Iztok Kovač

Iztok Kovač, founder & artistic director of En–Knap and programme director of Španski Borci Cultural Centre, founder of the Pan-Adria network; member of Aerowaves, IETM and Moving Balkans is a choreographer, dancer, pedagogue and one of Slovenia's leading contemporary dance figure. 

Born in Trbovlje, a town shaped by heavy industry, resistance, and a strong sporting culture, he soon combines the experience of his own movement background with that of European metropolises and the contemporary European dance scene. He expands his primary field of stage choreography through an openness to the medium of film, while a distinctive interplay between dance and music emerges through collaborations with numerous leading composers. He made a remarkable artistic debut with his first solo performance How I Caught a Falcon in the early 90’s and, virtually out of nothing, established the notion of Slovene contemporary dance in the cultural space of Europe and beyond.

After receiving the London Dance and Performance Award from Time Out magazine, he founded his own dance company in Leuven, Belgium, under the auspices of the Klapstuk Festival. The company soon relocated back to Ljubljana, where En–Knap Productions was established in 1994. In 2007, after fourteen years of project-based work and intensive touring, Kovač founded En–Knap Group, Slovenia’s first permanent contemporary dance ensemble. Two years later, En–Knap assumed the management of the Španski Borci, where he continues to serve as artistic director and curator of the domestic and international programme, dealing with over 600 events per year. He also served as a board member of the National Council for Culture in Slovenia and of the Management Board of the Prešeren Fund.

Behind the scenes Odvecni snemanje filma360 foto andrejlamut WEB 573

His stage, film, and VR works have toured in more than forty countries, while his artistic practice also includes extensive international pedagogical work, the stage direction of major national events in Slovenia, as well as guest choreography in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Israel, and South Korea. In 2020, he started the Stage360 platform, through which he develops and presents new ways of experiencing dance in virtual reality.

Since 2010, he has increasingly focused on connecting with the international scene, developing networks for international collaboration, co-production and artistic exchange, while working to develop new formats and broaden access to contemporary dance.

List of Iztok Kovač’s works

Beware, Dance! 4
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 22 December 2026, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
7 performers

Martin Krpan 2
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 4 December 2025, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
5 performers

Homeland
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 1 June 2021, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Superfluous
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 15 October 2020, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Milk Voices
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 12 September 2020, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Vertigo Birds
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 5 December 2019, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Beware, Dance! 3
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 25 April 2019, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
7 performers

Hellhound
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 3 March 2017, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Moving Stones
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 14 September 2016, Kosovelov dom, Sežana (SI)
7 performers

Wind, Sand and Stars
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 20 November 2015, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
4 performers

Beware, Dance! 2 (Take a Chance on Dance)
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 15 March 2015, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
7 performers

Ant Ferocious
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 16 May 2014, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Falcon!
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Maska, Ljubljana
Premiere 15 October 2013, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
2 performers

OTTETTO (8 Swings for His Highness)
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 23 October 2012, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
14 performers

Requiem
Produced by Mestno gledališče ljubljansko
Premiere 10 November 2011, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, Ljubljana (SI)
12 performers

S.K.I.N. – EKG
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 10 March 2011, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Child in Time
Produced by Oldenburgisches Staatstheater / Tanzcompagnie Oldenburg (DE)
Premiere 4 March 2011, Exerzierhalle, Oldenburg (DE)
8 performers

Beware, Dance!
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 12 May 2010, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
7 performers

10 MIN – Way Home
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with ZPA Zagreb, SNG Maribor, APT Novo Mesto, Workshop Foundation Budapest
Premiere 25 November 2010, Španski Borci, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

My Kingdom for a Horse
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Cankarjev dom (SI)
Premiere 16 September 2008, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
13 performers

Celebration
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 27 September 2007, Stara elektrarna, Ljubljana (SI)
5 performers

Masters of Time
Produced by Slovene National Ballet SNG Maribor in co-production with Cankarjev dom (SI) and En–Knap
Premiere 13 April 2007, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
14 performers

Solitaire
Produced by En–Knap and Zagreb Dance Company (HR) in co-production with Cankarjev dom (SI) and Zagreb Youth Theatre (HR)
Premiere 22 April 2006, Zagreb Youth Theatre, Zagreb (HR)
8 performers

