From the Backstage – Participants Section

Under normal circumstances, this week we would welcome ensembles, jurors and guests who come to us from all around the world. Helping them with hotel accommodation, guide them to theatres, and showed them what all they can experience in Brno. Unfortunately, we will not do that this year. We can only wave via email to performers, send a virtual hug to the jurors and smile at the guests with emoticons.

This year edition is simply different. Like many other things at these strange, strange times. We noticed it already in the numbers of the applications. Compared to last years, only about half came. Schools have written to us that they would like to be a part, but due to the situation that made it impossible for them to rehearse, they have nothing to perform. Also, communication with accepted ones was different. While in the past we would deal with the requirements, times of arrival, accommodation or technical rider, this year it was more about the quality of the recording or the copyright of broadcast.

However, the worst part is definitely a lack of contact with other people. Not only during the festival week but mainly during the months of the preparations. As our coordinator stated, “It is one thing to organize an online festival, but another thing is to organize a festival online.” The impossibility of daily contact marked the work considerably. Of course, things were suddenly complicated, and we weren’t used to them.

Now the festival begins. The stress level is the same as in previous years, but the pleasure seems much less.

Normally, we can grab a beer, meet and discuss performances with foreign students at the party. But not this year. We can have toast only through a monitor and dance alone in the living room.

Helena Gricová

Head of the Participants Section