The Junior Prima Award in the categories of theatre, film, and dance arts was presented on Wednesday in Budapest. The recognition and accompanying cash prize were presented by Ildikó Ginzer, Deputy CEO of MBH Bank, to the talents selected from forty nominees. According to the jury’s decision, seven young artists received the award in 2026, including Rose Bettina Jurák, a student at the Hungarian Dance University (HDU).
The outstanding dance artist studied at the Secondary School of Arts in Pécs and subsequently earned her degree at the Hungarian Dance University.
She is the first contemporary dancer in 12 years to be honoured with this award. The young dancer was nominated for the recognition by Aleszja Popova—a Hungarian ballet artist, recipient of the Kossuth and Gyula Harangozó Prizes, and a Merited Artist—who also presented the award to Bettina Rose Jurák on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
Rose Bettina Jurák is currently enrolled in the MA120 Modern Dance Teacher programme at the Hungarian Dance University. Even at the start of her career, she received outstanding professional recognition: the Hungarian Dance Association awarded her the Best Graduating Student of the Season and subsequently the Best Emerging Dance Artist of the Season award.
Photos by Milán Kovács
Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous prominent Hungarian companies, including the Pál Frenák Company, Budapest Dance Theatre, Pécs Ballet, Kecskemét City Ballet, Feledi Project, Badora Company, and Éva Duda Dance Company. In 2021, she joined the Ivgi&Greben company in the Netherlands, and a year later became a member of the Göteborgs Operans Danskompani, where she worked with internationally renowned creators such as Alexander Ekman, Johan Inger, and Emma Portner. During her years in Gothenburg, she also took an active role in establishing an internal choreographic platform within the company, supporting the development of creative initiatives.
Since Autumn 2024, she has been working as a freelance artist, performing, creating, choreographing, and teaching in domestic and international projects. She has collaborated with the Dutch Scapino Ballet and Luxemburg’s JC Movement Production, choreographed for Swedish singer Sarah Klang, and performed alongside Australian artist RY X across Europe. Currently, she is working on her own projects while creating and performing in productions with the Frenák Company.
Congratulations to Rose Bettina Jurák!
