10 MIN

Olga Pona is a choreographer and founder of the Chelyabinsk Contemporary Dance Theatre. Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of contemporary dance in Russia, she gained international recognition through works that combine physical precision with reflections on everyday life and social change.

Jordi Casanovas is a Catalan dancer, performer and pedagogue. Since 1990 he has been a member of the renowned company Mal Pelo and has collaborated with artists including Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Adriana Borriello and Àngels Margarit. His work combines performance, improvisation and movement research.

David Zambrano is a Venezuelan choreographer, dancer and teacher whose influence on contemporary dance is international in scope. Known for developing the movement practices Flying Low and Passing Through, he has inspired generations of dancers through his performances, teaching and collaborative artistic projects around the world.

Dalija Aćin Thelander is a choreographer, researcher and performance maker working between Stockholm and Belgrade. Her internationally recognised practice explores choreography as an expanded field, with a particular focus on immersive and sensory performances for babies, young children and diverse audiences.

Ivica Buljan is a theatre director and one of the leading figures of contemporary theatre in the former Yugoslav region. His productions have been presented throughout Europe and have received numerous international awards. He is associated with Mini Teater Ljubljana and the Croatian National Theatre in Split.

László Hudi is a Hungarian choreographer, director and performer. Founder of the company Mozgó Ház, he has collaborated extensively with Josef Nadj and developed an artistic practice that moves between choreography, theatre and improvisation. He is also associated with the Arcus Temporum Festival and Florian Workshop.

Edward Clug is a Romanian-born choreographer and artistic director of the Ballet of the Slovene National Theatre Maribor. One of the most internationally recognised choreographers from the region, he has created works for leading ballet companies across Europe and beyond, developing a distinctive choreographic language that bridges classical and contemporary dance.

Snježana Abramović Milković is a Croatian choreographer, cultural manager and curator. A long-time artistic leader of the Zagreb Dance Company, she founded the Dance and Non-Verbal Theatre Festival San Vincenti and played a key role in establishing the Mediterranean Dance Centre in Svetvinčenat. She currently serves as director of the Zagreb Youth Theatre (ZKM).

Matjaž Berger is a theatre director, dramaturg and writer. Founder and artistic director of Anton Podbevšek Teater in Novo Mesto, he is known for interdisciplinary stage works that connect theatre, philosophy, literature and contemporary visual culture. His productions have appeared at numerous international festivals.

Matjaž Farič is a choreographer, director, dancer and artistic director of Flota Institute. One of the leading figures of Slovenian contemporary dance since the 1980s, he has created numerous original dance and theatre productions while collaborating with dance companies, theatres and opera houses in Slovenia and abroad. His international collaborations include Studio for Contemporary Dance Zagreb, Diversions Dance Company (Cardiff) and Compagnie Coline (France), alongside extensive work with major Slovenian theatres. He is the recipient of numerous national and international awards, including the Prešeren Fund Award, the Župančič Award, the Golden Bird Award, the Borštnik Festival Award, and the Grand Prize at the International Biennial Competition of Choreographers in Seine-Saint-Denis, France.

Iztok Kovač is a choreographer and founder of En–Knap. Following the international success of his solo How I Caught a Falcon (1991), he became one of the key figures in the development of Slovenian contemporary dance. He founded En–Knap Group, Slovenia's first permanent contemporary dance ensemble, and serves as artistic director of both En–Knap and the Španski borci Cultural Centre. His works have toured internationally for more than three decades. Additionally, his artistic practice includes six dance films, international pedagogical work, guest choreography and the direction of major national events in Slovenia. During the Covid period, he initiated Stage360, developing dance works in virtual reality.