R.U.D.A. at Staré Pecky in Mikulov: What Worked

Written by ROBOTio Team · · 6 min read

Article summary

The humanoid robot R.U.D.A. was the surprise of a birthday show in Mikulov: it danced during Helena Vondráčková's performance and sang with Leoš Mareš. What does it mean for your event?

The humanoid robot R.U.D.A. worked as the surprise of Leoš Mareš's birthday show "Staré Pecky" in Mikulov on 28 June 2026: it walked onto the stage unannounced, danced during Helena Vondráčková's performance, and danced and sang with Leoš Mareš. It worked because it was not decoration but part of a programme agreed in advance with the production team. Here is a look back at what happened on stage and what the organiser of a similar event can take from it. ## What Happened in Mikulov It was a birthday show in which the robot made its entrance in the middle of the programme. The guests had no advance knowledge of it, and the whole effect depended on that. The robot R.U.D.A. (a compact Unitree G1 humanoid, 135 cm tall) did three things: - **An entrance in the middle of the show.** It appeared on stage as an unexpected guest. The audience filmed the moment, and it was talked about long after the event. - **A dance during Helena Vondráčková's performance.** The robot danced in time to a song from her set. - **A shared moment with Leoš Mareš.** Leoš Mareš danced with the robot and also sang with it. After the performance, the robot also had its photo taken with guests and answered their questions. You can find the full account of the project in the [case study from Mikulov](https://robotio.eu/case-study/leos-mares-stare-pecky-mikulov-2026). ## What Specifically Worked ### A Surprise Instead of a Predictable Programme A robot that joins the programme has a different impact from one standing in the corner of the hall. At a birthday show this was a smart move: nobody expected a humanoid to appear between the musical numbers. The audience's reaction and the subsequent media coverage show that the timing of a surprise is decisive. ### Choreography Set to a Specific Song The dance sequence was created for a song from the performance and coordinated with the show's production. The robot therefore did not dance "generically", but to music that was actually playing on stage at that moment. Audiences notice this difference immediately. ### A Rehearsal and a Clear Entrance Route A rehearsal took place on the stage in Mikulov before the event. The entrance route and safe distances were fine-tuned. The robot maintains its own movement and balance, but the direction and gestures are controlled by an operator, so it is necessary to know in advance where the robot will walk, where it will turn and where people are standing. Each robot is accompanied by two operators throughout the event, who monitor both pace and safety. ### A Shared Moment with the Star of the Evening The strongest moment was not the dance itself, but the robot's interaction with Leoš Mareš. Dancing and singing as a duo gave the audience something to share: a short, easily understood and visual story. ### Reach Beyond the Venue eXtra.cz wrote about the performance, and photographs of the guests appeared on social media. Events where the robot creates a moment that can be photographed or filmed tend to achieve similar reach. The Stream.cz interview with R.U.D.A. was recorded at the film festival in Karlovy Vary, not in Mikulov; [you can find it here](https://robotio.eu/blog/robot-ruda-mff-karlovy-vary-rozhovor). ## What an Organiser Can Take Away 1. **Give the robot a role in the programme.** A surprise arrival, a dance with a star or the introduction of a guest work better than passive presence. In a similar way, we involved the robot in, for example, [the Kärcher corporate event, where it danced with people](https://robotio.eu/case-study/karcher-tanecni-vystoupeni-vnitroblok-praha). 2. **Choose a specific song.** The choreography can be prepared for a song from your programme. Agree it with the production team in good time. 3. **Plan for an on-site rehearsal.** An hour on stage before the event will spare you a great deal of stress: the route, distances, lighting and position relative to the performers. 4. **Plan for life after the performance.** Photos with guests and answers to their questions extend the effect by several dozen minutes and provide material for social media. 5. **Agree matters with the star in advance.** A shared moment with a performer or host is strongest when both people on stage know each other and know what is coming. ## How Much Space Does the Robot Need? For a dance number with a single robot, a flat area of approximately 3 × 3 metres is sufficient. If you want a larger show, there is [ROBOrevue](https://robotio.eu/case-study/roborevue-svetova-premiera-pariz-2026): a five-minute performance by three humanoid robots and three live dancers. It requires a stage or dedicated area of at least 12 × 6 m. The world premiere is on 1 September 2026 in Paris, and the Czech premiere on 3 September 2026 in Brno. ## Which Events Suit a Similar Format The Mikulov show belongs among [cultural events](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type), where the robot fits in alongside live performers. The same principle can be applied at [festivals](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type) and at [corporate events](https://robotio.eu/robot-hire-by-event-type), for example at a gala evening or an anniversary celebration. The compact [Unitree G1](https://robotio.eu/unitree-g1-basic) fits even on a smaller stage. If you need a taller robot that is visible from a distance, the Unitree H2 (180 cm) comes into consideration. All models come from the fleet of the [Unitree](https://robotio.eu/brands/unitree) brand and are always operated by our operator. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can a robot be taught to dance to a specific song? Yes. We prepare the choreography in advance for a specific song and the robot performs it on stage. The operator monitors the pace and safety throughout. ### Can the robot be involved in a programme with a host? Yes. A dialogue with the host, the introduction of a guest or the presentation of an award can be prepared according to the event's script. We approve the lines and the persona in advance. ### How much space does the robot need on stage? For a dance number with one robot, approximately 3 × 3 metres of flat area. For the ROBOrevue show, the minimum is 12 × 6 metres. ### Does an operator have to be present at the event? Yes, each robot has two operators with it throughout the event. The robot maintains its own movement and balance, while the direction and gestures are controlled by the operator. ## Would You Like a Similar Moment at Your Event? Send us the date, venue and your idea of the programme. We will propose a role for the robot and send you a quotation within 24 hours. [Request a non-binding robot rental quotation](https://robotio.eu/robot-rental).

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Category

case-study

Tags

  • R.U.D.A.
  • Staré Pecky
  • Leoš Mareš
  • Mikulov
  • humanoid robot
  • robot for cultural events
  • case study

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