BIOGRAPHY
For as long as I can remember, I have always been a creative child. The moment I saw the musical Billy Elliot, a world opened up for me. “This will be my job later!”. From one amateur group to becoming a bit more professional, singing lessons were added and I was eventually accepted to the musical education the Dutch Academy of Performing Arts in The Hague. Here I developed the three disciplines of singing, acting and dancing. I do play Piano, Guitar, write my own lyrics. I dance Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Horton, Jazz, Bob Fosse Style and Show dance and I am not scared about playing scenes.
In 2021 I graduated with a foundation in Musical Theatre. That same year, I was accepted into the Zurich University of The Arts, Bachelor of contemporary dance.
I am Bastiaan Louis, 23 years old. Art is my big inspiration in life, I love the combination of dance, physical theater, theater, literature and music, but also film and photography. It enables me to connect with others and myself. I love the challenge and do enjoy the diverse range, going as wide as possible and searching for interesting possibilities. It attracts me to use space, faces, costumes and a playground and curious atmosphere.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
Have you ever found yourself staring into space, lost in thoughts, images and memories, within your own mind? That moment when you feel detached from this world, slipping into another realm? It’s something I experience often, drifting away and becoming lost in my own thoughts, entangled in memories, images, judgments and confrontations. I get lost in the chaos within my own mind. Yet, when I Improvise, those thoughts, judgements and confrontations momentarily fade into silence… not always…. but occasionally. And when that happens, it is magical.
In my project, I aim to reveal a glimpse of my chaos and thoughts, showcasing beautiful spots in Zürich where I’ve felt a connection, where all that chaos could momentarily subside. I invite you on a journey, perhaps one of recognition and resonance with your own chaos, into my silent chaos “Perdu dans mes pensées.”
BIOGRAPHY
I’m Gioia Tartaglia, I was born in Pesaro, Italy. My journey into the world of movement began with rhythmic gymnastics, a passion I pursued until the age of 14 when I decided to start to ballet.
At 17, I moved to Milan to pursue my studies, enrolling at the AIDA dance school.
In 2021, I joined ZHdK, where I explored the expressive realm of contemporary dance, discovering new ways to communicate and connect through movement.
For my last year of university, I embraced the opportunity to be an intern at Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern for the 2023/24 season, gaining valuable insights and experiences along the way.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
The "Natural Dance" project focuses on exploring the intimate relationship between human movement and the natural environment. Through a series of choreographic performances immersed in the wild beauty of nature, we will engage in spontaneous and organic dance that evolves in harmony with the surrounding landscape. With videos capturing artistic expression in natural settings, I aim to convey the beauty and power of the connection between humans and the natural world through the universal language of dance.
BIOGRAPHY
I am Sara Pigatto and I was born in Italy in 2000. I’ve been dancing since I was 3, following the steps of my sister. Once I graduated from a Scientific High School I moved to New York City to deepen my training. I attended the International student program at Broadway Dance Center and Gibney. After my time there, I started the Bachelor in Contemporary Dance at Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK). I spent my third year internship at the company DeStile in The Netherlands.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
“Anita” is a short dance film where my poetry and my body meet each other. The video is about what we don’t say, what we swallow and lock up in our stomachs, what makes our voices tremble and our hearts hide. Through six poems, this project is a celebration of fragility with all that living sensitively entails. There’s anxiety on one side and acceptance on the other. Simultaneously, there are no sides: there is stillness in the anxiety and fear in the acceptance. This film is about how, after all, it is still worth it to feel it all.
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Angelina, and I grew up in Geneva. My journey into the world of movement began in my father's garage, where the rhythmic hum of engines and machinery inspired me to explore movement in all its forms.
My fascination with the art of movement first led me to rhythmic gymnastics. However, it is through dance that I found my way. Starting with ballet, I quickly turned to the raw expressivity of contemporary dance.
It was during this exploration that I discovered improvisation - a concept that at first seemed intimidating. Yet as I delved deeper, I felt an intense connection between myself and the art of spontaneous movement. What began as a challenge quickly became a liberating necessity.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
This diploma project explores the complex relationship between dance and my physical well-being, emphasizing both its positive and negative aspects.
Throughout this work I have been captivated by the duality of dance. With scoliosis as a backdrop, dance proves to be not only as a passion, but also an indispensable therapeutic tool. Analysis of the effects of dance on my body reveals a subtle balance between physical exertion, pain management, emotional release and dependence. Dance has thus become a powerful addictive force, essential to my wellbeing.
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Océane Lhomme, and I am a 23-year-old French artist, deeply immersed in the field of dance and performance. I am currently based in Rotterdam.
In the pursuit of my artistic vision, this year has been marked by a personal exploration. subjectively honest movement, the use of articulation within my body, experimentation with theatrical elements, and cultivating trust with partners.
My journey in dance began at the age of 5, when I first discovered the ballet technique. As my passion for
dance grew, I made the decision to pursue it professionally, leading me to enrol in the National Ballet School of Marseille. However, after two years of training, I felt like opening myself to broader horizons.
