Panel discussions
Each year, various symposia provide opportunities to exchange ideas and discuss theoretical and practical approaches to issues related to dance, art and culture in general.
Following our mission to support the development of a creative community whose members seek, see, hear, and speak truths of all kinds, with an ever-empathetic heart, an open mind, and the readiness to listen and grow, we enable and encourage our community to participate in art that strengthens and unites, while stimulating reflection and growth.
Šibenik dance festival 2024
The title: The Encounters of Peace
Panel discussion, scheduled for July 25 , House of Art Arsen
Selected and confirmed participants of the round table are:
Vladyslav Detiuchenko (Ukraine)
Dancer and choreographer from Ukraine, will present his short art film Rhythms of Resilience about the life of dancers caught in the war turmoil and talk about his personal experiences, from the perspective of a young emerging artist. The film was created amidst the sounds of sirens and missiles overhead. The outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, profoundly impacted Vladyslav and his views on the significance and role of art in the world. He believes that art is a powerful force that can alter people’s opinions and emotions and make the world a better place.
Ofra Idel (Israel)
Artistic director of Machol Shalem Dance House, Dance creator & teacher, a distinguished cultural worker and artist from Israel, one of the founders and directors of the Israeli contemporary dance festival Jerusalem International Dance Week. Ofra will introduce us to the situation following the war turmoil in her environment that resulted in cancelling of the long waited JIDW festival in December 2023.
Aldina Topčagić (Bosnia and Herzegovina / Austria)
Performance artist, choreographer, producer, and director of the Art Alive Cultural Association. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and now based in Austria, Aldina received honorary citizenship in Austria for her Outstanding Achievements in Art and Culture. Her creations are primarily showcased in museums and galleries. She has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, BOZAR Brussels, Fabrica de Arte Cubano in Havana, Cuba, and others. Aldina’s work explores themes of self-reflection, awareness, identity, and the individual’s place in society. Coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country that recently experienced genocide, Aldina believes that as an artist and war survivor, she has a responsibility to raise awareness about global issues and our shared history.
Belma Čečo Bakrač (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
As a choreographer and ex principal dancer of National Theatre Ballet Sarajevo, Čečo Bakrač believes that, with all the evil and misfortune that war had caused, there were a lot of things that have inspired artists during the war. Dance and education during war are intertwined with dilemmas and they unquestionably bring unrest and continuous questioning of what is the point of doing art. Having experienced the siege of the city as a teenager, she is convinced that those years left a significant mark on the formation of her professional pursuits, and her theatre aesthetics in general.