Building C on the Zugló campus of the Hungarian Dance University is undergoing a comprehensive modernization. As part of the investment, the university is carrying out a full additional floor construction worth approximately 2 billion HUF, primarily from its own resources: the new level will house four ballet studios, as well as changing rooms and offices, significantly expanding the institution’s educational capacity.
To support the floor expansion, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation has provided 250 million HUF, while the Hungarian Dance University Foundation, which maintains the institution, has contributed 600 million HUF. The university itself has added nearly 1.2 billion HUF from its own funds to the project.
In addition, through the energy modernization component of the RRF 2.1.2-21-2022-00036 project titled “Modern Buildings and Innovative Education in the Service of Dance Art,” the institution will provide a significantly higher-quality learning environment for its students.
“The investment contributes to ensuring that the University can offer its students a high-standard educational and artistic environment that meets international expectations. The contracted amount of support for the project is nearly 1.5 billion HUF,” said Márta-Fodor Molnár, university professor and rector of the institution, in her welcome speech at the well-attended briefing.
The rector also emphasized that the university aims to remain a key institution for dance education in Central Europe by 2030.
“Our objective is clear and well-defined, and I believe we are making good progress toward achieving it. That is why it is important that our training facilities are being expanded with such new and modern spaces.”
The event was also attended by Anita Kiss-Hegyi, State Secretary for Cultural Relations at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, and Dr. Péter Szilágyi, Deputy State Secretary for National Policy of Hungary.
Jolán Török, Harangozó Gyula Award-winning dancer and dance pedagogue, Péter Ertl, Director of the National Dance Theatre, Emese Gáspár, Chancellor of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and RRF project manager of the Hungarian Dance University, and, among others, Professor Tamás Kucsera, Rector of the Metropolitan University were also present at the ceremonial event.
In her speech, State Secretary Anita Kiss-Hegyi pointed out that supporting an educational institution of this caliber is not only a pleasure for the Ministry, but also a duty.
“I am particularly pleased about this investment because dance is close to my heart. Even more importantly, through this cooperation and support, we have been able to provide space for the development of future generations of dance artists, thereby contributing to the enrichment of Hungarian culture.”
János Kiss, National Artist of Hungary, Kossuth Prize-winning ballet dancer, and Chairman of the Board of the Foundation that maintains the University, emphasized that in these moments, the main focus is on gratitude.
“I want to thank my colleagues, the instructors, and the students for their patience and understanding, because I know that working and creating has been very challenging over the past months due to the construction. Thank you very much! But my thanks are not only for them; I also extend my gratitude to everyone who participated in this major project. This is our shared success, because now we stand here and can clearly see that our efforts were not in vain! In the past few moments, the talented young performers at today’s demonstration have danced in the new studio, and soon the masters and students of the Hungarian Dance University will be able to fully take possession of the new floor. I believe there is no greater joy than this.”
Photos by Hype
János Kiss personally thanked several of his colleagues, as well as the contractors and the designer, for their work. Interestingly, the wing of the Dance Training Institute—now named after Imre Dózsa—was originally designed in 2002 by Antal Lázár, DLA, Kossuth Prize-winning architect and MMA academician, who is also coordinating the current renovation and expansion. The master was present at the unveiling, and it was no surprise that several attendees took the opportunity to greet him personally.
With the expansion of the training program and the increase in student numbers, it became necessary to enhance the infrastructural capacity required for education, which has now been realized. The unveiling concluded with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Attendees were able to take part in a truly wonderful and joyful event.
In the video shown here, viewers can see in a unique way how the expansion was carried out.
