The proportion of international dancers in Czech ballet companies is constantly growing. Over the past five years, the number of foreign dancers has doubled in all regions and newly more dancers are coming from Western Europe Italy, France, Great Britain, Spain , Australia and the number of Asian aspirants has also grown significantly with Japan topping the list.
How come? I asked two artistic directors and two conservatory directors to share their opinions. Many graduates discover professional dance world just after a couple of unsuccessful auditions, and they soon give up. They are inexperienced and often useless as company members. I would like to hire more Czechs but with international dancers comes great competition. They have better technique, more confidence, experience, and they seem more mature.
What would help them? To be confronted with other schools on a regular basis but mainly to love what they do! The reality, sad to say, often proves it is! But practice and experience must be gained somewhere. These ensembles struggle to receive enough funds to cover their operation expenses.
The proposal of establishing and supporting such a company at a nation-wide level was submitted to the Board of the Dance Association of the Czech Republic. The theatre in Ostrava cannot afford this kind of company, so logically the centre could be based in Prague. The truth is that similar companies, fulfilling the same function, already exist in the capital — even two of them.
The students can dance in the company until they finish the school. Rarely they stay for one more year after graduation and they assume the functions of choreographer assistants or they help produce and promote performances in the International Dance Centre student agency. The working conditions correspond to external collaboration standards and they may differ, depending on the production of individual events.
