Levente Bajusz (R) with the HDU leaders at the Prix de Lausanne

As Tamás Nagy, President of the Artistic Council of the Hungarian Dance University pointed out in relation to the travel report: “In just ten days, Levente Bajusz had only ten days to rehearse a choreography with a team of young dancers, and together they created a performance that even a professional company could envy!”

But let’s read Levente’s report!

“Thank you for the opportunity and the experience, I learned so much in the past ten days! I had the chance to meet a lot of wonderful people and had the opportunity to work with a new ballet master every day. An interesting experience was that the barre exercises, centre work, and jumping styles and qualities differ all over the world. Each master had a specific instruction they focused on and wanted to see reflected, whether it was artistic movements or technical guidance.

Of all the ballet masters, I enjoyed the classes of Zhan Atymtayev, Véronique Jean, and Zenaida Yanowsky the most. The choreography taught by Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa captivated me from the very beginning. David Lang’s music is a blend of several hymns, which is why the choreographer chose it. The counting in the piece is also unusual, so we had to pay close attention to when each dancer should perform the movement and when to step onto the stage.

On the evening of my arrival in Lausanne, before the first day of rehearsal, there was a group dinner where we talked and met each other. I feel that this dinner helped a lot, as from the very beginning, we knew who we would be working with, and it made things much easier for everyone.

Everyone was helpful, kind and open. Everyone was being themselves. That’s why I think the team was able to bond so quickly. By the end of the week, it felt as though we had known each other for a long time.

The two unforgettable performances and the collaborative work have come to an end, but we stay in touch with the team on Instagram. I will soon meet up with several of them, for example, at the Grand Audition event in Barcelona.

This opportunity was a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I thank the university, the Rector, and my master for choosing me!”

A Travel diary – Levente Bajusz on the Prix de Lausanne 2025 Choreographer Project bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

Home is where the heart is. This is probably what was on Takashima Kentaro’s mind when he decided to return recently to his 75-year-old Alma Mater, the Hungarian Dance University (HDU) for a few days.

Takashima Kentaro at the HDU in 2015 (Photos by Pál Csillag)

Takashima Kentaro graduated at HDU in 2016, and he managed to establish his professional career here.

Szakály’s student is an experienced dancer: after graduating at HDU, he joined the Russian Mariinsky Theatre’s world-leading ballet ensemble, a strong brand in the art of dance, and now he is a freelance dancer is Japan.

Takashima Kentaro at the HDU in 2025

No wonder he has made a successful career as he gained his knowledge at a dance university that is located in the heart of Central Europe, in one of the most beautiful European cities, Budapest.

The Japanese ballet artist has nice memories of HDU, and he particularly liked the fact that while studying here, he had a lot of performances, which provided an excellent practical foundation for his ballet career.

Takashima Kentaro at the HDU in 2025

Kentaro Takashima’s another important memory of HDU is that during his university years, he not only had the opportunity to perform on stage in Hungary, but also travelled to several other European countries.

In his view, the strongest aspect of the university is the practical training and gaining experience. He also recalled that he quickly adapted to the Hungarian environment and rapidly became fond of the life in Budapest.

Takashima Kentaro with Zoltán Oláh Hungarian ballet artist and one of the masters of the university

Takashima told us that the education at the university truly prepares young people for their dance career, however, in comparison with his home country’s training institutions, HDU’s training portfolio is much broader, which is the university’s greatest value.

A Former HDU student Takashima Kentaro visited his Alma Mater that left a deep impression on him bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.