On Saturday, 21 September, an audition for future students of the Dance Academy! The article was prepared for the Parada plesa portal by Barbra Drnač.
The new academic year is in full swing — including, of course, at the Dance Academy, whose dean is Full Professor Dr Svebor Sečak. Rosana Hribar, head of the contemporary dance department, and Lucija Velkavrh, head of the show and jazz department, announce the last audition, to be held on Saturday, 21 September 2024 at Center Premik in Ljubljana. Candidates are welcome for the following fields of study: contemporary dance, jazz dance, urban / hip hop, social dance and competitive dance. Prior registration of candidates is required.
Lucija Velkavrh and Ludvik Toplak, President of Alma Mater Europaea
There is no doubt that the Dance Academy is an institution providing continuous education for dancers. For some years now, interested students have no longer had to travel abroad to study dance, since at the Dance Academy they acquire absolutely all the knowledge they would at academies abroad. Internationally recognised dance teachers also come to Slovenia to teach.
The Dean of the Dance Academy, Assoc. Prof. Dr Svebor Sečak, and the event’s host Špela Pokeržnik
The students’ closing performance is always thrilling, and we in the audience are left breathless. That was the case at the end of the previous academic year too, when we admired the dancers on Kongresni trg in Ljubljana.
Rosana Hribar watched over the June gala evening.
The performance, or gala evening, was entitled Why can we not connect everything in words? Ten brilliant pieces were choreographed by regular associates and teachers. Besides the two ladies mentioned, Rosana and Lucija, they were Anja Moderndorfer, Jadran Živkovič, Maša Kagao Knez, Stefaiya Georgieva, Matevž Česen, Petra Gabor, Milan Ujvari, Alexandra Madsen, Lucija Romanova and Igor Kirov.
Tamara Divjak assisted Jana Bungurova, Daša Resnik and Zarja Ferlinc, who gave an excellent performance and interpretation of the adagio from the ballet Giselle in the original choreography of Mats Ek. The welcoming address was given by the Director of the Dance Academy, Assist. Prof. Dr Barbara Toplak Perovič and Dean Svebor Sečak, and the evening then opened with a piece from the musical Cabaret in the choreography of Anja Moderndorfer. Anja choreographed this musical for the Ljubljana City Theatre, and so the performers Maša Tiselj and Gašper Oblak appeared in the piece as well. Nine dancers turned into seductive cabaret ‘showgirls‘, transferring hedonistic Berlin, through excerpts from the film Cabaret, onto Kongresni trg with complete assurance. Each of them also showed a fine acting interpretation.
Jadran Živkovič, a master of tap and president of the Dance Federation of Slovenia, choreographed Krog (The Circle). With no added music, only sticks and hooded sweatshirts, this dance style — which we sometimes think is quite passé — came alive before our eyes. Tatiana Filipenko choreographed and interpreted her solo within the piece herself. Her confidence blazed across the stage to the audience.
Maša Kagao Knez remains faithful to her recognisable style. The choice of original music by Kristijan Korat is well considered, as are the costumes (black shirts, light trousers), and six dancers followed the movement as Maša dictated it through the piece In me omnis spes mihi est. One could say that all of Maša’s choreographies are bold improvisation with precise movement.
Petra Gabor choreographed Pogovor (Conversation), and the trio (Margarita Šunjić, Nena Klinkon and Zarja Ferlinc) precisely fulfilled Petra’s choreographic idea, which she seasoned with aerial somersaults.
To je vse (That’s All) is the title of the piece choreographed by Jadran Živkovič; the performers split into two groups and we witnessed a kind of battle in which the winner was dance. An excellent piece that shows the versatility of the Dance Academy’s students.
Rosana Hribar adapted Stefaniya Georgieva’s choreography Sanje (Dreams) for the June performance and used a good many props, from a stick to a ball — each with a precise purpose. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons came alive before us in the reworking by Max Richter.
Feeling Good was choreographed jointly by Lucija Velkavrh and Matevž Česen, masters of modern and show dance. And that is exactly how it looked on stage: cheerful costumes recalling figure-skating outfits with plenty of ‘fringes’. The piece would certainly place highly at any competition of the international dance federation IDO.
Nekoč in zdaj (Then and Now) is a choreographic medley by Rosana Hribar, Milan Ujvari, Lucija Romanova and Alexandra Madsen, whose breaking solo left the impression that this was one of the most energetic pieces of the Dance Academy’s summer gala evening.
Tatiana Filipenko, Sofija Kozarič, Neža Kogoj, Anastasia Svirko, Ema Klara Demšar, Milda Keršulyte, Lija Mozetič, Jelena Radoičić, Margarita Šunjić, Paskal Vertačnik– Verbovšek, Saša Štrukelj, Nena Klinkon, Rea Vogrin, Daša Resnik, Jana Bungurova and Zarja Ferlinc were the team that took their leave of us with the choreography I need a Dollar by the choreographic tandem Igor Kirov and Rosana Hribar. Black trousers and a gold top announced the brilliant dance generation now coming. After a highly successful finale, bows and applause, the teaching team of the Dance Academy also presented awards. They went to: students Margarita Šunjić, Nena Klinkon, Rea Vogrin, Sofija Kozarič and Irina Antonijevič, and to teacher Jadran Živkovič.
Rea Vogrin, Margarita Šunjić, Nena Klinkon, Sofija Kozarič and Irina Antonijevič.
And this is what they wrote: ‘Your effort, persistence and love of dance are reflected in every performance, every movement and every moment on stage. You are an inspiration to all of us who witness your development and progress. Dance is an art that demands more than technical skill — it demands heart, soul and immeasurable dedication. And you have proved that again and again.’
Svebor Sečak and Barbara Toplak Perovič presented the award to Jadran Živkovič. (photo: Marko Pigac)
That is what it is like to study at the Dance Academy. Dance will carry you to academic heights as well. You are invited to join the AMEU Dance Academy in the 2024/25 academic year.