What awaits you in Budapest:
Intensive practical training
Extensive stage & performance opportunities
Pas de Deux training
International learning environment
English-language theoretical studies

 Application deadline: February 28

A Start your professional dance career in Europe  bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

In the 2025/2026 academic year, 45 students are enrolled in the Dance Artist preparatory BA programme in the Classical Ballet specialization, two students are in the Dance Artist BA programme in the Modern specialization twelve students are studying in the Dancer and Coach BA programme, Classical Ballet specialization; and three students are pursuing Dancer and Coach BA studies in the Modern specialization.

We are proud that talented young dance artists from 20 countries are studying at the Hungarian Dance University.

It is also important to note that several of the international students earned their place at the university thanks to their outstanding performances at the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix (BBGP). Most of them have since enrolled in one of the university’s programmes.

As registration for the 3rd edition of the BBGP is currently underway, the university’s leadership and the organizers are confident that this year, once again, many talented ballet dancers will be given the opportunity to continue their studies in Budapest at the prestigious Hungarian Dance University.

The newly admitted international students arrived in Budapest on August 17, and were required to participate in a mandatory two-week course. The aim of this course was to provide them with a foundation in ballroom dance and, for those who needed it, an opportunity to catch up in modern dance as well.

To help the new students integrate more easily, the University staff organized a campus tour and introduced them to the surrounding area. They received practical information on how to purchase public transport passes, how to use the university’s class scheduling system, and how to order meals from the canteen.

In addition, taking advantage of the August 20 public holiday, the university staff also organized a team-building sightseeing tour of Budapest for the students.

The International Welcome Event also took place in recent days, and a summary of the event will soon be available here on the website.

A The Hungarian Dance University has doubled its number of international students in the past two years bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

The university welcomes the interest of children and, of course, their parents, who wish to apply in May for the preparatory programme of the Hungarian Dance University’s higher education dance arts training in classical ballet and theatrical dance specialization.

As previously mentioned in several places:

This year, the 75-year-old Hungarian University of Dance can offer a serious and complete career path for boys and girls interested in dance arts.

However, gaining admission to the programmes is not easy due to the high number of applicants. The Open Day provides significant help in this regard, as visitors will receive direct advice and support from the masters and the university’s leading instructors.

Important notice! Children entering the preparatory course for ballet must be no older than 12, while those interested in theatre dance must be no older than 16. Admission for theatre dance will take place on 10 May and for classical ballet on 24 May.

Please click on this link to register for the event.

Preliminary programme for the Open Day on 14 April 2025:

13:00 Information about both courses and the high school

Theatrical dance:

14:00 – 14:40 Classical ballet – Nikolett Németh

14:50 – 15:20 Hip-hop – Lilla Radóci

15:30 – 16:00 Theatre dance techniques – Mónika Barna

16:10 – 16:40 Theatre dance techniques – Attila Bokor

16:50 – 17:20 Modern dance techniques – Kitti Hajszán

17:30 – 18:00 Modern ballroom dance – Roland Kósa

Classical ballet:

(more hours available)

Girls’ grade I.a.

14:35 – 15:30 ballet – D fsz.4.

15:40 – 16:30 Folk dance – D fsz.4.

Girls’ grade 1.b.
13:30 – 14:25 ballet – D fsz.4.

15:40 – 16:30 folk dance – D fsz.4.

Boy’s grade I.

14:00 – 15:30 ballet – Dormitory hall

15:40 – 16:30 folk dance – D fsz.4.

Girls’ grade II.

15:10 – 16:10 ballet – D em.7.

16:20 – 17:00 TTT- D em.7.

Mixed grade II.

14:00 – 15:00 ballet – D em.7.

16:20 – 17:00 TTT- D em.7.

Grade III.

13:30 – 15:00 ballet – D fsz.5.

15:00 – 16:00 spicc/repertoire – D fsz.5.

Girls’ grade IV.

14:00 – 15:20 ballet – D em.9.

15:30 – 16:00 modern – D elem.9.

16:10 – 16:40 MTT – D fsz.5.

