On the 7th of September, at 19:00, 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒂𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒔, a performance produced by Platforma 13, will take place at KC Magacin. Leading up to the performance, the choreographer and performers will conduct a workshop on Balkan movement on the 6th of September from 9:30am to 11:30am, in the same venue. Both events are free of charge.

𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒂𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒔 is a performance that aims to question the boundaries of the body by relating to Eastern European and Balkan identity. Inspired by stigmas and identity stereotypes created by the West and projected onto the Balkans, the performance conducts an analysis of Balkan culture. The body is portrayed as a transition zone, between two instances – pride and shame, past and present, folklore and rave, ballet and turbo-folk. Starting from the concepts of Balkanism and post-communism, the performance investigates a reactive body that challenges prejudices, normative models, and geographical, political boundaries.

In a pre-show work phase, the choreographer and the performers opened the working process with a series of workshops on Balkan movement. Thus, the research of Balkan movement was collective and collaborative, with dance and movement enthusiasts of all ages and levels of training invited to the workshop. Together, the group discussed and integrated various dance elements and ideas stereotypically or traditionally associated with the Balkan way of moving our bodies – from the culture of turbo-folk to folk dances and everything in between.

Platforma 13 is an independent collective based in Bucharest, founded by choreographers Anca Stoica and Sergiu Diță. It focuses on experimenting with new forms of artistic expression and pushing the boundaries of performing arts.