“Instead of knowing” offers a doorway into the creative process of Asia Dębska and Aniela Turkot. We invite you to have a look into a two-headed dragon’s maws. You don’t know what that means? Don’t worry. Knowing anything is not required this evening. We appreciate not knowing. We see the state of uncertainty not as something shameful but as a starting point to expand our understanding of the world. Where there are no answers, we look for symbols. We will show you how we deal with reality using, what we call, somatic superstitions. You will have a chance to see what this means, talk with the artists, and explore the inspirations behind this research.

Asia Dębska and Aniela Turkot are polish performance artists who graduated this year from the National Academy of Theatre Arts in Bytom. They work independently as actresses, dancers, performers and creators. For this research they are joining forces to explore latest interests in their practices. They are at the beginning of their careers engaging with different aspects of performing arts, currently staying in Bucharest for an ERASMUS internship with AREAL collective. 

The event is free of charge, interested person can register at email areal@arealcolectiv.ro or directly to the registration link

The event 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 is organised with the support of the 𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 through 𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗨𝗕 – 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐊𝐫𝐚́𝐥𝐢́𝐤 & 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐊𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚, two members of the SPOLK Collective based in Prague, are working these days in Bucharest in the frame of the AREAL.Exchange residency in a new artistic project called 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵. The two performers are exploring different strategies of dealing with mistakes together which is forcing them to cooperate with each other and look for limits in their relationship.  SPOLK collective is a collective of five dancers and choreographers. As graduates and students of Duncan Centre Conservatory and Academy of Performing Arts in Prague the members founded SPOLK in 2020. The main interest of the collective is a collaborative approach to creation of dance theatre projects.

In the end of the residency in Bucharest, David and Adam are inviting interested people and artists to an open discussion about the artistic process and topics they are exploring – mistakes, being in control and the role of unexpected things shaping the future of their dance. 

𝐷𝑜 𝑤𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘? 
𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑑𝑜 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑜? 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡?
𝐻𝑜𝑤 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑤𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠?

The Artist Talk, which will also include a short presentation of the SPOLK Colective, will finish with a glass of wine. The participation is free of charge and all interested people are welcomed to join us and try to participate in the discussions.

AREAL.Exchange residency in Bucharest is jointly co-organised with Studio ALTA (CZ), Czech Center in Bucharest and AREAL space for choreographic development in the frame of the AREAL Residencies 2024, a cultural project co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the programme or the way the results of the programme will be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.

Ema Alexandrescu, founder of Lumenesc, psychologist and performer, combines the creative sublime with the wild wisdom of nature, thus creating therapeutic experiences that deepen the being. Through her innovative approach, she links eco-psychology, photographic art, conscious dance and the mystery of spirituality, guiding those who wish to explore their multidimensional essence of self, opening the way to their own inner resources to build a life in harmony with oneself, others and nature.

The artistic dimension took on a clearer shape starting from 2023, through participation in multidisciplinary residencies and artistic researches (“ROOTS”, “Archives of the Soul”, “About rains, rivers, streams…”). As a performer in 2024 she performed in B.O.W. (Bodies Of Water), created by choreographer Cristina Lilienfeld as part of the “About rains, rivers, streams” residency, and in 2023 and 2022 it was part of the performative installations of the NOVA festival (All in One, Walk a Rhythm and Have You Seen My Body). She is currently working in a new dance production in collaboration with choreographers Alexandra Bălășoiu & Cosmin Manolescu, to be premiered in June 2025.

Contact: ema.alexandrescu@gmail.com

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/lumenesc_/


credit photo: Florin Constantin

Mădălina Dan is a choreographer and performer, one of the established creators of contemporary dance in Romania, active on international stages, but also very present and involved in the local choreographic context, in which she generously invests time, energy and knowledge. The artist creates complex contents and sophisticated working methodologies that she shares in contexts that become spaces of communication, being a true explorer and connector between people, collectives and ideas.
She is a graduate of the “Floria Capsali” Choreography High School in Bucharest and of the National University of Theatrical and Cinematographic Arts in Bucharest – Choreography section; she also graduated from UNATC with a Master in dramatic writing. Between 1998 and 2003 she was a member of the dance company “Oleg Danovski” in Constanta. Between 2014-2016 she studied in Berlin at HZT (Hochschulübergreifende Zentrum Tanz Berlin) in the SoDA (Solo/Dance/Authorship) master program. In 2015 she received the CNDB Award, and in 2016 she is Associate Artist of the National Center for Dance Bucharest. She is involved in mentoring program within the Dance and Performance Academy, an intensive education and training program in contemporary dance, run at the National Dance Center. Since January 2024 is an AREAL associated artists.

Her work has been presented at Springdance Festival Utrecht, Balkan Dance Platform – Novi Sad, eXplore Dance Festival – Bucharest, Temps d’Images – Cluj, SouthBank Center & Chisenhale Dance Space – London, Fabrik Potsdam, Hebbel am Uffer – Berlin, TanzFabrik-Berlin, Tanzquartier Wien, Dance Theater Workshop – New York, Firkin Crane-Cork, Alta Theater – Prague, Art Stations Foundation – Poznan, Sophien Saale – Berlin, FFT Düsseldorf, Impulse Festival- Mulheim, Lyon Dance Biennale, Schauschpiel Leipzig, Hellerau – Dresden, Bozar- Brussels, Sarralves Museum of Contemporary Art- Porto etc.