Boys’ grade IV-V.

14:00 – 15:20 ballet – D em.6.

15:30 – 16:00 Modern grade IV. – D em.9.

16:10 – 16:40 MTT grade IV. – D fsz.5.

A Open Day at the Hungarian Dance University bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

This year, the university’s performance will be a special international gala show to be held on May 7 and 8, to mark the 75th anniversary of HDU’s establishment. Students specializing in classical ballet, modern dance, folk dance, and theatrical dance, will participate at the gala.

The university will start its anniversary celebrations with a 75-day series of events, starting with the “Stars of the Future” performance on April 10, which will also take place at the National Dance Theatre. This program will include not only dance performances but also conferences, book launches, photo exhibitions, flash mobs, the light projection of the former State Ballet Institute, and the university’s first Alumni reunion, as emphasized by the university’s Rector, Fodor-Molnár Márta. The colourful series of events will present HDU’s uniquely broad range of training programmes, which is unparalleled worldwide. Indeed, there is no other higher education institution offering such a comprehensive curriculum covering dance and its related fields.

Perhaps the most important task for HDU is to preserve its unique identity while taking into account new conditions and opportunities, advancing with the times, and developing and expanding its programmes based on its previous strengths. The university’s goal is to introduce educators, and through them, the students to the latest trends in the art of dance.

HDU has achieved and will continue to achieve outstanding results in promoting Hungarian dance art and Hungarian culture both at home and internationally.

Regarding the university’s programmes, there is strong interest in them, which is reflected in the admission numbers. To support this, the university operates talent centres both in Budapest and in the countryside, and at least one talent centre abroad is currently in the process of being established. Moreover, as the university’s reputation continues to grow, the number of international students increases each year. A significant achievement is that approximately 90 percent of the graduates find employment in line with their qualifications, both in Hungary and abroad.

A The 75-year-old Hungarian Dance University is also to participate in the 25th Budapest Dance Festival bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

Earlier, the two masters of the year, Katalin Volf and Sándor Túri, also spoke about the eventful last year of the graduating ballet class, which is true. Especially for Lili Bank, who, in addition to her academic duties, will also be performing in the performance of “Lady’s Response” at the Játékszín (Theatre of Play), directed by her father Tamás Bank. Apart from this, a number of issues was discussed during the conversation in the Spanish costume of Nutcracker.

“Should we speak Spanish or Hungarian?”

“English, please.”

„I am asking because you’ve just come from the Nutcracker, all dressed up. How busy is this period for you?”

Photos by Tamás Schild

„I can’t deny it’s a lot during the Nutcracker, but it was before and it will be later. It’s a busy time, but luckily there are lighter days. However, we enjoy that there is always something happening.”

“Do you have time for anything else?”

“Yes, but from January it will be more difficult because we will start preparing for the exam concert. This is the school year: in the autumn the focus was on the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix, then the Nutcracker, and then the exam concert.”

“How do you feel in your last months at the Hungarian Dance University with one foot outside but with one foot still inside?”

“Scary, very scary, because now I realize that it’s time to grow up and find a place for myself for the future. More specifically, to decide what I want to do. Of course, it’s also great to have spent so much time here, working and struggling all these years, with lots and lots of work. So it’s exciting, but it’s scary at the same time.”

“I assume that you had time to get used to the atmosphere of the university because you have spent all of your school years here.”

“Yes, I came here when I was nine, so I’ve been here for nine years now.”

“And what was it like? What was good, what was hard and what was bad?”

“Actually, the best part was that we did it all together with my classmates. With my friends, which made the weekdays a lot more exciting. It was hard because you had to give hundred percent every day, obviously you can’t always do that. We were tired most of the time, but we held on and persisted, and I think we made the most of it.”

“And is it all more physically or mentally demanding?”

“Both physically and mentally. I think some people find it easier physically, but some people find it easier mentally to cope with all the work and practice. Basically, you have to be strong in all areas, but if you are persistent, it’s worth it.”

“Where do you see your career continuing? As a graduating ballet dancer, where do you want to go, where can you go?”

