The Showcase “Soft Rituals”

The “Soft Rituals”, Showcase of the Belgrade Dance Institute was opened last night in the Belgrade City Museum.

The numerous audience and performers were greeted by Jelena Medaković, Director of the Belgrade City Museum, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tomašević, Dean and Prof. Dr. Snežana Arnautović Stjepanović, Vice Dean of the Belgrade Dance Institute.

The works of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in the form of choreographies, multimedia installations, video works, performances and photographs, which were created under the mentorship of Prof. Dijana Milošević, Prof. Dr. Snežana Arnautović Stjepanović, Ognjen Vučinić and Assoc. Prof. Katarina Bućić, can be seen until March 8.

In the moment, where we are witnessing growing harshness, conflict and often violence, the need to explore the space of newly established tenderness speaks of the power of art to create a counterbalance, to illuminate those aspects of our lives that will help us transform the darkness into a new, driving energy. These works seem to have arisen from the reflection of the meanings created by the interweaving of light and shadow. In this case, we can say that the shadow produced the need for light, which is manifested in the exploration of softness and tenderness – bodies, thoughts, actions. The topics of the works range from the exploration of a personal safe space that produces inner peace, female inner strength and beauty of the body, enjoyment of the softness of the body’s shape, which is sometimes naked and sometimes covered with glittering powder, the softness of a baby’s skin accompanied by the rhythm of the heartbeat, the exploration of the emotions of security, happiness, joy, comfort, causing a calming, meditative effect.

You can view the works until March 8, when the Showcase will close with a performance by Marina Bukvički entitled “We Are People”.