Folk

A mesmerising dance performance about the allure of the collective.

In Folk, an exuberant night out on the town slowly transforms into an intoxicating ritual. The dance floor becomes an altar and the night a succession of ceremonies in which uniformity takes hold. As the atmosphere shifts, so too do the dynamics: the group forms a collective identity that is constantly shifting, offering no firm footing. Individuals are either swallowed up or cast out.In this way, