Will Belgium lose Maurice Béjart a second time?

After Maurice Béjart's voluntary departure, whose presence in Belgium had shaped a true artistic ecosystem combining school, company, and choreographic avant-garde, dance lost much of its vibrancy. His absence left a void in the French-speaking community, particularly in the training of high-level classical and contemporary ballet for secondary school students, which was essential to the vitality and influence of the Belgian scene.

In September 2022, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative led to the creation of the Mosa Ballet School and the "Quand on Danse" program, with the aim of actively contributing to Belgium’s standing as an international crossroads for both classical and contemporary ballet.

In less than three years, the Mosa Ballet School has established itself as a reference, giving Belgium a center of excellence for the training of professional dancers, comparable to the world's greatest institutions. Far from being just a training center, Mosa is recreating an exceptional pool of talent and putting Belgium back on the global dance map. Through rigorous, high-level training, the school not only produces exceptional dancers and artists but also, potentially, future choreographers and creators who will mark the stages of tomorrow. An essential complement is the ambitious "Quand on Danse" social and therapeutic program, which we will discuss below.

Today, one of our key partners has decided to throw in the towel. And it’s not the private sector abandoning the project. It is our public authorities. Specifically, the Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles. They announced, without warning, the end of the agreement linking them to the Mosa Ballet School. This agreement provides for an annual grant of 1.2 million euros, a quarter of the school’s annual budget. This abrupt cut from 1.2 million to zero threatens the school’s viability in the very short term, and without a reversal, it could be forced to close its doors by next June.

Music and singing benefit from the support of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, so why should classical and contemporary ballet be excluded?

Yet, the Mosa Ballet School brings to life the spirit of Maurice Béjart, not by aiming to replicate it but by injecting new energy into Belgian dance, staying true to its ambition: an art that is total, demanding, vibrant, and open to the world. Located in Liège, our school is gradually becoming a global reference in the field of dance. With 104 young people between the ages of 9 and 20, our bold project, driven by an innovative vision of education and culture, advances daily toward our goal: to be counted among the best ballet schools in the world.

Our students also benefit from solid academic training, combining their dance education with the completion of their Secondary Higher Education Certificate, ensuring successful professional integration in the dance world or other sectors. Our results are more than promising: in just two years, 16 of our students have already joined international companies and represent Wallonia abroad.

But today, Mosa goes beyond its role as a training center. It has become a true economic player in Wallonia. With its 12,000 square meters of space in the heart of the Cité Ardente, entirely dedicated to culture (dance and its intersection with music, singing, and visual arts), it employs 72 people (including 20 volunteers): 17 dance teachers from around the world who have settled in Wallonia, all of whom are stars or soloists from major ballets, 6 pianists, our supervisory and administrative staff, plus 40 internationally invited professors in residence and about a dozen choreographers… In addition, there are the jobs created with the 28 subcontractors, bringing the total to 150 positions.

Through its mere existence, our institution generates annually around 12 million euros in returns for Wallonia through: employment (gross salaries, social security contributions), buildings (charges, maintenance), the frequent stays in Wallonia of the parents of foreign students, invited professors and choreographers, participants and speakers of 'Quand on Danse' (hotels, restaurants, tourism, cultural activities, shopping, etc.), the use of subcontractors (VAT), and local purchases (food, suppliers).

Mosa is also a social pillar through the "Quand on Danse" program. Through 47 partnerships with health associations in Belgium, France, and Germany (Cancer Foundation, Alzheimer League...), Mosa allows vulnerable populations to discover dance, involving more than 4,000 people. These weekly sessions directly contribute to the physical and mental well-being of the participants. Thanks to adapted workshops, this program promotes inclusion for vulnerable and/or marginalized audiences (seniors, people with neurodegenerative diseases, autism, Down syndrome, and cancer) by offering them an activity that enhances their quality of life. It is also a lever to reduce public health costs by encouraging a preventive and long-term beneficial approach. Since the program’s launch, it has saved 9.5 million euros in health care costs.

Will all of this be sacrificed for just 1.2 million euros of public money per year?

Don’t let them sacrifice Mosa! Together, let’s continue making dance a catalyst for transformation, sharing, and social inclusion, in the service of a more balanced and inspiring world.

It is imperative that our public authorities actively support our unique project by ensuring the resources necessary for its progression. Mosa is going from strength to stength, brings unprecedented cultural and economic wealth to our country, and our impact continues to grow. Let Belgium shine on the international stage! Don’t let Mosa fade away! 

#savemosa

Signatories :

• Fabienne Aucant, Director Charleroi danse

• Jason Beechey, Former Rector Palucca University for Dance Dresden Germany, Head of Dance The Zurich University of the Arts. 
• Dinna Björn, Former Artistic Director Finnish National Ballet & Norwegian National Ballet, Bournonville Expert.     
• Annie Brabants, Sister of Jeanne & Jos Brabants. Mother of Ben & Tom Vancauwenbergh. 
• Ted Brandsen, Director National Ballet Amsterdam
• Wim Broeckx , Former First Soloist Het Nationale Ballet Amsterdam, Former Assistant Director Het Nationale Ballet Amsterdam, Former Director Dansvakopleiding Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. Former Artistic Director Prix de Lausanne, International Ballet Competition. International Guest Teacher and Artistic Advisor
• Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Former Artistic Director Ballet Vlaanderen, Artistic Director Le Ballet Du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Founder and Artistic Director Eastman
• Laurent Choukroun, First pianist Paris Opera
• Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Artistic Director P.A.R.T.S.
• Léna De Meerleer, Former CEO of Opéra Ballet Vlaandereen
• Kevin Durwael, Artistic Director Koninklijke Balletschool Antwerpen             
• Julien Favreau, Artistic Director Béjart Ballet Lausanne
• Olivier Gourmet, Belgian actor
• Cynthia Harvey, Former Principal Dancer ABT, Former Artistic Director ABT JKO - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
• Anne Holm-Jensen Peyk, Artistic Director Royal Danish Ballet School Copenhagen. 
• Takayuki Kashino, Head of Japan Ballet Association, Kansai branch
• Bouli Lanners, Belgian actor
• Brigitte Lefèvre, Former Director of Dance Paris Opera
• David Leventhal, Former Mark Morris Dancer, Program Director & Founding Teacher Dance for PD
• Piotr Nardelli, International Guest Teacher & stager Maurice Béjart
• Elisabeth Platel, Etoile Ballet Opera Paris, Artistic Director Paris Opera Ballet School
• Benoît Poelvoorde, Belgian actor
• Serge Rangoni, Director Théâtre de Liège
• Antoine Vereecken, Principal Stager Wayne McGregor