Paris gave me an opportunity to immerse myself in contemporary techniques and repertoire in a dance
program at the Theatre des Champs-Elysées.
Following the guidance of a mentor, I started my journey in Stockholm, where I enrolled in the Royal Swedish Ballet School for a year of study. However, because of the Covid-19 pandemic I had to return to France, where I joined the junior company "Elephant in the Black Box" in Pau.
These diverse experiences paved the way for my next chapter at the Zurich University of the Arts, where I
dedicated myself to learn new skills and improve my knowledge in dance. I emerged from university equipped with enough tools to start working as a professional.
For my third year of study, I got the opportunity to work as an apprentice at Scapino Ballet in Rotterdam. Here, I continue to push the boundaries of my artistry and find more and more confidence on stage!
This year, I will graduate of a contemporary dance bachelor.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
A dive into my childhood. A dive into my bedroom. A dive into my memories. In this project, I explore this moment in life where I am lost between aspirations and disillusionments, somewhere between childhood and perpetual adulthood.
I am using my very first camera, with which I filmed everything around me without a specific purpose, to now redefine which elements, objects, things constitute who I am today.
I have found a deep affinity for certain creatures whose symbolism and energy resonate with me. Over time, I've gathered images of them, putting them on my walls. They play a significant role in this project, as they've been important companions throughout my journey of self-discovery over the years.
BIOGRAPHY
I started ballet lessons at the ripe age of 2, although I am not sure that you can really call that dancing. My Russian family expected me to grow up and evolve into a Vaganova prima ballerina however that is far from the reality. I was slowly introduced to other styles of dance, like jazz, character dance and contemporary dance, of course. However, it wasn't until I started at the ZHdK, in September of 2021, that I really began developing and training in floorwork and contemporary dance styles. Since July of 2023, I am a member of dantzaz, a junior company in Donostia, Spain. I have had the joy of working with choreographers like Alexander Stavropoulos, LED Silhouette, Giovanni Insaudo and Paolo Mohovich. I don't know what my future in the world of dance looks like currently, but I am eager to discover more about myself as an artist along the way.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
In my film project, I aim to explore the relationship between an ageing body and dance. Why is there a negative pressure surrounding older dancers? Why are our bodies defined as older or younger in ways that differ from other social contexts?
I have interviewed 3 dancers, all in their 40’s but who continue to dance, teach and create. I wanted to understand their point of view as an older dancer and to question their own relationships with their bodies, and how this has changed throughout their careers. I have also interviewed a younger dancer, in her 20’s, to get her own opinion from the opposite side of the spectrum. In this film, the message that I hope the audience will receive is that, in this day and age, you can continue to dance without restraints for as long as you feel you can and should, and that this stigma surrounding the topic of ageing dancers should be broken.
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Tommy Heeffer, born in 2003 in Holland. I started taking my first breakdance classes when I was 11 years old. After that I went to a dance program in high school where I learnt ballet and modern dance techniques. After that I studied at ZhdK for 2 years and right now I’m doing my internship in a Dutch company called Conny Janssen Danst. I love to dance, for me it’s probably the only way to get through life every day. It’s something I need to do and something that I’m very passionate about.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
The video I made is about the creative process. The video is very chaotic, because that’s how it feels for me when I have to create something. I made the video together with my little sister who turned out to be an incredible actress and dancer. We had so much fun creating it and during the process I realized that in the end that is the essence of creating. That it brings you joy. We can make art a very difficult subject with thousands of opinions but in the end it all comes down to having fun whilst creating something. Creating your own world and escaping from the normal world for a while. Since I started to dance professionally I sometimes find myself losing that joy, with this video project I definitely felt joy again. I felt like a little kid playing in his own world. My little sister who’s 11 years old helped me to step into that world again. I hope that the people who will watch this video will also feel like a child again for 7 minutes and hopefully even longer after the video has ended.
BIOGRAPHY
I am Lucie Froehlich, and was born in France in 2003. Since the age of 12, I studied ballet in Montreal, Canada. During Covid, I had the strong need to express myself differently. This interest led me to move to Zurich and complete my bachelor in Contemporary Dance at ZHdK. Dance allows me to connect with myself by the expression of emotions and mind through the body. I have spent the last year as an intern at Theater Plauen-Zwickau. I am excited to keep growing as an artist and the opportunities the future holds.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
It is their closed doors and private language that alienate people, a form of living death occupies our lives. The isolation and inability we have to communicate with each other testify of the society we live in. Closed Doors approaches the loneliness we bear in difficult times is harder than the emotions themselves.
A dance film in collaboration with Minsu Kim. Special thanks to the dancers Veronica Sala,
Davide Gentilini, Jieun Choi, Minsu Kim.