Avant Premières 2005
Produced by CNDC Angers (FR)
Premiere 13 April 2005, Grand Théâtre d’Angers (FR)
14 performers

Mozart – Hype as I Wanna Be
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Cankarjev dom (SI)
Premiere 11 February 2005, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Endless
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with LDP (KR), La Filature Mulhouse (FR), Cankarjev dom (SI)
Premiere 10 December 2004, La Filature, Mulhouse (FR)
12 performers

Dialogues 04
Produced by Sasha Waltz & Guests
Premiere 17 September 2004, Volkspalast, Berlin (DE)
7 performers

S.K.I.N.
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Muza Dance Company (IL) and Cankarjev dom (SI)
Premiere 2 November 2003, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
7 performers

Throw of the Dice
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Cankarjev dom (SI)
Premiere 5 April 2003, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
65 performers

Play on String
Produced by LDP (KR)
Premiere 26 April 2002, Munye Theater, Seoul (KR)
12 performers

Hu Die
Produced by En–Knap in collaboration with Joint Adventures (DE) and co-production with Luzerntanz am Luzerntheater (CH)
Premiere 5 December 2001, Gasteig, Munich (DE)
12 performers

The Perfect Step?
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Szene Salzburg (AT) and Tanz Bremen 2001 (DE)
Premiere 1 February 2001, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
7 performers

Emanatio Protei
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with ZKM Karlsruhe (DE), Experimentalstudio des SWR Freiburg (DE), Physical Recall Dance Company (UK)
Premiere 22 February 2000, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
12 performers

Far from Sleeping Dogs
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Künstlerhaus Mousonturm (DE), Szene Salzburg (AT), Hebbel-Theater (DE)
Premiere 15 April 1999, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
5 performers

Hamsin ’98
Produced by Batsheva Dance Company (IL)
Premiere 14 May 1998, Suzanne Dellal Theatre, Tel Aviv (IL)
8 performers

Codes of Cobra
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Springdance (NL), Kunstencentrum Vooruit (BE), Hebbel-Theater (DE), Künstlerhaus Mousonturm (DE), The European Network for the Research of Contemporary Dance Production
Premiere 19 April 1997, Springdance Festival, Utrecht (NL)
6 performers

Sting and String – First Touch
Produced by En–Knap in co-production with Podewil/Tanzwerkstatt (DE), The Place Theatre (UK)
Premiere 13 January 1996, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Spread Your Wings (You Clumsy Elephant)
Produced by Klapstuk Festival in co-production with Inart (SI), CNDC L’Esquisse Angers (FR), Podewil/Tanzwerkstatt (DE)
Premiere 12 November 1993, Klapstuk Festival, Leuven (BE)
6 performers

How I Caught a Falcon
Self-produced
Premiere 8 February 1991, Dom Svobode, Trbovlje (SI)
Solo

Wish You Good Luck
Produced by Dance Theatre Ljubljana (SI)
Premiere 1991, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana (SI)
6 performers

Movens
Produced by Glej Theatre (SI)
Premiere 1990, Glej Theatre, Ljubljana (SI)
9 performers

Little Wonderhood in the Red Country
Produced by Intakt (SI)
Premiere 1988, SNG Drama, Ljubljana (SI)
3 performers

Everything You Knew About Yourself but Have Forgotten
Produced by ZKO Kranj (SI)
Premiere 1988, PG Kranj (SI)
23 performers

Amateur Smugglers 360
VR 360, 3 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač, Sašo Podgoršek with En–Knap Group
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2025

Masterwork for Six Dancers 360
VR 360, 36 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač with En–Knap Group
Based on stage work Masterwork for Six Dancers by Emese Cuhorka & Csaba Molnár
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2025

A Hole into the Future
VR 360, 4 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač with En–Knap Group
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2023

Branded
VR 360, 25 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač with En–Knap Group
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2023

Superfluous
VR 360, 20 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač with En–Knap Group
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2022

Beware Dance 3
VR 360, 29 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač with En–Knap Group
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2020

The Last White Bisons
Feature film, 117 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač, Sašo Podgoršek
Produced by Zavod En–Knap
Co-production Švenk, 001, MB Grip
Premiere 2026

Moving Stones
Video, 10 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač
Produced by En–Knap
Premiere 2016

Vašhava
Film DCP, 25 min
Directed by Sašo Podgoršek
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production Slovenian Film Centre
Premiere 2014

