The traditional beginning of the year show of the students of the Hungarian Dance University is the Step-by-Step Gala, which is one of the important stages of the academic year as a presentation of the students’ work. On Saturday evening, 26 October, the National Dance Theatre was packed and the audience could see where the young dancers are at and what they are working on under the guidance of the Masters of the University. This year’s show had a planned and unfortunately an unplanned, unexpected and very sad occasion, as the news of the death of Imre Dózsa arrived that day.
The Kossuth and Liszt Ferenc Prize-winning Hungarian dancer, ballet teacher, ballet and theatre director, hereditary member of the Company of Immortals, former director general and rector of the predecessor of the Hungarian Dance University, the departure of an epoch-making personality is more than a painful loss.
Photos by Adrienne Horváth
This year’s programme was a tribute to the late Gyula Harangozó Sr. In her speech, Rector Márta-Fodor Molnár also evoked his artistic weight. The National Theatre History Museum and Institute described him like this.
„He was „the creator of Hungarian ballet”, “the Chaplin of Hungarian ballet”. The genius character dancer, choreographer and visual artist was the main figure and creator of the heyday of the ballet of the Hungarian Royal and later State Opera House. Exceptionally elegant, cultivated and with a legendary sense of humour, Harangozó became a dancing star almost overnight in 1928, and eight years later he began his brilliant choreographic career, during which, in less than a quarter of a century, he enriched Hungarian and European dance with dozens of immortal works. He created several versions of his friend Béla Bartók’s dance works (The Wooden Prince, The Miraculous Mandarin). His incomparably rich legacy is part of the world’s cultural history.”
Gyula Harangozó and his son, Gyula Harangozó Jr (Photo by MTI)
His son, Gyula Harangozó Jr. will be the chairman of the jury of this year’s Budapest Ballet Grand Prix (BBGP), which is worth underlining because the young people are not only preparing for the Step-by-Step Gala, but also for the BBGP, as they will have to show their skills in front of a very strong international field and a prestigious jury between 18-22 November.
This year’s gala was also special in a way that it included many more variations, the main reason being the international classical ballet competition, the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix.
The programme started with a film screening in memory of Gyula Harangozó Jr., and continued with several screenings, but the opening was attended by Gyula Harangozó, Irén Hamala, Adél Orosz, Viktor Róna, Ferenc Havas, Gabriella Lakatos, Viktor Fülöp and Katalin Hágai.
Afterwards, the Rector of the Hungarian Dance University, Professor Márta-Fodor Molnár, gave a speech in which she presented the life and influence of the Master, mentioning many interesting facts and parallels that are important for young people.
The Step-by-Step Gala was a great success. The applause for the students and their coaching masters showed that the young dancers are on the right track, literally step by step. We thank the students, the coaching masters and the colleagues of the Hungarian Dance University and the National Dance Theatre for their work and help.
