Hungarian ballet rehearses in car factory as energy prices soar

Reka Zalai had lunch on Thursday in the quality assurance department at the Audi car factory in Hungary.

But instead of going to their usual spot in the factory dining room, they walked into a conference hall near the production line to watch a performance by a professional contemporary ballet troupe.

The Ballet Company of Gyor, a city in northwestern Hungary that is home to a large car and motorcycle factory, began rehearsing at the plant in January after being forced to close its rehearsal rooms in response to rising energy prices.

With no place for rehearsals and scheduled performances approaching, the troupe approached the Audi factory, a long-time sponsor, who offered to host the dancers in the factory’s heated rooms for a few weeks during the coldest winter.

In Thursday’s converted conference room, dancers honed their pliés and pirouettes, while rows of new cars could be seen in the distance through the skylights, and workers passed outside in bright red.

Laszlo Velekei, director of the ballet company, said that being able to maintain the continuity of training after the dancers leave the theater is important to maintain their best performance.

“The most important thing in a dancer’s life is that they cannot stop,” Velekei said. “There is a saying that we often repeat to each other: if you miss one day (of practice), it doesn’t matter, if you miss two days, the dancers start to feel it. announce it too.”

Gyor Ballet’s rehearsal hall is one of dozens of Hungarian cultural institutions temporarily closed for the winter in response to rising energy prices. Hot bills for some have increased tenfold since last winter, when high inflation and a weakened currency have compounded the dire economic outlook.

The Hungarian government in July declared an “energy emergency” in response to rising prices and supply disruptions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. It also cuts a popular utility subsidy program that since 2014 has kept Hungary’s bills among the lowest in the 27 EU members.

If you miss a day (of practice), that’s fine. If you miss two days, then the dancer starts to feel it. If you miss three days, the audience notices too.– Laszlo Velekei

Reka Jakab, Audi’s press spokesman, said that the company wants to give money to 12,000 factory workers in exchange for a training place.

“They offer open shows for them every week, and they are also open to giving access to training when the workers have free time,” he said.

He said many of the workers had never seen a ballet before, but the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“Many people have said that they will definitely attend the next show at the theater.”

Zoltan Jekli, a dancer with the Gyor ballet, said that the troupe has overcome some of the limitations of the new space by outfitting the floor with a layer of soft PVC foam and bringing its own equipment to make it feel like home.

“Every time I come here, I’m filled with good feelings and memories and I think everyone (in the group) feels the same,” he said. “We had no idea we were coming to a car factory. We like it here.”

Zalai, 28, said she was “always fascinated by ballet,” but seeing it up close and getting the chance to take a break from her daily routine was a special experience.

“I was really recharged by this half hour. Time stopped for me,” she said.