I’d like to invite you to an online conversation with four artists from Sdvig, an independent dance space in the heart of Saint Petersburg.

Over the past eight years, Sdvig has grown into a remarkable self-organized platform for contemporary dance. Founded and sustained by a collective of artists, it functions as a dance studio, an artist residency, a performance venue, and the organizer of an annual summer festival. Throughout the year, they host classes, laboratories, workshops, lectures, and performances, creating a space for artistic research, collaboration, and embodied practices. Built without state funding, Sdvig has been sustained through teaching, crowdfunding, and collective effort.

As artists who continue to live and work in Russia have become increasingly disconnected from international artistic exchange, I’d like to create a space for direct dialogue rather than speaking about one another from a distance.

During the conversation, we’ll talk about what it means to sustain an independent artistic space under the current conditions in Russia. I’m interested not only in the practical side of maintaining a self-organized initiative, but also in their curatorial practice today: how they shape their festival, what artistic questions feel urgent, and what it means to continue making and presenting dance in the context of war and increasing restrictions on artistic expression.

The artists will introduce Sdvig, share excerpts from several works presented at this year’s summer festival, and speak about the ideas behind them. Afterwards, there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

The conversation is primarily intended for students of the MA Choreography and Performance programme at the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies (JLU Giessen), though everyone interested is warmly welcome.

Professor Xavier Le Roy will also join the conversation.

Finally, I’d like to use this occasion to support Sdvig’s summer festival. At the end of the meeting, I’ll share information about how those based in Europe can contribute to their ongoing work if they wish.

I will send the zoom link later