The ballet school is not a priority for the National Theatre in Brno, said Deputy Kerndl

Brno - The ballet school is not a priority for the National Theatre Brno (NdB), and educational activities will continue even without the establishment of an educational center, said Deputy Mayor Robert Kerndl (ODS) today at a meeting of the councilors. He commented on Monday's meeting of Brno's leadership with the theatre's management and responded to criticism from Veronika Bromová of the Friends of NdB Association and councilor Matěj Hollan (Greens and Live Brno). Bromová and Hollan disagree with the coalition's decision that the Educational Center will not be established.

The National Theatre had been preparing a project for an educational center for up to 200 people based on an action plan discussed by the councilors in 2020. In addition to education, it would also serve the I. V. Psota Ballet School. However, in May of this year, the city council decided to re-let the space of the former Bohéma restaurant for gastro operations. The theatre had already spent hundreds of thousands of crowns on the preparations.

Bromová is concerned that this would not only cause damage to the theatre but to the entire cultural community. According to Hollan, educational centers and audience engagement are common components of theatres across Europe, securing future audiences in this way. "Thus, economic functioning in the future," noted Hollan.

Kerndl stated that he and the theatre's management emphasized their priorities, and education is not among them. "But it will continue regardless of what happens in Bohéma," said Kerndl. Hollan countered that the educational center was meant for development and not just maintaining activities. This was also confirmed in an interview with ČTK by the theatre's director Martin Glaser. "Unfortunately, we do not have suitable spaces for many activities intended for the educational center. Educational activities will continue in the current mode, which, however, does not allow for their further development," said Glaser.

The ballet school has nearly a century-long tradition. Although it is not directly related to the establishment of an educational center, it will have to limit its operation if the center is not created. "We agreed with the management that there are more important tasks for the National Theatre Brno than the ballet school," stated Kerndl. Glaser said that the interests of the professional ballet ensemble must take precedence over the ballet school since both cannot fit into the current spaces, and the professional ensemble will be expanding.

About 200 people, both children and adults, attend the ballet school. From September, courses are planned to be limited not only due to insufficient space but also because of changes in the remuneration of instructors. "Ballet lessons for children will take place in a reduced number solely at the Janáček Theatre. The popular lessons for adults, which were primarily held at the administration building, will be completely canceled. Talent tests, which are a prerequisite for admission to the I. V. Psota Ballet School, will take place in September 2024. Due to the restrictions, significantly fewer children will be accepted than last year," stated Mário Radačovský, the artistic director of the ballet ensemble, earlier.