SLOVENIAN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY 2026
The Slovenian ITI Centre, the Contemporary Dance Association of Slovenia, the Slovenian Ballet Artists Association, and the Public Fund for Cultural Activities Republic of Slovenia have this year invited choreographer Mateja Bučar, recipient of the Prešeren Award for Life Achievements, to write the message for International Dance Day 2026.
Dance–Governance–Grace
Dance is not a mere abstraction of life; it is life itself. It is the sophisticated mechanism of nature and civilization combined—a treasure chest of tools to enable, heal, and invent. On this World Dance Day, we recognize dance not just as a form of art and culture, but as a profound philosophy of the body and a vital strategy for survival.
At its core, dance is a fundamental inquiry into balance. It asks how two bodies, two states of being, or a multiplicity of cultures—perhaps all nations and even religions—can move together without colliding or destroying one another. It lingers in the fragile space between stability and fall, between the extremes of weight and articulation, in the unpredictability of turns.
To dance, namely, is to master the capacity to be oneself and “the other” simultaneously.
We recall the wit of Molière, who suggested that the tragic blunders of history arise merely from a lack of skill in dancing. If our leaders were obliged to study the discipline of the waltz, the tango, or any other culture-preserving dance, perhaps they would learn to lead with grace and dignity rather than pure force. And, as Confucius implied, the sword should not be granted to those who do not know how to dance.
Today, on World Dance Day, we make a bold demand: let leaders, strategists, economists, bankers, scientists, technologists, and many others study the knowledge of dance in all its forms and manifestations, and thus equipped, steer the world. We must once again learn the skills of “waltzes, tangos, or kolo”—their grace, dignity, attentiveness, and meaning—to restore the frayed bonds of humanity.
Every culture, state, or community in the world carries its own rhythms, songs, and dances of survival: the elegance of tango; the spiritual depth of Saman, Kathak, or Zikr; the precision of the pas de deux; the freedom of contemporary dance; the ecstatic force of shamanic dance; the pulse of breakdance—and much more. The challenge of our time is not just how one culture moves, but how to continually “waltz” with many cultures, states, and religions—and find rhythms and steps that respect the particular while harmonizing the whole. The answer—still largely unnoticed—resides within dancing bodies and minds across the world.
On World Dance Day, and beyond, we are called to reflect on the possibilities dance offers us—as art, as culture, and as a way of thinking and moving. Let us therefore treat every movement, direction, and decision in life as if it were on the verge of becoming a dance.
– Mateja Bučar
Dr. Mateja Bučar completed her studies in classical and contemporary ballet technique in 1979 at the Pôle National Supérieur de Danse Rosella Hightower in Cannes (France). In 1980, she joined the Slovenian National Theatre Opera and Ballet Ljubljana. In 1986, she also became a member of the Ljubljana Dance Theatre, founded two years earlier by Ksenija Hribar. In 1999, she founded DUM – Association of Artists, where she continues to collaborate artistically with Vadim Fiškin. Since 1992, her works have been presented both in Ljubljana and across Slovenia, as well as internationally, including in Vienna, Salzburg, Berlin, Moscow, Milan, Florence, Warsaw, Budapest, Zagreb, Rijeka, Stockholm, and Rotterdam. Her projects are conceived for diverse spatial contexts, ranging from theatre stages and gallery spaces to outdoor urban environments. In 2005, she received the Župančič Award of the City of Ljubljana. In 2014, she obtained the Ann Sayers Fund Award at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in collaboration with City University of London, where she completed her PhD in 2015 with the dissertation Aesthetic Negativity and Choreographic Practice. In the same year, she received the Ksenija Hribar Lifetime Achievement Award from the Slovenian Contemporary Dance Association. In 2026, she was awarded the Prešeren Prize, Slovenia’s highest national award for the arts.
The Slovenian Centre ITI is part of an international network in the field of performing arts, the International Theatre Institute ITI, World Organization for Performing Arts, founded in Prague in 1948 by UNESCO. In Slovenia, it operates under the auspices of the ODER Cultural Institute in Ljubljana and connects Slovenian artists with the global theatre and dance landscape. The Slovenian ITI Centre develops and supports artistic, educational, and research projects, promotes the mobility of artists, and enables international exchange of knowledge and practices in a contemporary context. Through its activities, it contributes to the visibility of Slovenian performing arts internationally and strengthens dialogue between different cultures and artistic approaches.
