DANCE THERAPY

PROJECT SUMMARY

Tanzelarija is a Bosnian NGO active in Sarajevo whose mission is to promote contemporary dance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), where this form of art, expression and creativity is virtually unknown. On one hand, our activities aim to develop a contemporary dance scene in BiH and to end BiH’s cultural isolation in the field of dance through exchanges and collaborations with neighbouring countries. On the other hand, tanzelarija seeks to promote the healing and therapeutic potential of dance to benefit various social groups within Bosnian society.
This project brings together our two main objectives by proposing a cycle of dance therapy workshops for children and a cycle of contemporary dance workshops and scholarships for local emerging dancers, in collaboration with artists and dance therapists from Italy, Austria and the Balkans. The project activities will lead to the development of two performances to be shown in theatres in BiH and Italy as a final presentation of the project.
This initiative aims to introduce contemporary dance to the Bosnian public in its artistic, social and therapeutic aspects, promote cultural exchange between artists from different countries, support the formation of emerging talents who otherwise would remain excluded from artistic circles, promote dance therapy as a method for healing and self-development and establish partnerships which will connect BiH to the international contemporary dance scene.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

• Cycle of 6 dance therapy workshops with international dance therapists for orphans and other children.
  
• Regular dance classes for children.
  
• Development of final performance with the children to be shown in theatres in BiH and Italy.
  
• Formation of local staff to continue the dance therapy activities after the end of the project.
  
• Cycle of 6 contemporary dance workshops and 3 performances with artists from the Balkans open to the public.
  
• Regular dance classes open to all.
  
• Scholarships to be assigned to the most motivated participants and local emerging artists to attend contemporary dance workshops abroad.
  
• Development of a final performance with local emerging artists under the supervision of international choreographers to be shown in theatres in BiH and Italy.