Szeged Contemporary Dance Company to premiere two new productions in 2025/26 season
The Szeged Contemporary Dance Company will premiere two new productions this season, Amadeus and The Divine Comedy, while continuing to perform ten returning works from previous years, artistic director Tamás Juronics announced at a press briefing on Tuesday in Szeged.
The season-opening event began with a short performance from Moderato Cantabile, choreographed by Enrico Morelli. Following the briefing, guests and company members were invited to coffee and refreshments offered by local sponsors – specialty café Hét Kávézó and the Palánta salad bar.
According to Juronics, the company gave 108 performances last season, reaching more than 57,000 audience members in Hungary and abroad. By December 31, 2025, the company is scheduled to give 51 additional performances.
Juronics said bold artistic choices and strong, engaging titles are key to sustaining audience interest. He emphasized the importance of presenting familiar stories with a unique, contemporary perspective and conveying personal messages through dance.
The company also places strong emphasis on developing future audiences. Family productions such as The Nutcracker and Cinderella remain part of the repertoire. “Many who came to our shows as children now return with their own,” Juronics noted.
He highlighted the central role of the dancers, who are encouraged to think independently and contribute creatively not only to choreography but also to character development.
Juronics also spoke about the importance of strong partnerships and wide-reaching venues, including collaborations with the Szeged National Theater, Müpa Budapest, and the National Dance Theater. He credited tour manager Didier Durieux with helping the company become the most-watched dance troupe in Belgium last year.
According to Juronics, the concept for Amadeus originated from Durieux. The production, which explores Mozart’s passions and his relationship with death, will premiere in October in Szeged and in November at Müpa Budapest. It will feature live music by the Szeged Symphony Orchestra and excerpts from Mozart’s Requiem performed by the Vaszy Choir.
The Divine Comedy, scheduled to premiere in spring 2026, will feature choreography by Gergely Czár, who has worked alongside Juronics in recent years, Italian choreographer Giovanni Napoli, and one additional guest artist. The concept to adapt Dante’s work first emerged 15 years ago in a planned collaboration between Hungary’s three major regional ballet companies, but was not realized at the time.
Managing director András Echéry-Pataki said the company’s first public performance of the season will take place on September 6 at the Pozsonyi Piknik in Budapest. They will also perform Moderato Cantabile at Müpa Budapest and appear at festivals in Keszthely and Eger.
The company’s touring schedule will expand this season. For the 2025/26 season, performances are scheduled in France, Corsica, Finland – including Turku, Szeged’s twin city – and Italy. Between November 23 and December 10, the company will perform in five Belgian cities before returning to Brussels with four productions: Amadeus, Lear, Carmina Burana, and The Nutcracker.
In spring 2026, the company will mark the 25th anniversary of Carmina Burana, first performed in April 2001. Choreographed by Juronics to music by Carl Orff, the piece has been staged 407 times in 21 countries. The anniversary performance will feature live musical accompaniment and a full choir.
Photos: Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
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