This year again, the Bethlen Téri Theatre will offer special dance programmes for SŐT7 festival visitors. László Váczi, the theatre's managing director, spoke about how the festival's programme combines contemporary dance and the latest technological solutions. During the interview, he gave an insight into the behind-the-scenes of the festival and talked about the theatre's future plans.  

"Our aim is for Bethlen not only to preserve tradition, but to become a creative workshop,
where art and technology come together to create something truly new." 

This year's SŐT7 festival promises to be particularly exciting. What are the main events that the public can expect? 

A SŐT7 The unique opening event of the festival is the internationally collaborative Budapest Dance Hack demonstration, which will be presented on 15 November. From nearly 100 applicants, five artists and technologists have been selected to create a completely unique production in a sustainable, carbon-neutral way. Our aim is to combine art and technology to create innovative solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of productions. As part of this, for example, creators are not allowed to fly. The Bethlen's central location makes it easily accessible and ideal for this type of sustainability project. The demonstration will also showcase technological solutions that have social value, particularly to support people with disabilities. Réka Gerlits, our resident company's General Manager, will play a key role in the successful implementation of the collaboration. 

Can you tell us a little more about Milan Tomášik Treatise about the presentation? 

A Treatise Based on Cornelius Cardew's graphic score, it presents a unique challenge for dancers: how to interpret an abstract musical score in movement. The dancers of the Krakow Dance Theatre create a new universe on stage that is exciting, thought-provoking and visually stunning. Tomášik's aim is to make the audience an active participant in the experience and to give them a new perspective on dance. 

What other programmes can be expected in the SŐT7 at the festival? 

The festival continues with international productions, including a performance by the Croatian Studio Contemporary Dance Company and an improvisation performance by the Dance Communication Lab (DCL), which is part of the EU project Beyond Front@: Bridging Periphery. These events provide an opportunity for artists to experiment and create international collaborations. The festival will showcase local communities, the power of tradition and talent development through the performances of young folk dancers from the Bihor Dance Company. A SŐT7 will close on 22 November with the choreographic debut of Réka Gyevnár, who has already proved herself as a dance artist at the Central Europe Dance Theatre and will now be performing her new role at the Young Choreographers Forum.  

The Bethlen Téri Theatre is 95 years old this year. How is this anniversary reflected in the programmes? 

The birthday celebrations will culminate on 29 November with an exhibition of the house's history, including a fence. The afternoon will include a presentation of the sounding plaques from the DemArt project's Living Walls programme and a map of the District VII soundscape. The evening will close with a new circus performance by the Baross Imre Artists Training Institute, part of the Talent Encounters programme. 

We also host a Hungarian company from abroad every year. In February, the Vojvodina Summer Cinema Theatre Community will present a magical visual world of movement theatre performances in the framework of the Festival of Waiting for Visitors. This festival has a decade-long history and provides an opportunity for Hungarian artists from abroad to present themselves to the Budapest audience. 

What role do prose performances and young talent play during the season? 

The Bethlen Téri Theatre pays special attention to the presentation of young talents. The prose resident company, the Impostor Theatre Company and the exam performances of the Theatre Director and Physical Theatre Choreographer classes of the SZFE will also be presented within the walls of the theatre. These events will give young artists the opportunity to showcase their talents and test their limits in a professional environment. 

How do you see the SŐT7 and the future of the Bethlen Téri Theatre? 

Four years ago, when Csaba Szögi, one of the founders and artistic director of the theatre, and I were dreaming about the future, our goal was to make the Bethlen Téri Theatre not only a place where tradition is preserved, but also a place where art and innovation go hand in hand. The SŐT7 festival perfectly embodies this mission: while engaging local communities, it also creates international collaborations by bringing together contemporary dance and technology. We believe that in the future, we can work with even more arts and technology partners and further deepen the connections between contemporary dance and technology. Renewed for next season, Bethlen Téri Theatre will continue to be a place where artists can create freely and where the community can be an active part of this exciting process.