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Mya Flieger, born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2002. Dance has been pivotal since childhood. At the age of 10, I joined Concervatoire Populaire de Genève, where I discovered contemporary dance under Lucy Nightingale's guidance. In 2017, I pursued formal dance training at Centre de formations professionnelles des Arts de Genève. Accepted into Zurich University of the Arts in 2020 for a Bachelor's in contemporary dance, I collaborated with esteemed choreographers, expanding my horizons. Currently in my final year, I interned at JUNGES Staatstheater in Braunschweig, Germany, with choreographer Barbara Fuchs until December 2023. These experiences shape my identity as an artist, fuelling my passion to explore the endless possibilities of dance.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
What if I danced outside a studio, a theatre or even just a space dedicated to dance? Based on this idea, my video project aims to highlight the richness of contemporary dance in unconventional environments. This practice may seem challenging, but in reality it is very rewarding and enriching. As you explore different spaces throughout my video project, you will see that the body responds differently to each place.
BIOGRAPHY
I come from Italy where I grew up on bread and art: since childhood I’ve had an interest in physical expression; thanks to my family I discovered dance and other facets of art such as singing and acting. To complete my studies at ZHdK, I undertook an internship at Tanz_Kassel: the artistic experience I've gained strengthened my individual identity as a dancer and human. Dance's always been a therapy to fulfill my needs.You can dance with yourself or connect with other souls. My dance is grounded as much as my soul. I wish for myself to always be taken by surprise by dance and to grow with it.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
When small children begin to recognise their own reflection, this phase of development is called the "mirror phase".Recognising ourselves includes discovering our emotions through our bodies. In Mirror, Mirror, this is explained through a game. Dance mediator Keiko Okawa and dancers from TANZ_KASSEL play their way through bodies and emotions: from the tip of the nose to the big toe, from wild anger to joyful curiosity.A concept of Animated puzzle that pushes a young audience to recognise themselves in relation to others, as a whole but articulated body that can contain a myriad of emotions.
BIOGRAPHY
Antonija is a multidisciplinary artist born in 2002 in Kumanovo, Macedonia. Her main focus is exploration of self and interpersonal relationships in a very raw and honest way told predominantly through movement and physicality. In her art practice she experiments with dance, film, video and performance art.
Growing up as the daughter of a dance studio owner and choreographer, Antonija was immersed in dance from an early age. As part of Dance Studio Ultra, she was taking classes in contemporary, jazz, modern and hip hop dance, where she competed and won more than 50 awards as a soloist and in group dances all over Europe. In her childhood she was also taking theatre, music, photography and drawing classes.
Her high school days were spent in State Music and Dance Educational Center “Ilija Nikolovski – Luj” in Skopje, Macedonia where her main focus was contemporary dance. Parallel to her high school education she collaborated with Skopje Dance Theatre, while also teaching and choreographing at her own dance studio.
Antonija's educational journey continued as she became the first Macedonian to pursue a bachelor's degree from Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland, specializing in contemporary dance. Studying in Zurich offered her great opportunities for collaboration and learning from top professionals in the field. She gets acquainted with new dance techniques and methods, and collaborates with many internationally renowned choreographers from Europe and Asia. As part of Zurich University of the Arts, Antonija gets an opportunity to study abroad for a full year at California Institute of the Arts in Santa Clarita, California, USA. In California is where Antonija delves more into other art practices besides dancing and finds herself creating and experimenting more.
Right now Antonija is living in Los Angeles, finishing her year abroad at California Institute of the Arts. She will be graduating from Zurich University of the Arts in June 2024 with a bachelor thesis named “How does one touch a face” which consist from live performance, video installation and written thesis.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
As a dancer I am hyper aware of how people physically interact with one another. I always catch myself analyzing why and how people will touch me. Whatever that may be, a handshake, a hug, just a tap on the shoulder or a more intimate touch depends on the relationship I have with that person. I have noticed since I moved to Switzerland two years ago, and now United States of America that people are not as open and physical with one another as in where I come from, Macedonia.
In general in the world people do not really touch each other faces at all. My interest is how would one touch a face if it is allowed to them to interact/touch with my face without given very specific directions, or the only prompt is touch/interact with my face. Will everyone use their hands only? Will they use another body part? What happens if it is someone I have never met? Is it going to be emotional or purely physical? Will someone try to slap me? Or lick me or spit on me? Will they reenact a touch they already they experienced or they will try something they never tried before?
BIOGRAPHY
Hello, nice to meet you, I’m Coko. And yes, that is indeed my name written on my passport. ;) I am also known as Cokita amongst my friends and I like the nice kick this nickname gives me.
I am an artist and dance has been accompanying me for almost my whole life. I would lie if I say I always loved it. But the one thing that I cherish at any time is that no matter where you’re from, no matter what language you speak, you can always connect with dance. It doesn’t have to be professional, doesn’t have to be pretty, nor good, it just has to come from your heart. And boy it took me long to realize that.
DIPLOMAPROJECT
Starting from the idea that the human is a vessel where emotions, thoughts and feelings are generated. Where and how to store them? Where and how to get rid of them? Is there a limit to the emission of our inner storm? Is there a limit to the capacity of our inner storage?
All the invisible unexplainable reality transforming, devouring, flourishing in a human mind and body.
All of it in every single one of us. All of it in one single body.