“I would definitely like to work for a company, which I hope is a possibility. Obviously you have to send around videos and CVs. We’ll see where these opportunities are, but I’m confident there will be some.”

“If you had to recommend someone why they should become a ballet artist, a dance artist, what would you say to them for sure?”

The graduating classical ballet class of Hungarian Dance University

“That it is a truly beautiful profession. Art, not a profession. You have to struggle a lot, but it’s worth it, because you get dignity, discipline and strength that I think you can use in all areas of life. For me, it is the most beautiful profession that can be pursued!”

A Lili Bank: For me this is the most beautiful profession that can be pursued! bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

The 23 June marked the end of a nine-year study for the graduates of the Hungarian Dance University (HDU). Students specialising in classical ballet performed very well at their final exam concert at the Hungarian State Opera House.

Photos by Pál Csillag

The sold-out performance was praised by the eminent representatives of the profession. Representatives of diplomatic corps, state leaders, distinguished artists and many esteemed guests attended the three-act performance at the Opera House.

The real work behind the action was demonstrated in a successful performance. Here are a few excerpts from articles written about the exam performance, which we would like to thank to the staff of Index, Origo, Fidelio, Papageno and kultúra.hu, among others.

“We are like a family, not like the law school of ELTE university or the medical university, where three or four hundred people graduate a year. We know each other, we follow the careers of our graduates and try to help them find the jobs they need. We teach them to dance during their university years, but to reach the level their talent predestines them for, they need common work and lots of stage experience, to work with as many choreographers, directors and masters as possible, and to achieve what they are capable of through the roles they play,” said HDU’s rector Fodor-Molnár Márta on fidelio.hu.

Another news portal, Papageno.hu wrote the following.

“Nearly a decade means one thing to the students performing and another to those of us sitting on the other side of the stage, but it also means future opportunities for both sides: for the students, the start of their careers, and for the audience, the chance to meet new artists. In addition to providing a broad insight into the diversity of classical ballet, the three-act exam concert also shows that in 2024 the genre will obviously include many more nuances than it did when romantic or classical ballets first appeared.”

As we mentioned earlier, the first act was a suite Don Quixote by L. Minkus – M. Petipa, the second act featured solos and duets, while the third act, the Vortex was choreographed by András Lukács.

It is important to mention that the audience saw the works of renowned choreographers, as Eric Gauthier, András Lukács and Noémi Kulcsár, who is also a teacher at the university, all contributed their choreography to the exam concert. In addition, the French master accepted the invitation of the Hungarian Dance University and watched the performance at the Opera, after which he spoke very positively about the show and several graduating students.

We thank our graduating students for studying at the Hungarian Dance University.

Graduating students:

Katarina Bužić, Katalin Csenge Csipán, Janka Dobra, Attila Sámuel Gáspár, Getta-Giuriato Marco Giuseppe, Hataishi Iyo, Kazama Ruka, Kamill Kökény-Hámori, Glória Szabó, Márk Szatmári, Saito Hiraku and Yonei Momona.

 

A Successful exam concert at the Opera House bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

In fact, there was a comprehensive exam in classical ballet held in lifting and contemporary modern dance on 19 February. The four-part exam, which ran from 9 am to 1.30 pm, was one of the first really big tests of their careers. Those who prepared the class were master teacher Mónika Barna, art teacher József Medvecz, master teacher Pál Csillag and assistant professor Attila Kalmár.

Photos by Adrienne Horvath

Graduate students:

Katarina Bužić, Katalin Csenge Csipán, Janka Dobra, Hataishi Iyo, Kazama Ruka, Yonei Momona, Glória Szabó, Getta-Giuriato Marco Giuseppe, Sámuel Gáspár, Kamill Kőkény-Hámori, Saito Hiraku, Márk Szatmári

Iveta Sipos and Katalin Kárpinszky acted as pianists of the class.