What Are You Going to Do When You Get Out of Here?
Film 35 mm, 52 min
Directed by Sašo Podgoršek
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production TV Slovenija
Financial support Slovenian Film Fund
Premiere 2005

Taming the Time
Film S8 / video, 18 min
Directed by Dan Oki
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production TV Slovenija
Financial support Slovenian Film Fund
Premiere 2002

Dom Svobode
Film 35 mm, 30 min
Directed by Sašo Podgoršek
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production TV Slovenija
Financial support Slovenian Film Fund
Premiere 2000

Far from Sleeping Dogs
Video, 20 min
Directed by Sašo Podgoršek
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production TV Slovenija
On Vinko Globokar
Premiere 1999

Vertigo Bird
Film S16 mm, 33 min
Directed by Sašo Podgoršek
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production TV Slovenija
Financial support Slovenian Film Fund
Premiere 1996

Narava Beso
Film 16 mm, 19 min
Directed by Iztok Kovač and Patrick Otten
Produced by En–Knap
Co-production TV Slovenija and BRTN Belgium
Premiere 1995

How I caught a Falcon
Video performance, 10 min
Directed by Jan Zakonjšek
Produced by TV Slovenija
Premiere 1993

How I caught a Falcon
Film 16 mm, 10 min
Directed by Tony Knox
Produced by Channel 4, LWT GB
Premiere 1993

Co-organisation of the Moving Balkans showcase, 
Ljubljana/Rijeka, Zagreb, various theatres, 2025

Stage Direction of the Župančič Awards Ceremony, 
Ljubljana, Rog, 2024

Co-organisation of the Spring Forward Festival, 
Ljubljana, various theatres, 2021

Stage direction of the State Ceremony for Resistance Against the Occupier Day, 
DDT Trbovlje, 2017

Stage direction of the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of GEOS, 
Ljubljana, Španski Borci, 2016

Stage direction of the Župančič Awards ceremony, 
Ljubljana, Španski Borci, 2013

Stage direction of the En–Knap anniversary celebration, 
Ljubljana, Španski Borci, 2013

Co-organisation of the Spring Forward Festival, 
Ljubljana, 2011

Stage direction of the State Ceremony for Independence and Unity Day, 
Cankarjev dom, 2009

Stage direction of the opening ceremony of the Španski Borci Cultural Centre, 
Ljubljana, 2009

Stage direction of the 120th anniversary of electrification in Ljubljana, 
Stara mestna elektrarna, Elektro Ljubljana, 2007

Stage direction of the State Ceremony for Statehood Day, 
Ljubljana, Trg revolucije, 2005

Stage direction of the En–Knap anniversary celebration, 
Ljubljana, Cankarjev dom, 2003

Direction of the opening ceremony of Viba Film Studios, 
Ljubljana, Stegne, 2003

Direction of the opening of Delo Printing House, 
Ljubljana, Slovenčeva ulica, 1999

En Knap By Ziga Koritnik 55

“Had I not been brought up in Trbovlje, my body would probably have been cultivated differently. In raw, industrial surroundings my body was moulded through sport, through movement in a functional sense. It gained certain characteristic features that I kept and later developed with all sorts of dance, performative and meditational techniques. What has stayed with me, however, is a primality, a kind of basic, elementary, rural energy.” And stubbornness.

Iztok Kovač

En Knap By Ziga Koritnik 07

"Kovač does not forget his dance history, just as he does not forget the experience and historical weight of his native Trbovlje, whose distinctive character has profoundly shaped his relationship to the body, his dance aesthetics and his choreographic language."

Bojana Kunst

Since En-Knap company’s beginnings in 1993, Iztok Kovač has been developing two basic, complementary choreographic principles, 3Q and Open Parts, and has been using them in most of his performances. Both are based on communication, reaction, rapid decision-making and the productive use of chance among the participants. The rules of collaboration and interaction are predetermined and remain unchanged.

My fascination with chance began in the early nineties, when I discovered John Zorn’s work and later had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with him. I was deeply inspired by his approach to music, his compositional processes, and the extraordinary results that emerged at his various concerts. 

It was then, I think, that I began to question the idea of the absolute artistic gesture and truly realized, for the first time, that as a stage artist I possess only limited knowledge, personal and historical baggage, and a particular vision—while sensing that beyond this lies something much greater, something that could be approached through a thoughtful use of chance. 

