The young dancer Ivana Balabanova has the exceptional privilege of being part of an installation within the framework of a retrospective exhibition of the world-famous artist Marina Abramović at the “Kunsthaus” in Zurich.
The Macedonian dancer and choreographer Ivana Balabanova went to Zurich for master’s studies in choreography, and at the same time became part of the performers of live installations at a retrospective exhibition of Marina Abramović.
How did you happen to participate in Marina Abramović’s installation?
– There are some things that simply belong to us. But to explain what I mean by this, I would have to go back to the beginning. In 2019, while visiting Belgrade at the Festival of Choreographic Miniatures, I had the opportunity to visit the Abramović retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art. I remember having very mixed feelings and countless questions about what I experienced, but I would say that even then the prevailing inner feeling was curiosity. As someone involved in dance and performance art, the idea of pushing boundaries and placing the body in the service of an artistic idea, and even more so a social critique, reflects a different dedication to the vocation.
So five years later, while I was completing my master’s studies in choreography at the University of the Arts in Switzerland, I saw the open call from the Kunsthaus, Zurich. Even though I’ve been pretty busy at the moment working on my graduation choreography “Remembering the Future”, I just felt I should check in. I didn’t have the opportunity to prepare much for the application, so in the cover letter I shared everything that I really felt, exactly as I felt it. At that point I could see myself as part of the process. After some time, they made the first selection and called me for an audition, and immediately after its completion, I received a confirmation of my participation. Only later did I find out that 860 candidates were registered, and only 23 of us were selected.
What process did it go through and what exactly is the project?
– Although I can’t talk too much about the whole process, because certain things are confidential, what I can share is that it was as challenging as it was simple. The process takes place in several stages, and it started at the end of September with the “Cleaning the Home” residency.
The residency took place in a hotel near the Alps at an altitude of 1400 m above sea level, and entailed five days of fasting without food, talking and electronic devices, during which time we also started trying out some of the tasks that are part of her practice. Although we were all apprehensive about fasting, it was actually the easiest part and what was really challenging were the assignments. They imply several hours of performing a specific task, which seems simple, but, due to the duration, challenges all the capacities of the body.
Although it is a radical approach, in its essence it is an experience that I will remember forever. Starting from the way to meet 23 people in silence, to knowing one’s limits and the endurance of the body, I learned many things about myself and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to escape from the chaos of the world at least for a moment and be with myself.
We are currently finishing the final rehearsals at the museum and that, in turn, is an experience in itself. Being a part of such an institution and amazing organization reminds me daily how lucky and privileged I am to be where I am at the moment. Indeed, at every moment we are completely taken care of and we have countless dedicated people working for us, a team of amazing top performers around me.
When and where will there be a presentation of the project?
– The opening of the retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Art in Zurich (“Kunsthaus”) will take place on October 24, and it includes the presentation of a large number of works by Marina Abramović, some of which are live installations with us, namely: “Imponderabilia”, “Luminosity”, “Work Relation” and “Artist Must Be Beautiful”. The retrospective will be open until mid-February 2025.
A few months ago, there was an emotional farewell to the dance cultural center “Bitrix”. What kind of heirs did he leave behind?
– What I said goodbye to was the dance school within the “Bitrix Cultural Center”, or to my students, some of whom are now friends and colleagues. With my departure to Switzerland, it was clear to me that at this stage in my life I have to let go of some things, one to make room for younger people to realize their dreams, and the other, due to the necessity of prioritizing other things.
Additionally, I believe for myself that it is necessary to do those things where I feel my soul belongs, and in that sense, in the past years I felt the need for a change. In the 15 years of the school’s existence, I believe that we have achieved significant progress and a proactive approach in affirming the art of dance, and we have had successful and challenging cooperation with other centers.
I am happy that today there are many young people of incredible quality, and the dance school will continue under the leadership of Iva Georgieva, with the support of Nadja Lukanovska and Nikola Ignovski. However, what I am not leaving, but on the contrary, I will put my efforts to grow, is the functioning of the center as a space for performing arts following certain successful examples from the world. We are still developing this story, with the idea of opening up many opportunities for artists working in the performing arts.
What are the new projects Bitrix is working on?
– In the context of the above, and with the idea of developing many new programs available to local artists in our country, we are already starting collaborations with the University of the Arts in Zurich, the Universities “Fontis” and “Kodarts” from the Netherlands, the organization “Tanz+Zwicki” from Zurich, where I will be the artistic director of the dance program, as well as several other organizations from Switzerland. In addition, these projects also involve cooperation with the local high school for modern dance “Ilija Nikolovski – Luj” and the University “Goce Delchev” – Shtip and the Department of Contemporary Dance led by Risima Risimkin.
I am happy for all these opportunities and I have high hopes that those few artists who break into the scene outside our country, in the long run we will be able to contribute to the development of it at home. Thus, the ninth edition of the “Bitrix Specials” platform will soon begin, where we have guests from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Austria and over 15 lecturers from RSM, and immediately after that, two artistic residencies in collaboration with “Fontis” University with a program led by Mr. Ms. Maaike Fekes. Hello, in 2025 we will realize the tenth jubilee edition of the “Bitrix Dance League” festival.
Besides the collaboration with Marina Abramović, where are you at this time and what are your personal challenges?
– By leaving for Zurich, a new world opened up in front of me, full of challenges, but also a constant reminder of my love for performing arts. A process that implies a deep exploration of one’s capacities, qualities, fears, further questioning of all cultural and hereditary baggage, as well as a new, valuable approach to knowing myself and the needs of my body or the body as such. In that sense, I would say that before all the professional achievements and challenges, this is the process that marks this part of my life, building my life in two completely different countries.
At the same time, a lot of things are happening that make me happy and make me feel grateful, and that, of course, includes working on a number of art projects. This summer I realized my international tour in Mexico, St. Petersburg and Berlin presenting the works “Code 9” in collaboration with Alessandro Ola and “my blood, my politics” in the production of “Dance Bunker”.
Furthermore, we recently finished shooting “Lima”, the first serious dance film in collaboration with Batuhan Ibrahim, and on October 30th the premiere of the audiovisual project in collaboration with the composer Paul Taro Schmidt will take place. In November, I will be a guest at the “Lichthof” theater in Hamburg with the works “Code 9” and a duet version of the work “Liminal Body” together with the dancers Stefani Schaarschmidt and Teresa Lazarev, the lighting designer Igor Mitrevski, the composer Alessandro Ola and the costume designer Maja Gyureska. In 2025, there will be many more projects with collaborators from RSM and Switzerland, which I look forward to.