The exam took place in front of a prestigious examination board. The board members included President Tamás Solymosi, Co-Chairman György Szakály, Mária Aradi, Mónika Barna, Éva Brieber, Mrs Miklós Borsa Katalin Sebestény, József Medvecz, Attila Kalmár, Szilárd Macher, Márta Fodor-Molnár, Zoltán Tamás Nagy, Zoltán Oláh, Adél Orosz, Nóra Szőnyi, Gyöngyvér Szurmayné Hortobágyi, Pál Csillag, Katalin Volf, Tamás Topolánszky, Lilla Pártay.

University Rector Márta Fodorné Molnár has already stressed the importance of the final year exams on the official website of the university.

“I think what could be taught by the university’s lecturers to the students has been taught. When they sign their contract, they will be able to fulfil their potential.”

Of course, until then there is still a lot of rehearsing to do, not to mention the final exam, the exam concert, which is also a big task.

During the nine-year professional training, the Hungarian Dance University provides a course on the centuries-old traditions of classical ballet, but also paves the way for the interpretation of the works of contemporary artists. Beauty, playfulness, energy, tension, rivalry, discovery and distance can all be expressed in the language of movement – this is what students have to show in their final year and, on the way there, prove their knowledge at the exam.

Éva Brieber, Head of the Classical Ballet Department, summarised the work of the final year of the course.

“The students, with the help of the masters, gave the best of their abilities in the final exam of the term. It is a challenging, often superhuman achievement. In the near future, they will be living the life of ballet artists, rehearsing and preparing for performances. Congratulations and thanks to their masters for their work so far. I congratulate the students on passing their exams and wish them all a long, patient and great rehearsal process until the exam concert.”

Overall, the masters were pleased with what they saw in the qualifying exam, but they agreed that there is still a lot of work to do in the spring.

The exam concert of the final year students of classical ballet will take place at the Opera House on 23 June 2024.

A Classical ballet qualifying exam held at HDU bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

Based on the applications received so far, young ballet dancers from more than 10 countries will participate in the competition. Following the summer holiday, everything is getting back to normal at the beginning of September: young people have started to return to ballet schools and halls. Based on the interest shown towards the Grand Prix, it seems that there will be a hard competition at the first Budapest Ballet Grand Prix.

Photos by Andrea P. Merlo

The Hungarian Dance University is also preparing for the event. The organisation is underway and the students are also preparing to give their best performance in front of a very prestigious international jury that includes Tamás Solymosi, the Hungarian State Opera’s Ballet Director. Outstanding performances are professionally important and come with substantial cash prizes.

The Hungarian Dance University, a leading institution in the Hungarian dance education, has launched a new high artistic standard ballet competition to promote ballet and dance art in Hungary.

János Kiss, Kossuth Prize-winning ballet artist and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the university, gave more emphasis to the upcoming Budapest Ballet Grand Prix at the opening ceremony of the new academic year. The President of the Organising Committee believes that the event is an excellent opportunity for the university, its teachers and students to show themselves to the world.

“BBGP belongs to all of us, we should all feel it. I hope that art lovers and dance artists will visit Budapest in the coming years to learn about the work of the university and to strengthen the reputation of the institution and the art of dance. HDU’s goal remains to become the most significant dance art training higher institution in Europe by 2026.”

In line with this ambition, the long-term goal of BBGP is to become the most popular ballet competition in Central Europe.

A More and more applicants register for the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix to be held in November bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

After nine years of study, an era came to an end when the graduating students of the Dance Artist Institute of the Hungarian Dance University (HDU) specialising in Classical Ballet presented their exam concert at the Hungarian State Opera House on 2 July, 2023.

Professor and Rector Márta-Fodor Molnár, as one of the leading masters of the class, told Index about the event that made a great success among members of the profession and the public. The article was published under the title “They have been lifted into the sky, now they can fly.”

The first part of the performance was the one-act neoclassical ballet “Adagio Hammerklavier” choreographed by Hans van Manen, while the second part consisted of shorter pieces, pas de deux-s and solos as well as excerpts from a romantic and two classical ballets. In the third act, Jacopo Godani’s contemporary piece, “Moto Perpetuo” was staged.

