Ádok was picked after it was discovered the jury's first choice, Márk Zentai, sang a song that had been released before October 1, 2008, and his replacement, Kátya Tompos, withdrew because of earlier acting commitments.
When the jury met again on February 13 to listen to more than a hundred songs submitted in the contest, they chose not one, but three of the best songs. Then they asked the three to confirm verbally and in writing that they met all of the conditions for the contest.
"All three proposed songs were...exceptional....But Dance With Me is a is a happy, dynamic song that we hope will have the audience in Moscow's Olympic Stadium as well as the hundreds of millions of television viewers moving in their seats," said Attila Várkonyi, who is in charge of the Hungarian programme.
"It is very rare that a singer with a good voice is also a talented dancer. Professional movement and a self-assured stage presence are necessary for Hungary to present itself with a spectacle," said jury member Zsolt Lengyel of Ádok.
Ádok, who trained as a ballet dancer in Pécs, has worked as a singer and dancer in many foreign musical productions. He has participated in a production of Fame in Berlin and in the musical Cats in Berlin. Ádok has also performed in Budapest's Operetta Theatre and the Madách Theatre. Ádok released an album entitled Tánclépés (Dance Steps) in November. He will bring the English version of a song off the album to Moscow.
The second round of the 54th Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 14. The finals are slated for May 16.
Photo: Magyar Televízió
