On June 25, 2024, at 9:00 PM, the premiere of the dance performance “ChronoRay” by the Derida Company will take place at the Mausoleum of the Viminacium Archaeological Park in Serbia. The event is a co-production with the Belgrade Archaeological Institute and is part of the “Dancing Histor(y)ies” project, which aims to merge historical heritage with contemporary dance, breathing new life into it and creating a connection between the past and the present. The premiere is also part of the “ReMoving Borders” festival at the Viminacium archaeological complex.
The choreography and production of “ChronoRay” are by Zhivko Zhelyazkov, the artistic director of Derida Dance Center. The special visual impact in the performance is created with video mapping and 3D projection, transforming the impressive environment of the Mausoleum. This is the work of Ivelina Ivanova, who is part of the well-known Studio Phormatik and VidenieSpace. The dance is performed by Filip Milanov, Stefan Vuchov, and Mihail Bonev. The music is composed by Yavor Zografski, while local musicians Saša Kovač (accordion), Predrag Paunović (saxophone), and Aleksandra Gajić (piano) improvise live, inspired by the dancers’ movements and the visual dynamics of the performance. The performance also includes dancers from the local community association Kud Amare Roma. The production process is managed by Atanas Maev and Mira Georgieva.
The space of the Mausoleum, with its specific architecture and functionality, serves as inspiration for the show’s concept. The dance begins from the roof of the crypt and gradually moves to and below the level of the sarcophagi and graves. Zhivko Zhelyazkov shares, “Creating a performance that is intrinsically linked to a particular space is a huge challenge. I am extremely grateful to our partners at the Archaeological Institute in Serbia for their support and the opportunity for immediate access and direct contact with the chosen space. This is a very good example of enlivening an archaeological site with contemporary art, thereby strengthening the connection and interest of people in cultural heritage. Incorporating the latest technologies in this interaction with the space creates augmented reality, context, and richness of experience.”
The “ReMoving Borders” festival aims to break down cultural, social, religious, gender, temporal, and creative barriers.
The official presentation of the “ReMoving Borders” festival took place on June 21, 2024, at the Media Center Belgrade. More information and a video from the event can be found at this link. The festival director, Dr. Jelena Anđelković-Grašar, presented the three-day program, organizational aspects, and collaboration with the local community. Atanas Maev from Derida, Hana Magdalena Gödel from Il Dance (Sweden), and Silva Shafkova from 420People (Czech Republic) presented their performances and cooperation with local communities. Through various workshops and activities, the festival encourages creative collaboration and bonding.
The “ChronoRay” performance is part of the festival program and is free to attend, with free transportation provided for viewers from Belgrade to Viminacium. The event promises to be a unique experience and a symbiosis between dance, visual art, and historical heritage, presented at one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Europe.
After Serbia, the Derida Company team will travel to Sardinia, where they will continue their work with the local partner Associazione Enti Locali per le Attività Culturali e di Spettacolo at the archaeological site of Tharros between July 6 and 15.
The Bulgarian participation in the project is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Creative Europe program and the National Culture Fund.
