The educational power of a dance intensive

A dance intensive for choreography students is not only about hours of exhausting rehearsals and refining technique. It is a path toward shaping an artist who understands the depth of their own culture. The educational program of this season (within the framework of a dance intensive held from March 16 to 22, 2026, in Drohobych, Lviv region) became a true intellectual and emotional immersion into the legacy of geniuses — Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Franko.

The educational block began in the assembly hall of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University at the invitation of Associate Professor of the Department of Vocal and Choral, Choreographic and Fine Arts, Candidate of Art Studies Petro Fryz. The concert event dedicated to the work of Taras Shevchenko set a high standard for the entire intensive. Students had the opportunity to feel the musicality of Shevchenko’s word and to experience thematic vocal, poetic, and choreographic performances. For artists, this is extremely important, as the ability to hear the inner rhythm of poetry and translate it into the language of the body is a mark of the highest mastery. The atmosphere of the academic hall fostered stage culture and an ethical approach to performing classical works. It was a pleasure to be invited guests at this event.

The next step was an encounter with the visual language of a genius. At Zenyk Art Gallery in Lviv, choreography students, together with Associate Professors of the Department of Choreography and Fitness Yuliia Skyba and Yuliia Taranenko, visited the conceptual exhibition “HE: Taras Shevchenko. The Artist,” organized in collaboration with the National Museum of Taras Shevchenko. Seeing 58 paintings and graphic works — from academic etching to experimental compositions — allowed future choreographers to discover Shevchenko as an artist of European scale. We analyzed how his visual solutions, the play of light and line, resonate with contemporary artistic practices. In this inspiring artistic space and atmosphere, we were able to develop a small performance. This fosters in students the ability to create not just dance, but a holistic visual composition on stage.

The final chord of the educational journey was a visit to the State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Nahuievychi.” The family estate of Ivan Franko, the museum, and the artistic-memorial complex “Ivan Franko’s Path” became a place of strength for each participant of the dance intensive. Observing the sculptural composition “I. Franko and World Literature,” students realized the scale of the influence of the Ukrainian word on the world. A walk along Franko’s paths helped shift the focus from technical tasks to an inner search for inspiration in nature and history. This nurtures respect for one’s roots, without which the growth of a contemporary artist is impossible. We are grateful to Associate Professor Petro Fryz for this opportunity.

Thus, the educational work demonstrated that a modern choreographer is not merely a “performer of movements,” but an intellectual personality. Through music, painting, and history, we laid the foundation for new creative explorations. We became convinced that to be modern on stage, one must know and feel their past.

We express our gratitude to the Rector of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, Professor Ihor Bohdanov, for the unique opportunity to engage in in-person educational and formative work with future choreography specialists. We also thank the Rector of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Professor Valentyna Bodak, for the hospitality, facilities, and live communication.