Photos: Alina Ușurelu

Alina Ușurelu is a curator, performer and multidisciplinary Bucharest based artist. She uses image, body and words to open the audience to unknown worlds. In 2014 she started dance photography and joined the contemporary dance community. In 2016 she made the short film “Up Stairs”, continued with the “Exposing Movement”, “Don’t take it personally”, “See You Soon”, “Don’t Bite Your Tongue” and “maGma”. In 2019 she participated in an intensive training program in performing arts in Lisbon and started working on international projects as a performer, as a visual artist or as an artistic director.

Since 2017 she is currently developing several interdisciplinary projects with Developing Art Association. In 2024 will participate in the research project ROOTS developed by AREAL and will colaborate cu Cristina Lilienfeld in the project “About rains, rivers, streems…”.

www.alinausurelu.com

Andreea Novac is a choreographer and performer based in Bucharest, Romania. Born in 1981, she
graduated Psychology (BA) and Choreography (BA, MA, PhD) at National University of Theatre and Film,
Bucharest. She started making her own work in 2008 and some of her performances were presented in
various national and international contexts. She participates regularly in dance, research, composition,
and improvisation workshops in Europe. Artistic residencies in Great Britain, Estonia, Netherlands, Italy,
Hungary, Luxembourg, France, Ireland, and Romania. She received a series of scholarships to participate
in the movement research workshops in Italy and Germany. She regularly teaches classes for
professional and amateur dancers, actors and works in theatre and film.

She is the co – founder of Developing Art Association and worked as an artistic consultant within National Dance Centre
Bucharest, co-curated Bucharest International Dance Film Festival in 2020 and was the artistic director of Caleido Festival in 2020, 2021, 2023. Since 2022 she is an associated artist at Areal.

She received the best choreography award for her MA graduation work offered by the National University of Theatre and
Film Bucharest and The Excellence Award offered by National Dance Centre Bucharest fort her
contribution to the development of contemporary dance in Romania.

portrait photo: Alberto Groșescu (portrait) | A truth and lie – photo Alina Ușurelu

Photo

AREAL Associated Artist

Alexandra Mihaela Dancs, freelance dancer and choreographer, collaborates among others with Vava Stefanescu, Cosmin Manolescu, Florin Flueraș, Cătălina Gubandru, Doris Uhlich, Mădălina Dan, Andreea David, Zan Yamashita, Rui Catalao, Carmen Coțofană, Robert Bălan, Jean Lorin Sterian, Florin Fieroiu, Urvi Vora. In 2010 and 2012 she is a DanceWeb scholarship holder at Impulstanz Vienna. In 2014 she receives the Excellency Prize for her contribution to the construction of Romanian contemporary dance from the National Dance Centre Bucharest. In 2016 she conceives “Everything for Endorphins”, a program produced by CNDB, addressed to all the dance enthusiasts.

Since 2019 she is part of “pj.lo & the accidentals”. The solo “In search of dance” and the duets “Luați de VAL…s” and “SomaUc Freaks 1.0 & 2.0” in collaboration with Vlad Benescu are her most recent creaUons. She choreographs the theatre shows “Frici” by Ana Sorina Corneanu in 2022 and “Lizica” by Alex Tocilescu in 2023, in the later not only taking on the role of a dancer but also that of an actress. In 2024 she develops together with Vlad Benescu the concept of dancephonic theatre for the show “Tura de noapte” by Mihai Ivașcu.

Since 2021 she is an associate artist of AREAL – space for choreographic development. For several years she has been dedicating herself with the same passion she has for dance, to surfing.

Her Ph.D. thesis, S.O.M.A and artistic creations, aims to achieve the redefinition of cognition, creativity and human potential, especially by drawing attention towards the moving body and its connection to the corporal, familial and public space. To further amplify her research activity, she also hosts conferences that bring guests from all types of backgrounds, calling into question the body-education and the art-science-performative language connection.

Valentina is one of the founding members of the Areal dance group and of the Viu Grai association. Her works got presented on a multitude of occasions. For example: at the Explore Dance Festival, at the National Center of Dance of Bucharest, at Trois C-L Luxemburg, at the ImPulsTanz Festival and in different other National Museums.

Valentina also held theoretical classes enriched by an intense corporal practice at Wasp Studios, at Teaching The Teachers and at the Cinetic Center.

In 2016 she was selected to be one of the [8:tension] choreographers.

In 2020 she has received the CNDB prize as an independent artist. In  2021 she publishes her first book: Body of Knowledge.

As a choreographer, she studies the circumferential perspective upon consciousness in several formats, sharing her discoveries with artists or scientists.

She is collaborating with Indie Box, with The National Center of Dance of Bucharest, with Arhipera and with Graphis 122.

As a performer she worked with Simona Deaconescu (Tangaj Dance), Andreea Belu, Alexandra Gîrbea, Cristina Lilienfeld, Valentina De Piante, Anne Dubois and Mădălina Dan. In the frame of the Singing Bodies project she proposed a creative process developed in public spaces, throughout which she created the performative solo Spooky actions of a spoiled girl. In Voice Lab, she supported the production of the first acappella album in Romania, with original content developed through a diverse process of research on the relationship between body and voice. She collaborates as a choreographer with the Metropolitan Circus of Bucharest for the contemporary circus piece Reveria and the musical Bucharest, Je t’aime. She teaches regularly contemporary dance classes for beginner and advanced levels, adults, children and mixed groups of parents and kids.

Photo: Victor Vido (up left), Lavinia Pollak (below)