The Central Europe Dance Theatre (KET) is one of the most adaptive and innovative dance companies in Hungary, which creates in the spirit of topicality and reflectivity. KET's shows speak to the audience in the diverse language of contemporary dance, presenting the unique movement world and themes of the Carpathian Basin. Its international presence and its Central European network of contacts give rise to collaborations that create unique collaborations, niche initiatives and exceptional projects - programmes.
Among the Hungarian artists, it encourages the presentation of hidden or lesser-known talents, while among its recognised international artists, it seeks out and invites outstanding talents and high quality choreographers - performers to colour the palette of the Hungarian dance scene with personalities who are unattainable in Hungary. Its performances and programmes create impulsive events in traditional theatre settings as well as in space and site specific environments to offer audiences innovative and unique experiences.
It also aims to promote and spread knowledge of the art of dance, forming fusions where professionals, masters, young artists at the top or beginning of their careers, choreographers and dance artists can step into the spotlight and connect. Its dance theatre education and awareness programmes and workshops explore new ways to stimulate interest in the profession and the arts. The focus of its ever-evolving festivals, both more classical dance theatre and revisionist-progressive genres can be traced.
The KET, following in its tradition, carries out its research and workshop work as intended by its founders, while creating a future for today's performers.
The Central Europe Dance Theatre (KET) has a long history: the first dance theatre in Hungary, it is one of the best known independent contemporary dance companies.
The predecessor of the KET was founded in 1978 by the Ministry of Culture as a branch of the People's Theatre, merged from the 25th Theatre and the Déryné Theatre in the Castle Theatre. The Népszínház Táncegyüttes represented a particular colour in the Hungarian dance art: the company's artistic work was based on folklore, yet its aspirations were still close to modern theatrical trends. The face of the repertoire was defined by the creative work of artistic director Katalin Györgyfalvay. In 1988, István Énekes and Csaba Szögi took over the management of the Népszínház Dance Ensemble. In 1989, the Népszínház Dance Ensemble was renamed, and thus the Central European Dance Theatre was born, which operated as a branch of the Népszínház until 1991, and then as a branch of the Budapest Chamber Theatre until 1996, becoming an independent public association in 1997.
The company has performed in 44 cities in 22 countries, from the United States to Armenia, Finland and Egypt, and has given more than 120 premieres. KET is the first Hungarian company to perform on Broadway in New York.
In September 1996, the Ministry of Culture decided to move the company to the former Bethlen Cinema. In 1997, the former theatre at 3 Bethlen Square was reopened as a rehearsal space, and since then, many unforgettable theatre evenings and performances have proven that they made the right decision. The results of their theatre-rehabilitating, home-making work are now widely known, both at home and abroad. In January 2012, the venue was renamed Bethlen Square Theatre, in which the dance theatre has played a lion's share.
The ensemble is an open workshop led by the founder-director Csaba Szögi. During this time, more than 70 choreographers have worked with the constantly renewing company. Artists are invited who do not realise their artistic ideas in the clichés of safe and proven forms of movement language, but who take the risks of the uncharted path and create their performances with courageous, original means of expression. KET's workshop remains a space for experimentation, a place of new exploration for creators and dancers alike, as the founders intended.
They have created the first dance theatre performance for children (Prince Mesenincs) and the first educational dance theatre performance (Horda2), they are the creators and organisers of festivals (International Monodance Festival, Sissi Autumn Dance Week), they run their own talent search programme (Young Choreographers Forum), they hold workshops and are constantly expanding their contacts with Central European performing arts organisations.
Since 1988, five of the creators have been involved in the company's work as artistic directors: István Énekes (1988-1993), Csaba Szögi (1993-1994), Miklós Köllő (1994-1997), Csaba Szögi (1997-2000), Csaba Horváth (2000-2006), Csaba Szögi (2006-2013) and Attila Kun (2013-2018), each of whom marked an era in dance theatre.
For the 2018/19 season, János Feledi became Artistic Director of the company and, as part of his application, he developed the programme for the next three seasons.
From September 2019, Csaba Szögi artistic director, László Mádi artistic collaborator, Katalin Fodor dance director, from September 2020 Kristóf Farkas production manager and Virág Sóthy project manager organized the company's daily artistic work.
From the autumn of 2023, following the development of the organisation, Réka Gerlits, General Manager, joined the company and took over the supervision and coordination of the entire management environment, and together with Dr. László Váczi, Operations Manager, the development of the organisation and its operation were developed and the conditions for its development were created. Subsequently, the day-to-day artistic work of the company was taken over by Csaba Szögi, Director, László Mádi, Artistic Director, Katalin Fodor, Artistic Associate, Virág Sóthy, Artistic Manager, Adrienn Mádi-Horváth, Training Manager. The Presidium Csaba Szögi (President), Katalin Kovácsné Fodor (Vice President), Klára Éberhardt (Vice President).
In 1995, Dr. Imre Világos created the Foundation with the aim of helping young performers and creators in the field of movement culture, dance and non-verbal theatre: it continues its educational, training and further training activities for the continuous renewal, preservation of cultural heritage and cultural promotion. The Central European Dance Theatre Association was founded in 1997 on the initiative of Csaba Szögi, with the aim of providing a secure background for the Central European Dance Theatre, founded in 1988. Its tasks are to create and operate the operating conditions of the professional dance company, to build up internal and external relations, to organise cooperation and co-productions, to create and market new productions. The association has been classified as a public benefit organisation since 2002, and in 2016 it was awarded the status of "Outstanding Performing Arts Organisation". The founder is Virág Sóthy, the members of the Board of Trustees are Adrienn Horváth (chairman), Klára Éberhardt, Zoltán Széplaki.
