Progressive, Stylish, Contemporary. 35 years. 

The press conference of the Central European Dance Theatre (KET), held at the end of September, was opened by Csaba Szögi, the "father" of KET. In September 1988, 35 years ago, he took over the leadership of the Népszínház Dance Ensemble and initiated with the then Artistic Director - Gyula Harangozó Prize winner István Énekes - the name Central Europe Dance Theatre.

From the very beginning, during the experimental workshop work, they were introduced to a lot of interesting areas, and they started from the idea that folk dance would somehow be directed towards the overall art, or at least towards their own creations. The choice of name was intended to mark a geographical affiliation and thus a role in the region. The basic concept of the KET, which is still part of its image today, was to provide a space and a company for young artists to experiment and to constantly seek out new talent.

KET's previous artistic directors have been Csaba Horváth, János Feledi and Csaba Szögi, and the company has produced a generation of KET's flagship artists such as Éva Duda, József Hámor, Krisztián Gergye and László Mádi, who will take over as the company's new artistic director this year.

László MádiShe was a student of the Miskolc National Theatre from 1999-2007, then in 2007 she was accepted to the Budapest Contemporary Dance College, from where she was accepted to the MU Terminal Workshop, and in 2009 she joined the KET company. In 2023, he graduated with honours from the Choreography Department of the Hungarian Dance Academy, where he was head of the Choreography Department under the guidance of Kossuth Prize-winning artist Yvette Bozsik.

She began her work as a creator and choreographer in 2010, collaborating with the other dancers of the company to create Io Sono In 2013, he made his first solo performance in the KET's Phases programme From a tree entitled. In 14 years, he has been involved in the premiere of more than 50 performances. With the company, he has written 5 independent choreographies, 4 co-creative performances and 3 creative works outside the company. As a composer and music editor, he has composed music for many of KET's productions, as well as composing for 8 outside companies. The company's current repertoire currently includes 4 performances. As a teacher, he has been an active master of the company's workshops since 2013.

"I want to continue to work with a focus on inclusion, transmission, research and experimentation. We are putting more and more focus and energy into the next generations. We want not only to show, but also to pass on. We don't just offer a lecture, but a dictionary, an interpretation and an initiation. And in this, I think we are leading the way. With our educational dance theatre performances, with the initiation programmes that go with our performances, with the Forum of Young Choreographers (IKF) and IKF+ our talent management programmes, our international Summer Intensive Dance Courseunkkal (NYIT) and for dance artists Open Class workshops are all opportunities to do this."

László Mádi, who would like to put even more emphasis on attracting young viewers and expanding contacts in the Central European region, said.

Réka Gerlits, the organisation's generating manager, has joined KET to help the company with its organisational operations.

New shows for the 2023/24 season:

• Progressive performance with Anton Lachky at Trafó on 2 March 2024
• Stylish production with Noémi Kulcsár, with a choreography especially for children at the National Dance Theatre in spring 2024
• Contemporary with several Hungarian artists, the IKF programme on 11 November and the return of the K-Arcok solo series on 22 December. Each year the performances take place at the Bethlen Téri Theatre, with KET as the resident company.

Other agreed KET performances and programmes for the season:

• 14 September, MU Theatre, Set Your Mind Free (choreographer: Anton Lachky)
• 5 October, MU Theatre, Audibles (choreographer: László Mádi)
• 13-17 November, Hanoi, Vietnam, InSoundOut and Harslet (choreographer: Máté Mészáros; László Mádi)
• 11-17 November at the Sissi Autumn Dance (SŐT7) and next spring's International Monodance Festival KET's own festivals.

 The Sissi Autumn Dance a 7. district, 7 days, 7 companies, 7 performances, featuring It has been held every year since 2012. The event was launched with the aim of creating a tradition, inviting a generation of young choreographers whose works are fresh and topical, communicating with the contemporary world and socially sensitive.

SŐT7 also reaches out to rural and cross-border dance workshops: GG Tánc Eger, Kecskemét City Ballet, Miskolc Ballet, Sopron Ballet, Székesfehérvár Ballet Theatre, the Győr, Pécs, Nyíregyháza Dance Schools, the Fót Folk Art Secondary School, or from the district's sister city, Gheorgheni Figura Studio Theatre.

• Thanks to V4 cooperation, this year more Central European countries will participate in the Autumn Festival thanks to a European Union project Beyond Front@ represents the name.

This programme will be run by KET for three years. The partner countries are Croatia, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Slovenia, from which artists will be hosted not only during the festival but throughout the season. We will work closely with Pro Progressione to coordinate the implementation. Its Managing Director, Barna Petrányi, already has considerable international experience.

• Summer Intensive Dance Course (NYIT)

A Beyond Front@ was preceded this summer by an intensive ten-day international dance academy, where dance artists from these countries worked with three internationally renowned dance choreographers.

• International Monodance Festival

It is a niche event in our country as a thematic dance festival, which provides an opportunity for individual monodances. Alongside renowned local performers, several internationally renowned artists have already made their debut and the event is organised alternately in Budapest and Seoul every year. Traditionally, mono prizes are awarded based on audience votes.

• The Bethlen Gallery exhibition opener

As every year, there will be a photo exhibition. Nóra Bege has been taking portraits for the KET company for 18 years, and Gábor Dusa has been a regular photographer for their performances for 30 years.

The press conference will be held at the Set Your Mind Free and concluded with a workshop etude.