The Contemporary Dance Association of Slovenia is the central professional association connecting creators, performers, and other professionals in the field of contemporary dance in Slovenia. It operates as a platform for advocacy, development, and promotion of dance, striving to improve working conditions, increase visibility, and strengthen systemic support for this artistic field. Through its programmes, awards, international collaborations, and networking activities, it reinforces the professional community and contributes to the development of a vital and socially relevant artistic expression.
The Association of Ballet Artists of Slovenia promotes Slovenian ballet art both nationally and internationally, ensures its preservation and further development, and works towards improving its status as well as the status of ballet artists. It brings together ballet institutions, supports, includes, and advocates for ballet artists, and provides support to ballet organizations and individuals working in the fields of ballet and dance. Its core programmes focus on presentation, promotion, advancement, advocacy, research, and the preservation of Slovenian ballet art.
The Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities – Dance Department operates as a key national platform for the development, support, and promotion of dance creativity within the field of amateur culture. Through systematic education, the organisation of showcase events and competitions, and professional support for mentors and creators across Slovenia, it ensures accessibility of dance art in diverse environments. The Dance Department fosters the qualitative growth of dance practices, from initial steps to advanced forms of creation, and significantly contributes to the recognition and development of dance culture in Slovenia.
About the International Dance Day
In 1982, at the initiative of Slovenian dancer, choreographer, opera and ballet historian, professor at the Academy of Music, medical doctor, and writer Dr Henrik Neubauer (1929–2024), the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) proclaimed International Dance Day. It is celebrated annually on 29 April, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the founder of modern ballet. Dr Henrik Neubauer, also the author of the first international dance message, was an active member of ITI Worldwide for several decades—initially as President of the Slovenian Centre after Slovenia’s independence, and later as its long-standing collaborator. In 2017, the organization named him an honorary member. International Dance Day was conceived in the spirit of celebrating dance, emphasizing the universality of this art form, transcending political, cultural, and ethnic boundaries, and connecting people through a shared language—dance. Since then, in addition to international and national messages, a wide range of activities, parades, festivals, and public-space events have taken place worldwide each year on this day.
The initiative to publicly mark International Dance Day in Slovenia has a history of more than fifteen years. In 2009, the Slovenian Ballet Artists Association, in collaboration with the newly established Slovenian ITI Centre, began publishing dance messages. In the same year, the initiative Go Out & Dance was launched by Goran Bogdanovski and Fičo Balet in collaboration with the regional network Nomad Dance Academy, taking place simultaneously in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade, Skopje, Sarajevo, and Sofia. In 2010, Fičo Balet continued the initiative in collaboration with Gledališče Ana Monro within the programme Prešerna Ana: Go Out and Dance in Ljubljana. The following year, the one-day festival expanded from Ljubljana to Maribor and Nova Gorica, with the newly established Nomad Dance Academy Slovenia as co-producer, alongside partners MN Dance Company and Živa dvorišča. In 2012, International Dance Day was marked in Ljubljana, Maribor, Nova Gorica, and Šempeter pri Gorici under the title Prešerna Ana, produced by Gledališče Ana Monro, joined by partner Terpsihora – Dance Centre Šempeter–Vrtojba. Following several years of interruption, in 2019 the Public Fund for Cultural Activities of the Republic of Slovenia reinstated the initiative to prepare the message for International Dance Day in the field of contemporary dance. Since 2020, the public marking of International Dance Day has been carried out in collaboration between the Slovenian Contemporary Dance Association and JSKD. In 2026, at the invitation of the Slovenian ITI Centre—which represents the core idea of International Dance Day at the global level—the Slovenian Contemporary Dance Association, JSKD, and the Slovenian Ballet Artists Association jointly contributed to the national dance message.
Twinning program
March 11th 2025
We are happy to announce a cooperation between Prostor Plus Association (Rijeka, Croatia) and the Contemporary Dance Association Slovenia (Ljubljana, Slovenia), aiming to enhance capacities of both organizations in running contemporary dance festivals.
