A Dance Class with Smetana

The programme is based on a musical part but also on a spoken word that will be given in Czech language only. The programme will not be supplied with English subtitles.

Dance lessons from 18.00 are intended for beginners, for advanced dancers (experience with 19th century, ballroom or folk dance) there is a course from 20.00.

The course consists of a total of 12 lessons on 27 November 2023, 11 December 2023, 18 December 2023, 8 January 2024, 15 January 2024, 22 January 2024, 29 January 2024, 19 February 2024, 4 March 2024, 18 March 2024, 25 March 2024, 8 April 2024.

The dance lessons are open to the general public (regardless of age, gender, experience…). Couples are welcome but not required.

A ticket to the dance class includes admission to:
- Sunday Ball on 14 April 2024 from 6 to 9 pm in the Rudolfinum Hall.
- A meeting with a talk about the customs and traditions of the dance parties of the time (Where shall we go tomorrow? 13 April 2024 at 4 pm in the Suk Hall of the Rudolfinum) and a dance preparation for the ball (What shall we dance? 13 April 2024 at 6 pm in the Rudolfinum Hall).

An evening at the Rudolfinum with the swishing of skirts, the whirling of fans, and varied folk costumes from every corner of our country. That is what it looked like when patriots who loved Czech music and dancing filled this majestic building over 100 years ago. Accept our invitation to small dance classes from the period of Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, and other composers. Learn the polka, waltz, sousedka, quadrille, mazurka, gallop, and the Czech Beseda, an original Czech quadrille that conquered the world.

Regular dance lessons at the Rudolfinum with music by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, and other Czech composers will end with a big ball. At the same time, try out the real pastimes of patriots: creating tableaux vivantes that stood out at amateur performances held for the benefit of completing the construction of St Vitus's Cathedral.

The highpoint of the dance classes will be the Czech Ball (not only) with Bedřich Smetana (link to the Ball). The Sunday Czech Ball will be open to the public and will be preceded by Saturday preparations with instruction in the basic dances and discussion of the customs and traditions at balls of that period.
Come experience a different era and a different kind of ball.
And so… May I have this dance?