballet Company while being associate artistic director. Before she started the gala series she also danced and choreographed at Parthenon Classical Arts Center in Vacaville, CA. At Parthenon she was delighted to perform as  Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.  The fairy tale ballet has been dear to her heart ever since she got invited to the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in NYC where she danced Aurora's wedding variation in 2003 as the very first Hungarian competitor. 

In 2014 Hungarian Connection took flight with the help of Thomas Jackovics co-founder, the greatest benefactor of Hungarian art and culture in the California. 

During the first years of the gala Alexandra remained in California and also founded her own dance Academy. Bellissima European Dance Academy gave opportunities to young talents to dance alongside world renowned artists and received the BEST award at the Russian American Media award ceremony in 2016.

After marring a U.S. Air Force officer Alexandra continued the gala series in Texas while keeping old ties and forming new partnerships around the country. 

Upon graduation from the Hungarian Dance Academy Mate joined the Hungarian National Ballet and later the Sacramento Ballet. Mate is currently leading male dancer with Richmond Ballet. Virginia. 

Mate is passionate about creating and choreographing new works. His Csardas Pas de Deux is a magnificent combination of tradition and innovation taking the audience to the heart of Europe. 

Mate has been with Hungarian Connection from the start, the organization is delighted to continue to have him on board! 

Mr. Jackovics has received the Knight Cross of Hungarian Order of Merit in 2016 from Tamas Szeles General Consul of Hungary in Los Angeles. Mr. Jackovics has been the greatest benefactor of Hungarian culture in the United States. The Hungarian Connection Gala can flourish thanks to his generosity. 

Mr. Nicholas is recipient of the Knight Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit which he received from the former General Consul of Hungary in Los Angeles. 

As the honorary consul of Hungary in Sacramento Mr. Bartsch has been passionate about supporting the Hungarian Connection Gala series. He is very proud to bring various cultures together and to show his own heritage in a major international production. 

Eleonora  has been the executive director of Hungarian Connection from 2014. 

She is focused on the behind the scenes work that keeps the constantly growing gala going and becoming a significant platform of Hungarian music and dance in the United States. 

She is a doctor of legal and political sciences, speaks five languages, and has more than three decades of experience with international cultural exchange, focused on Japanese- Hungarian, as well as U.S.. - Hungarian  cultural diplomacy.