Ballet courses for children at the Opera House
To support classical ballet training in Hungary, the OPERA launched its own Hungarian National Ballet Institute in September 2016, offering training programs for children aged 4 to 14. Interest in the program exceeded expectations from the very first audition, and the enthusiasm of both applicants and students has remained unwavering. Today, more than 140 children attend the institute. Students not only perform in domestic ballet productions but also travel abroad as part of the OPERA’s guest performances, showcasing their talent in model productions as well. They learn classical ballet based on the Vaganova method, while also studying modern dance, tap, folk dance, and character dance, with additional rhythmic gymnastics classes to complement their training. Many of the institute’s outstanding instructors were once dancers of the OPERA themselves, ensuring that students receive expert guidance rooted in professional stage experience. Since its founding, enough time has passed for the HNBI to have already provided a professional dancer to the ballet company of the Hungarian State Opera.
We await the application of boys and girls aged 4-14 who are fascinated by the world of ballet, want to learn more about the basics of the genre, and would be happy to eventually participate in Hungarian State Opera productions. Good stamina, a good sense of rhythm, experience in sports and above 11 years of age, prior education is required.
Classes take place in the Opera House and the Eiffel Art Studios.
The training is self-funded, the cost of the course depends on the age group and number of classes.
The Institute’s most talented pupils will be given the possibility to perform in the Hungarian National Ballet’s productions as well, which will be preceded by additional rehearsals. Courses are held under the professional direction of Tamás Solymosi, Director of the Hungarian National Ballet, and Radina Dace, Artistic Director of the HNBI, and the students are taught by the ballet dancers and ballet masters of the Hungarian National Ballet.
Application via e-mail: balettiskola@opera.hu
In the e-mail, please include the name of the child, age, any dance or sports experience, contact details and a photo of the child as an attachment.
Additional information:
Hungarian National Ballet Institute official webpage: https://www.mnbi.hu/hu/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/magyarnemzetibalettintezet
Cover image: Zsófia Réka Pákozdi, former student of the Hungarian National Ballet Institute