Ballet Preparatory School

Dear Parents and Friends of the Czech National Ballet Preparatory School,

A new theatre season, 2025/2026, is opening before us. As every year, many exciting tasks lie ahead. We have once again welcomed our enthusiastic first-year students and, with great success, presented our annual performance in June — this time under the title Chronicles.

Our collaboration with the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK continues to flourish, particularly through morning concerts for children, where we use dance to help them understand and feel the meaning of music. We also had a beautiful performance on the New Stage to celebrate International Dance Day.

In addition to preparing our end-of-year performance, our Preparatory School continues, as has long been tradition, to take part in the Czech National Ballet’s repertoire productions. One of our constants is Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker – A Christmas Story, in which many of our students have already performed over the years.

A new feature of this season is that The Nutcracker will be performed on two stages — both in the historic building of the National Theatre and newly at the State Opera — with brand-new costumes and sets.

Currently, several of our selected boys are rehearsing with the Czech National Ballet company for the premiere of John Neumeier’s ballet Liliom. Our participation with the Czech National Ballet also continues in the productions of Coppélia, Manon, and Swan Lake.

For all those interested in learning more about our Preparatory School, we recommend the publication Ballet Preparatory School 1835–2019, which contains essential information about our school along with rich photographic documentation. The book also introduces the key figures who have led and taught at the school, as well as many ballet stars whose first, tentative dance steps began right here with us.

Jana Jodasová
Head of the Czech National Ballet Preparatory School