Yuliia Skyba at the 2nd International Dance Festival “MZ FEST” of the Maria Zankovetska Theatre

The Second International Dance Festival “MZ FEST” was held at the Maria Zankovetska National Drama Theatre in Lviv. The festival was initiated by the theatre’s choreographer Oleksii Busko. The project received financial support from the “Tysyacha Vesni” (A Thousand Springs) programme.

One of the key events of the festival was the “Event” Performative Laboratory, led by Swiss choreographer, dancer, actor and director Thomas Mettler. The laboratory focused on the art of improvisation and the exploration of new forms of interaction between movement, space, music, light and emotion.

A distinctive feature of Thomas Mettler’s work was his intention to move dancers beyond the traditional perception of choreography — from the role of performer to that of a creator of space, time and their own stage narrative. The participants explored the possibilities of improvisation, bodily expression and real-time interaction.

Yuliia Skyba, Associate Professor of the Department of Choreography and Fitness at Berdiansk State Pedagogical University, took part in the festival and the performative laboratory.

For representatives of dance education, such artistic projects provide an important space for professional development, as they combine practical experience, contemporary choreographic practices, experimentation and international artistic dialogue.

The “Event” laboratory was the result of the participants’ creative exploration and demonstrated that contemporary dance is not only about movement, but also about presence, interaction, emotion, risk, improvisation and readiness for open dialogue.

Yuliia Skyba’s participation in such international artistic initiatives contributes to professional exchange, broadens creative horizons and supports the implementation of contemporary choreographic practices in the educational process at Berdiansk State Pedagogical University.

We are sincerely proud of Yuliia Skyba’s professional engagement and wish her many new creative projects, international collaborations and artistic discoveries!