The twinning program includes a study visit to the Biennial of Contemporary Dance Art Slovenia – Gibanica, where Prostor Plus will meet with the CDAS team, engage in job-shadowing, and attend performances and networking events to enrich their knowledge and skills. The cooperation will strengthen the capacities of Prostor Plus in managing and sustaining its festival Periskop, while CDAS will gain valuable insights into the Croatian cultural scene, with potential for future collaborations between the two organizations.
The Twinning program is an initiative of Kooperativa – Regional Platform for Culture, supported by Erste Foundation.
Monday, November 18, 2024
Invitation: December 5, 6:30 PM, +MSUM
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Contemporary Dance Association of Slovenia, you are invited to the opening of the exhibition 30 Years of Beauty, Sweat, and Blisters. The evening includes the premiere of Constellations of Efforts followed by a celebratory gathering.
Program:
- 6:30 PM, 1st floor, +MSUM:
30 Years of Beauty, Sweat, and Blisters
This exhibition, featuring video interviews, archival materials, research, and publications preserved by the Temporary Slovenian Dance Archive, celebrates three decades of the association’s work, exploring the development, collective efforts, and achievements in contemporary dance. Open until May 2025. - 7:00 PM, Ground floor, +MSUM:
Constellations of Efforts
A tribute to artistic perseverance and resilience, blending generations of dancers and musicians into a rich, collective expression of shared effort and artistry. Improvisation creates connections beyond time and space, inviting reflection on responsibilities to art, heritage, and the future.
Artistic Team:
Directed by Sara Janašković, with performances by a collective of distinguished dancers and musicians.
Exhibition Context:
The Contemporary Dance Association of Slovenia was founded in 1994 by a group of artists and cultural workers to secure visibility and systemic support for contemporary dance. The exhibition reflects on challenges such as the lack of representation, training, and performance spaces while celebrating milestones achieved over three decades.
Production Details:
Organized by the Contemporary Dance Association of Slovenia in partnership with MG+MSUM, NDA, and NEST, with support from the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Ljubljana.
Sponsorship by Domača Peka and Radgonske Gorice.
29. 3. 2024
MOVING BALKANS: OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPATION IN DANCE WORKSHOP IN SKOPJE
May 13–17, 2024, Skopje
Do you have at least one year of professional experience in contemporary dance and are interested in improvement and meeting colleagues from abroad? We invite you to apply for a five-day dance workshop in Skopje, organized as part of the European project Moving Balkans.
Application deadline: April 8, 2024
The workshop will host 25 young dancers from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo*, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
Interart Culture Center Skopje (the host organization) will financially cover the workshop, travel expenses and accommodation and will also offer a free admission to performances at the international festival Dance Fest Skopje.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
The program is designed as a laboratory, running each day from May 13 to 15, from 10 am to 3 pm. It will include classes of contemporary dance technique, Laban Movement Analysis, and artistic-research process. You will me mentored by Joan van der Mast (Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Netherlands), Risima Risimkin (Goce Delcev University and Dance Theatre Skopje, North Macedonia), and Giorgia D’Amico (choreographer and educator, Sicily/Switzerland).
The laboratory will take place during the international festival Dance Fest Skopje, providing selected participants with the opportunity to attend evening performances and engage in professional networking.
Prior to the workshop, you will be invited to participate in two introductory Zoom meetings.
ABOUT THE APPLICATION:
Applicants must have at least one year of prior professional experience in contemporary dance and have permanent residence in Slovenia. Send your CV and a motivational letter to dspsproduction@gmail.com. Please specify “Application for workshop in Skopje” in the subject line of the email.
Application deadline: April 8, 2024
The Association for Contemporary Dance Slovenia, En-Knap, and Kino Šiška will select two participants. Notification about the selection will be sent by April 12, 2024.
Moving Balkans is a new European project that brings together dance organizations from the Balkans. The mission of the platform is to elevate contemporary dance in the region and position it competitively within Europe. Through a regional partnership network, showcases, artist mobility initiatives, workshops, co-creations, and capacity-building activities, we strive to empower dance professionals and raise awareness of the vibrant dance scene in the Balkans.
The project is supported by the European Union.
Gibanica, biennial of Slovenian contemporary dance art, has since 2003 presented contemporary dance productions by local artists selected by a three-member international committee. Providing a selection of the best contemporary dance performances, Gibanica is considered the most relevant contemporary dance platform in Slovenia. This year 10th edition will take place in Ljubljana between September 15th and 18th.