Empowering Dancers in Motion Begins Its Second Edition on the Croatian Coast

The second edition of Empowering Dancers in Motion has begun in Bibinje, bringing together ten young dancers for a summer of training, creation, exchange and public presentations across Bibinje, Šibenik and Zadar.

Ten Dancers, Five Countries, One Shared Journey

Last week, the second edition of Empowering Dancers in Motion officially began in Croatia, opening a new chapter of artistic exchange, training, creation and international collaboration within the dancEUA project.

Organised within the framework of the dancEUA project and coordinated by Studio Contemporary Dance Company, Empowering Dancers in Motion is a six-month non-formal training program for young dancers from Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Sweden and Ukraine. The program includes daily training, workshops, mentorship with Croatian and European dance artists, and the creation of a new dance performance choreographed by Anna Borràs.

The 2026 edition welcomes the following participants: Anita Czako, Hilda Holm, Lea Amneby Snickers, Maja Grimsted, Daria Cristea, Teodor Cauș, Valeriia Lysenkovska, Valeriia Churai, Juliia Tytska and Nikita Sulko.

Team building

Opening the Program in Bibinje

The first summer block began in June, followed by a six-day team building residency. This opening residency is an important first step in forming the group: it creates space for the participants to meet one another, build trust, establish a shared working rhythm and connect with the local context in which the first part of the program takes place.

Beyond introducing the participants to the program itself, the residency also allows them to become familiar with their surroundings, the local community and the cultural landscape of the Croatian coast. In this way, the first days in Bibinje are not only a preparation for the artistic work ahead, but also an invitation to understand the environment that will shape the beginning of their shared journey.

Training, Workshops and Creation Across Bibinje, Šibenik and Zadar

Following the opening residency, the dancers continue with classes led by Studio Contemporary Dance Company members.

The program then moves to Šibenik, where participants take part in a series of workshops with dance teachers including Yasmin Frione, Bruno Duarte and Fonsi Lopez. Through this part of the program, the young dancers are introduced to different artistic approaches, movement practices and pedagogical methods, while also engaging with the wider professional dance context in Croatia.

From late July, the participants enter the first creation block with Anna Borràs, developing material for the new performance that will continue to grow throughout the program. This creation period unfolds throughout the program, giving the dancers time and space to explore ensemble work, choreographic ideas and the foundations of the future production.

Zadar Stream and Monoplay Festival: A Project Synergy

A special part of the summer program takes place in Zadar, at the Youth Center Zadar, through the Zadar Stream workshops. This segment represents an important project synergy, connecting Empowering Dancers in Motion with an existing local and international dance platform and creating additional opportunities for learning, exchange and public presentation.

Within the Zadar Stream program, participants will work with Andrej Zupančič in Kung Fu, Milan Tomašik in Poetic Body, and Nina Fajdiga in Flying Low and Passing Through. The Poetic Body workshop will conclude with a public presentation of the work developed during the process, taking place as part of the opening evening of the Monoplay festival on 19 August.

As part of the Monoplay festival program, participants of Empowering Dancers in Motion will also be given a dedicated evening to present their own short dance works. This opportunity offers them a valuable public platform to share individual artistic voices, test ideas in front of an audience and experience the festival context not only as workshop participants, but also as young authors and performers.

Continuing the Summer Journey

In August, the summer program also includes a flags workshop by Ginevra Panzetti & Enrico Ticconi in Bibinje, which will conclude with a public showing, followed by an intensive workshop with Dariia Koval. The summer block ends with a class led by Sofija Milić, rounding off months of intensive training, creation, exchange and artistic development before the program continues into its next phase in Zagreb.

Photo by: Gianluca Di Iola

Through its second edition, Empowering Dancers in Motion continues to create a space where young dance artists can meet across borders, develop their artistic voices and build professional experience through movement, collaboration and shared creative practice.