OPUS 1 – PLESNA MINIATURA 2027
18. MEDNARODNI FESTIVAL MLADIH PLESNIH USTVARJALCEV
Slovensko ljudsko gledališče Celje, 27. marec 2027
18. International Festival of Young Dance Creators
OPUS 1 – Short Dance Piece 2027
Slovenian National Theatre Celje, 27th March 2027
THEMES
1. RE: DANCE - Expressionist dance
Marking the centenary of Meta Vidmar’s first public performance—which took place on January 7, 1927, at the Ljubljana Opera—this year’s OPUS 1 is dedicated to the legacy of dance expressionism.
Through her artistic work, Meta Vidmar played a pivotal role in the origins of contemporary dance in Slovenia. Her connection to the expressionist dance of Mary Wigman brought the individual body to the forefront, emphasizing its liberation from rigid technical codes toward natural, organic movement—movement rooted in feelings, thoughts, moods, and personal experiences.
This theme also highlights a century of development in original, authorial dance creation in Slovenia. The history of dance is, in essence, the history of the gradual liberation of the dancing body progression from the adoption and study of established dance forms toward an increasingly strong need for a unique, personal, artistic, and authorial mode of expression. The theme invites an exploration of the historical forms of dance expressionism and an understanding of its fundamental premises.
"RE" can signify *return, rethink, reimagine, reinvent - return to the origins, a reconsideration, a reimagining, and a transformation. It is not about retreating into the past, but rather about rediscovering the core ideas of dance expressionism. How can an individual use dance to express their personal feelings, thoughts, and experiences, while simultaneously speaking to the world that surrounds them? How does history transform? How have our conceptions of the body, identity, freedom, and personal expression evolved over the last hundred years? What is your body telling you today? How much history does your body carry within itself?
2. WHATEVER
But if the theme above does not inspire you, you are free to do, well, whatever. Whatever is in you, whatever is around you, whatever you are looking for, whatever you are wondering about, whatever you question, whatever you are interested in… we are interested as well!
Guidelines for mentors and creators:
The required part of the creative process should include translating your ideas and procedures into words. Each applicant must attach a description of his/her creative process to the application (literary origins, thoughts, procedures, decisions…).
The theme is designed to offer a wide scope of possibilities to all artists, regardless of their age. Mentors should discuss it with young creators, while the latter should be autonomous and creative in shaping their ideas and pieces.
The role of mentors in creating the short dance piece is to counsel, lead and guide the young creators in creating their own ideas, dance expressions and autonomous choreographies.
