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The Hungarian Dance Academy (MTE) will organize its first international ballet competition, the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix (BBGP), between November 21 and 24. The event, created to promote Hungarian ballet and dance, will be jointly hosted by the Academy, the National Dance Theater and Müpa Budapest.
Balázs Hankó, State Secretary for Innovation and Higher Education at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, recalled that when the renewal of higher education was launched two years ago, two goals were set. On the one hand, they wanted to achieve full university autonomy and a model in which the state takes a back seat, providing all the necessary support for development. The other goal was that the academy should advance Hungarian culture and the economy. As he explained, the state had become a financier, setting performance targets, including how to move forward in the international arena, and how to unite education and practice.
He stressed that 12 Hungarian universities are currently in the top five percent of the world. He said that they are working to put Hungarian universities at the forefront of Europe and the world by 2030. The Budapest Ballet Grand Prix will help to achieve the goal of the MTE to become the best in Europe by 2026, as the Board of Trustees of the MTE has committed itself to.
János Kiss, ballet artist and Chairman of the Board of Trustees said:
132 entries from 23 countries have been received for the competition, which is organized to establish a tradition.”
Márta Fodorné Molnár, Rector of the MTE, said that she was proud that the university was unique in the world, covering a wide range of dance disciplines, but that not only the diversity of the training was outstanding, but also the quality of the education. She added that the BBGP is an opportunity for young dancers to compete and gain exposure in the international dance scene, to win scholarships for the most outstanding dancers, to start their careers, and promote the values of Hungarian culture, dance, and dance education to the world.
She emphasized that
the Grand Prix is open to dancers from all over the world, aged 15-24, who see dance as their career. Competitors from professional schools and companies will compete in three age groups in classical ballet, modern dance, solo, and pas de deux.
She stressed that workshops will be held during the event, followed by a conference. Competitors will also have the opportunity to discuss their performances with the judges after the semi-finals and finals. The competition will take place at the National Dance Theater, while the awards gala will be held at Müpa Budapest. The rector also stressed that the university’s next summer international course will be announced as a preliminary round for next year’s ballet competition.
Zoltán Tamás Nagy, BBGP Competition Director, introduced the members of the jury. The jury will be chaired by Kang Sue-jin from South Korea, former principal dancer of the Stuttgart Ballet and artistic director of the Korean National Ballet. The jury include Thomas Edur, David Makhateli, Daria Klimentová, , Jan Broeckx, and Tamás Solymosi.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Lakatos Péter