The Brno Open continues its cooperation with the Emil Foundation. Dance becomes a space for inclusion.
The Brno Open International Dance Festival is expanding its activities and entering a new phase. Starting this year, it is officially cooperating with the Emil Foundation, an organization that has been supporting children and young people with disabilities through sport for more than two decades.
The common goal is to create a space where dance connects, inspires, and breaks down barriers.
Combining professional sport and aid
The Brno Open, a prestigious competition in standard and Latin American dance, attracts hundreds of competing couples from all over the world every year.
This year, however, it brings a deeper dimension to the dance world – an expansion of the social overlap that connects professional performance with humanity.
„Dance has great power – it can unite people across ages, nationalities, and abilities.
Cooperation with the Emil Foundation is a natural step for us.
“We want to open up Brno Open to those who may have stood on the sidelines until now," says Jan Tománek, one of the festival’s organizers.
The Emil Foundation helps children and young people with disabilities play sports, compete, and dream.
His key project is the Emil Open – the European Games for Disabled Youth, hosted annually by Brno. The cooperation with the Brno Open thus connects two important Brno events and underlines that the city of Brno is an open and inclusive center of culture and sport.
What will the cooperation bring?
The joint activities will take several forms:
Dance performances by children and young people with disabilities as part of the Brno Open program – as guests or as part of ceremonies.
Educational workshops and discussions on inclusion, movement, and prejudice against people with disabilities.
Opportunity for Emil-supported athletes to participate in workshops and training sessions led by professional dancers.
A joint fundraiser with proceeds supporting young dancers with disabilities.
The first concrete performances are planned for this October, when Brno will host the WDSF World Latin Dance Championships as part of the Brno Open 2025.
Dance as a tool for change
„With this partnership, we want to show that dance is not just a competition for technique and medals. It is a language of the body, joy, and connection.
And this is regardless of our possibilities or limitations, adds Jan Tománek.
The beginning of a long-term cooperation
The organizers of both institutions believe that this is not a one-off project, but the beginning of a permanent connection between the dance and inclusive scene in the Czech Republic. In the future, they plan to be involved in other events, including school programs, inclusive festivals, and the joint project „Dancing with Emil.“.
The Brno Open 2025 will take place from October 17-19 at the Starez Arena on Vodova Street. For more information, please visit www.brnoopen.eu.
To learn more about the activities of the Emil Foundation, please visit www.emilnadace.cz