I began searching for a way to place the individual qualities and contributions of the participating dancers at the centre of the creative process and later performances. Searching for an intuitive body that carries traces of personal histories, habits, culture, education, class and collective experience. Initially, I believed that the choreographer should disappear and that the performer should become the true creative force.

Iztok Kovač

3Q is a choreographic device defined as a system of structured chance, in which choreography emerges through the roll of the dice by each participating dancer. The rules of collaboration and interaction are predetermined and remain unchanged. However, it is the dancers who, through dice-based decisions and their own movement material, shape the direction of the emerging choreography throughout the process. The choreography thus develops through intense collective collaboration rather than from a predetermined composition.

3Q is based on the selection of three movement units within time-limited segments, each with a different expressive quality, often determined by the choice of music. The group of dancers is divided into a leader, who switches between predetermined movement units, and the the rest of the group (tribe), who respond to the leader’s performance in one of three possible ways, determined in advance through the roll of the dice. In this way, choreography emerges through a dynamic interplay between fixed rules, chance and individual decision-making. The three possibilities are:
Copy – repeating the leader’s movement;
Stop – an active interruption of movement, in which the dancer pauses the action while remaining present and engaged with the situation;
Contra theme – an opposing movement response, divided into technical and creative categories, which is again determined through the roll of the dice.

While in 3Q the creation of choreography is conditioned by chance through the roll of the dice and its interpretation takes place within a fixed structure, in  Open Parts chance moves entirely into the field of interpretation. Based on predefined rules, participants compose relationships in real time between one another, the movement material, space and time. This requires the dancer to remain open to immediate responses and to engage in collaboration with all present performers and, often, musicians as well.

Here, the element of chance is embedded in a set of rules through which a designated individual (leader) can choose between fixed material, a prearranged composition known to all performers, and open reaction, which emerges from the moment and is freely improvised. The role of the leader is passed on to another performer through a simple verbal exchange. Similarly to 3Q, the rest of the performers (tribe) provide rhythmic and atmospheric support to the initiatives proposed by the leader and respond through shadowing, freeze and contra-movement.

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Among numerous national and international honours, he received the Prešeren Fund Award, becoming the first contemporary dance artist to be honoured with this Slovenia’s highest cultural recognition and three highest awards by the City Municipality, City Council and the Mayor of the City of Ljubljana.

City of Ljubljana Award 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2025) 
Awarded to En–Knap Productions
Awarded by the City Council of the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Mayor of the City of Ljubljana. 

On the occasion of the award, the commission stated the following: “For over three decades, En–Knap Productions has been a central driving force of contemporary dance in Slovenia. Under the artistic direction of Iztok Kovač, the first recipient of the Prešeren Fund Award for contemporary dance, it has become a recognisable production institution with a strong international presence. Its home, the Španski Borci Cultural Centre hosts more than 600 events annually and creates a vital space for the contemporary performing arts and the promotion of young European contemporary dance production. En–Knap Production is not merely a promoter of art – it is a space of open dialogue, connection, and boundary-crossing, where contemporary dance holds a central place in Ljubljana’s cultural life.”

Honorary LOK Award for Lifetime Achievement

Kranj, Slovenia (2023) 
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for significant contributions to the audiovisual dance genre.
Awarded by the KRAFFT Festival and the Slovenian Audiovisual Actors Association. 

The award honors professionals in the audiovisual arts for their outstanding lifelong contributions to acting and Slovenian cinema.

Ksenija Hribar Lifetime Achievement Award 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2023) 
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for outstanding achievements in the field of contemporary dance. 
Awarded by the Contemporary Dance Association Slovenia. 

On the occasion of the award, members of the expert jury stated the following: “Dancer, choreographer, educator and artistic director Iztok Kovač is not only an outstanding artist whose oeuvre spans over several decades, but literally the driving force of Slovenian contemporary dance, whose persistence and vision managed to pave him the way to the European market and at the same time change the way of thinking about private institutions in the field of art at home. Iztok Kovač put a trademark on Slovenian contemporary dance and consolidated its presence on a global scale. ...It is precisely with these qualities and personality traits that Iztok Kovač, at every turning point and in often impossible conditions, managed to inscribe contemporary dance in the minds of the Slovenian cultural public and at the same time contribute to its recognition on a global level.”

