“Freedom is born of discipline.” – Martha Graham
“Freedom is born of discipline,” wrote Martha Graham, stressing that true creativity does not arise by chance but out of dedicated work, persistence and a deep understanding of the body. Dance is therefore not only expression but a process — a path from mastering form to transcending it.
For the students, the Gala Dance Evening is the most important moment of the year — a space in which their progress and the shaping of their own artistic identity are revealed. It is here, too, that what goes beyond the learned takes place: the experience of the stage, which only comes about in live contact with an audience.
This year again the evening unfolds as a dynamic and varied stage event, made up of choreographies created during the study process as joint work by the mentors and students of the Dance Academy. The evening will be complemented by selected musical and dance guests, whom we will reveal soon — stay with us.
Credits
Participating lecturers: Igor Kirov, Marija Obradović, Stefaniya Georgieva, Lucija Velkavrh, Matevž Česen, Petra Gabor, Rosana Hribar, Mojca Majcen, Tamas Tuza, Ana Vodišek, Željko Božič, Barbee Šuštaršič, Uroš Skulj, Andraž Mrak, Jadran Živkovič
Performing students of Alma Mater Europaea – Dance Academy: Aline Spilek, Nika Murtič, Dan Luzar, Noleani Ban, Filip Likić, Niko Herega, Nina Vatroslava Milas, Wiktoria Wiąk, Lara Brance, Ioana Carina Mazare, Orly Manakhimov, Tjaša Cerkovnik, Farah Jušić, Dunja Gavrilov, Alina Košir, Nadya Alexander, Tatiana Filipenko, Sofija Kozarić, Anastasia Svirko, Sara Pucihar, Irina Anatonijević, Margarita Šunjić, Rea Vogrin, Saša Štrukelj.
Photographs: Tija Ažman and Marko Pigac
Lighting and sound design: technical support by En–Knap
Production: Alma Mater Europaea – Dance Academy
Programme partner of the Španski borci Culture Centre 2026
At the Gala Dance Evening we ceremonially presented awards to students and professors.
Awards for their successful performance at the central state ceremony of the Republic of Slovenia marking the Day of Uprising Against Occupation went to nine students: Orly Manakhimov, Dunja Gavrilov, Alina Košir, Farah Jušić, Nadya Alexander, Sara Pucihar, Anastasia Svirko, Sofija Kozarić and Margarita Šunjić.
A special award for responsibly representing students’ interests and for actively connecting the student community went to Margarita Šunjić, and one to Lara Brance for dedicated and committed work in 2025/2026.
As chosen by the students, awards for outstanding teaching were also presented to three professors: Nejc Osovnikar, Kaja Lin Jagodič and Tamás Tuza.
The visitors were also addressed on this occasion by the Dean of the Dance Academy, Prof. Dr Svebor Sečak, and by the guest of honour Uršula Menih Dokl, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
This year’s gala evening at Španski borci offered a varied interweaving of choreographies created through a study process of joint work by mentors and students. Visitors could feel the students’ remarkable connection, mutual trust and energy.
