The 2026 International Summer Intensive Ballet Course exceeded all expectations. The organisers and Masters welcomed 110 participants to the Hungarian Dance University (HDU), with young dancers travelling to the Zugló campus from countries including New Zealand, Sweden, the United States, Cyprus, Russia, Japan, Poland and England. The event also featured the pre-selection for the Budapest Ballet Grand Prix, which was a great success with more than 50 participants.
Photos by Adrienne Horváth
The university is proud that that the number of participants almost doubled in comparison with last year’s figure, providing clear evidence that the course is developing in the right direction.
The outstanding professional and personal dedication of both the Hungarian and international Masters, together with the high standard of the training, created a positive and inspiring atmosphere for all participants. Their feedback made it clear that the course was a great success. Tamás Csizmadia, Head of Arts Management at the University and General Coordinator of the International Summer Intensive Ballet Course, believes that the hard work invested in the programme has truly paid off.
“I believe that the tremendous amount of work my colleagues and I invest in preparing and delivering the course over many months pays off year after year. Our goal is not simply to organise a high-quality summer training programme, but to create an international professional community where young dancers can develop in an inspiring environment, build valuable connections and gain lasting experiences.”
Tamás Csizmadia has previously emphasised the importance of reviewing and evaluating the experience after each course, as this is key to continuous improvement and to maintaining the course’s strong professional reputation and standing.
“The results of this year’s course once again demonstrate the value of continuous development, refining the programme year after year, and taking into account the feedback we receive from both participants and teachers. These experiences help us provide an even higher professional standard and an even more valuable community experience for our participants each year. I would also like to sincerely thank all my colleagues, teachers, piano accompanists, artistic and administrative staff, and everyone else who contributed to the success of this year’s course in any way. Without their dedication, professional commitment and tireless work, this achievement would not have been possible.”
We hope that the Hungarian Dance University’s Summer Intensive Course will continue to strengthen the university’s international reputation in the years to come and become an inspiring professional meeting point for an ever-growing number of young dancers.