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The Župančič Award

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2018) 
Awarded to En–Knap Group for an outstanding repertoire of choreographic works in their two-year period.
Awarded by the City Municipality of Ljubljana. 

Ljubljana’s highest honour for outstanding achievements in the arts and culture that make a lasting contribution to the capital’s cultural heritage.

Hungarian Silver Cross for Merit 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2018)
Awarded to Iztok Kovač in recognition of his decade-long contribution to promoting contemporary Hungarian dance in Slovenia.
Awarded by the Hungarian Ambassador on the behalf of the President of Hungary.

Best Film Award 

Sisak, Croatia (2016) 
Awarded to the authors of the film Vašhava
Awarded by the jury of Industrial Film Festival

Župančič Award 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2012)
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for outstanding creations in his two-year period, which notably included his acclaimed Ottetto (8 Swings for His Highness).
Awarded by the City Municipality of Ljubljana. 

Ljubljana’s highest honour for outstanding achievements in the arts and culture that make a lasting contribution to the capital’s cultural heritage.

Silver Plaque Award 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006)
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for his extraordinary achievements in the fields of contemporary dance
Awarded by the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities

Best Documentary Film Award 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006) 
Awarded to the authors of the film What Are You Going to Do When You Get Out of Here?
Awarded by the Viktor Academy. 

Traditionally established and awarded by STOP magazine, they honour outstanding achievements in the media and popular culture.

Best Medium-Length Film Award

Portorož, Slovenia (2005)
Awarded to the authors of the film What Are You Going to Do When You Get Out of Here?
Awarded by the jury of 8th Slovenian Film Festival

Special Achievement Award for Editing

Portorož, Slovenia (2005)
Awarded to the authors of the film What Are You Going to Do When You Get Out of Here?
Awarded by the jury of 8th Slovenian Film Festival

Kodak Award for Best Cinematography 

Portorož, Slovenia (2005)
Awarded to the authors of the film What Are You Going to Do When You Get Out of Here?
Awarded by the jury of 8th Slovenian Film Festival

Best Editing Award 

Portorož, Slovenia (2000)
Awarded to the authors of the film Dom Svobode
Awarded by the jury of 3rd Slovenian Film Festival

Golden Key Award for Best Artistic Film 

Trenčianske Teplice, Slovakia (2000)
Awarded to the authors of the film Dom Svobode
Awarded by the jury of Art Film International Festival

Special Jury Announcement 

Utrecht, Netherlands (1998)
Awarded to the authors of the film Vertigo Bird
Awarded by the jury of Springdance Cinema Award

Best Slovene Film of the Year Award 

Portorož, Slovenia (1997)
Awarded to the authors of the film Vertigo Bird
Awarded by the jury of 6th Slovenian Film Marathon

Tončka Čeč Award 

Trbovlje, Slovenia (1997)
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for the recognition of his outstanding achievements in the fields of arts and culture.
Awarded by the Mayor and the City Municipality of Trbovlje

Award of the Mayor of Trenčín 

Trenčianske Teplice, Slovakia (1997)
Awarded to the authors of the film Vertigo Bird
Awarded by the jury of Art Film International Festival

Best Choreography Award 

Tel Aviv, Israel (1996)
Awarded for the performance Sting and String – First Touch
Awarded by the jury of Suzanne Dellal International Dance Competition

Prešeren Fund Award 

Ljubljana, Slovenia (1994)
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for the choreography and interpretation of “How I Caught a Falcon” and “Spread Your Wings (You Clumsy Elephant)”.
Awarded from the Management Board of the Prešeren Fund 

The award is the highest national award in the field of arts in Slovenia.

Jury’s Special Award 

Stockholm, Sweden (1994)
Awarded to the authors of the dance video How I Caught a Falcon
Awarded by the jury of Grand Prix International Video Dance in collaboration with the Carina Ari Foundation in Stockholm and the Académie des Beaux-Arts. 

London Dance & Performance Award 

London, United Kingdom (1993)
Awarded to Iztok Kovač for the solo How I Caught a Falcon.
Awarded by Time Out Magazine & Dance Umbrella Festival

This award for Best Performance by a Visiting Artist was also given to Merce Cunningham and Ron Vawter (Wooster Group) the same year.