Márta-Fodor Molnár told Index that the sold-out exam performance was a huge success. The evening was attended by prominent representatives of Hungarian public life and members of the diplomatic corps including thirteen ambassadors as well as leaders of foreign dance troupes and journalists.

“Within the high quality performances, there were also some outstanding individual achievements that were also highly appreciated by the exam committee. The graduating students did not only demonstrate their technical skills but in many cases they performed the works in a manner characterised by mature artists in a truly inspired manner as well,” said Márta-Fodor Molnár.

Some of the young people are dancers of outstanding ability and talent such as Gvendolin Nagy, who was invited to perform at an international star gala this year. The technical and artistic skills of Dorottya Lengyel and Kata Bán are also outstanding, while among the Japanese students, Okura Iku, Koizumi Juza and Katano Soichiro are worth mentioning.

“At the university, we teach young people from an early age that a high level of technical ability is a basic expectation from a dancer, however, it is not a goal, it is more of a tool that enables the dancer to create inspired artistic performances. Talent is also essential.”

Márta-Fodor Molnár is confident that the external coaches such as Mária Aradi, the Master of the Hungarian State Opera, Rachel Beaujean, the Artistic Director of the Dutch National Ballet, Tamás Darai, the Coach of Moto perpetuo and the university’s teachers are all very satisfied with the graduating students and their performance.

As we have understood, almost all of the graduating students already have a contract, although they have yet to participate in job interviews. Some will soon be auditioning for the Paris Opera, while others want to prove their talent in Poland, Germany or Italy.

Masters of the class:  HDU Rector Márta-Fodor Molnár, Vice-Rector for Education Dr Szilárd Macher

Graduate students: Alfie Edward Joseph Pearce, Borbála Kata Bán, Karin  Bečvarová, Dávid Borka, Jana Brletić, Tara Clark, Anna D’Andrea, Katano So Ichiro, Koizumi Juza, Fanni Dorottya Lengyel, Máté Milchram, Gvendolin Nagy, Okura Iku, Karen Sakata, Marta Sironić

Source: Tamás Dzsubák, index.hu
Photos by Pál Csillag, Adrienne Horváth and Andrea P. Merlo. 

A Hungary’s number one news portal reports on HDU graduating students’ final exam performance bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.

The performance provided a great opportunity for the young artists to present the results of their diverse, difficult and persistent studies guided and supported for nine years by the outstanding teachers of HDU.

The graduates have proved that in addition to their major classical ballet, they have learned many of the other dance languages at a very high level, which provides them with a huge potential regarding their future career.

Photo: Andrea P. Merlo

The first part of the performance was the one-act neoclassical ballet “Adagio Hammerklavier” choreographed by Hans van Manen. It was a great honour to have the world famous artist allow the students to perform his wonderful choreography.

In the second part, which consisted of shorter pieces, pas de deux-s and solos, and it also included excerpts from a romantic and two classical ballets, each student was given the opportunity to perform in the style and character that best suited his and her talent.

Photo: Andrea P. Merlo

The third part was the Hungarian premiere of a major contemporary play. The 15 talented graduating ballet students, together with their fellow students, danced Jacopo Godani’s contemporary piece “Moto Perpetuo”. The performance achieved a great success with all tickets sold out. In addition to the enthusiastic audience, the event was attended by prominent public figures, members of the Diplomatic Corps, a panel of distinguished artists and writers.

Photo: Adrienne Horváth

Masters of the class:  HDU Rector Márta-Fodor Molnár, Vice-Rector for Education Dr Szilárd Macher

Graduate students: Alfie Edward Joseph Pearce, Borbála Kata Bán, Karin  Bečvarová, Dávid Borka, Jana Brletić, Tara Clark, Anna D’Andrea, Katano So Ichiro, Koizumi Juza, Fanni Dorottya Lengyel, Máté Milchram, Gvendolin Nagy, Okura Iku, Karen Sakata, Marta Sironić

A Classical ballet graduates’ performance makes huge success at the Opera House bejegyzés először MTE-én jelent meg.