Once again this year, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia is supporting Belgrade Dance Festival, a unique cultural manifestation in the country and region which offers domestic audiences the very best of the world dance scene for thirteenth consecutive year.
At the reception announcing the Festival, Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Michael Davenport said that for the EU Delegation, happiness is in the fact that we are once again honoured to support the Belgrade Dance Festival. Every Spring, this excellent manifestation brings us happiness through the universe of dance and unites Serbia and Europe in diversity. Happiness is also practised – this goes for ballet students! We are very happy to offer young dancers an opportunity to learn new skills from maestro Marco Ferrini.”
For the fourth year in a row, the EU Delegation provides support to the Belgrade Dance Festival. This year, through EU Delegation donation, Belgrade Dance Festival organises master course of classic ballet, in Belgrade 2-8 March, led by one of the leading European classic ballet pedagogues, Italian maestro Marco Ferrini. Master course is aimed at various age groups of students enrolled in professional ballet schools in Serbia, as well as young dancers and their pedagogues.
Under the slogan “Happiness Is Danced” Belgrade Dance Festival takes place from 19 March-10 April 2016. A total of 15 companies from 13 countries, with over 30 choreographic pieces, will perform in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Pancevo.
Thanks to this Festival, Belgrade has become an important place on the map of world dance festivals and biographies of artists taking part in the creation of contemporary dance. Discovering artistic dance through its supreme achievements, Belgrade Dance Festival has gained large audience over time. Since the establishment, the Festival has presented over 250 pieces of famous and popular choreographers of our time, whereas each of the editions of the Festival accounts for more than 20,000 visitors and more than 120 accredited journalists from the country and beyond.
The Festival is also supported by embassies and cultural centres of the countries taking part in it, as well as the City of Belgrade and Provincial Secretariat of Culture of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The Festival once again takes place under the auspices of Serbian Ministry of Culture.
Belgrade Dance Festival is a global brand, promoting at the same time the exchange of artists between Serbia and the EU, and EU’s founding values: multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance and exchange of ideas among different cultures and generation.
About 13th Belgrade Dance Festival
Thirteenth edition of Belgrade Dance Festival will be officially opened on 19 March by iconic Nederlands Dance Theater, performing two pieces choreographed by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot. Performance “Shoot the Moon” lets you take a glimpse into the shiny love life of three different couples, whereas “Stop-Motion” represents technological innovation, combined with melancholic music of Max Richter. The biggest surprise of the evening is the work by Belgian company Peeping Tom, done for Nederlands Dance Theater: “The Missing Door”, inspired by the crossroads of dance, theatre, art and life. French “Le Figaro” says that “all it takes is five minutes of this performance to make sure this company is the one of the seven wonders of the dance world!”
Until 10 April, Belgrade Dance Festival will be a moving festival, bringing together artists from around the world: La Veronal company, famous Israeli choreographer Yuval Pick, Prague artist Václav Kuneš, New York company Complexions, choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou, Montreal RUBBERBANDance and choreographer Victor Quijada, Rome Ballet company and many more…
Festival will be closed by Swiss company Tanz Luzerner Theater with a performance in Belgrade Centar Sava.
Apart from Belgrade, the Festival will also visit Novi Sad and Pancevo.
Detailed programme is available at the BDF web-page: http://www.belgradedancefestival.com/
More about master class for young dancers
Ahead of the 13th edition of Belgrade Dance Festival, one of the leading European classic ballet pedagogues, maestro Marco Ferrini from Italy, will hold a master class in Belgrade, 2-8 March, organised in cooperation with the EU Delegation to Serbia and thanks to their donation. Master class is aimed at various age groups of students of professional ballet schools in Serbia, as well as younger dancers.
Marco Ferrini is a former student of the famous prima ballerina of La Scala, Liliana Cosi, and a pedagogue at many respectable Italian schools, including La Scala Theatre Ballet School in Milan and National Dance Academy in Rome, as well as dance company Aterballeto from Reggio Emilia. He is frequent guest of various European companies and ballet schools and a member of jury at various ballet contests.
Each day, maestro Ferrini will hold three classes of classic ballet at the premises of the Ballet School of the National Dance Foundation in Belgrade, 3 Kolarceva St., 1st and 2nd floor. Master class will be divided into three age groups: beginners (9-12 years), intermediates (13-15 years) and advanced-professional level (16-25 years). Some 60 attendants are expected to sign up, whereas the course is open to all classic ballet pedagogues in the country.
The EU Delegation supports Belgrade Dance Festival for the fourth time in a row, the Festival which promotes both artist exchange between Serbia and the EU and European Union underlying values: multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance and idea exchange among various cultures and generations. This year, the EU Delegation encourages young dancers in Serbia by supporting the organisation of Marco Ferrini’s master class.
The aim of this course is to bring new methods and information in the area of classic ballet closer to domestic professionals and young dancers and provide valuable experience of cooperation and contact making between youngest dancers and European ballet school and dance scene. Professional ballet school students, young dancers and their pedagogues can sign up for the master class via telephone: 060 35 00 505.
