Hungarian Dance Academy to Host the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix in November

The Hungarian Dance Academy (MTE) will host the 3rd Budapest Ballet Grand Prix (BBGP) international ballet competition between November 17 and 21. The event will be held at the Academy (university), the National Dance Theater, and the Palace of Arts (Müpa).

Márta Fodorné Molnár, rector of the MTE, said at a press conference in Budapest on Friday that registration for the competition, which is open to young people aged 14-24, closes on Friday. So far, more than 140 registrations have been received from 22 countries, and 80 competitors will be selected from among the applicants.

Irén Novák, Deputy State Secretary for Arts and Community Culture at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, said that the high level of interest in this year’s competition is no coincidence, as Hungarian dance and Hungarian ballet artists are world-renowned.

She recalled that talented young Hungarians achieved excellent results in last year’s competition. Those who come here to study also spread the good reputation of our country, she said, emphasizing that the event plays an important role in terms of the country’s image.

She thanked all those involved in educating young people and organizing the event. She also highlighted the role of parents, who day after day make the sacrifices and bear the burdens that come with having a child who dances, even from an early age. As he said, when they see their children’s successes, all their efforts make sense.

Márta Fodorné Molnár emphasized that their goal is for the university to become a leading European training center for dance by 2030.

She said that this year marks the third edition of the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix, which is open to young people participating in professional training or already dancing in companies. The competition will again be held at the National Dance Theater this year, and the awards gala will take place on November 21 at the Palace of Arts.

Tamás Nagy, competition director of the BBGP, said that the chair of the jury is Mária Aradi, dancer, former prima ballerina of the Hungarian State Opera House and the Dutch National Ballet, rehearsal director and ballet master, who has helped several generations of young dancers and serves the cause of Hungarian dance as a world-renowned Hungarian.

The jury members include Megan Fairchild, principal dancer with the New York City Ballet; Kinsun Chan, Swiss-Canadian choreographer and artistic director of the Semperoper Ballet; Jahn Magnus Johansen, co-director of the Norwegian National Ballet and head of its youth company, Mário Radačovský, former soloist of the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and artistic director of the ballet company of the National Theater Brno.

In her welcoming speech, opera singer Erika Miklósa, president of the main sponsor, the MOL-New Europe Foundation, emphasized that the competition has quickly gained international recognition and attracts young talent from many parts of the world.

She pointed out that the Hungarian Dance Academy is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. “Three quarters of a century in which every movement has been passed on,” she said, adding that masters and students have done a lot to make Hungarian dance art and dance education part of the world’s common culture, and now all this is reflected in a world competition in Hungary.

The foundation places a special emphasis on supporting young talent and mentors, he said, emphasizing that supporting talent is the greatest and most beautiful investment a community can make.

Via MTI; Featured image: Pexels

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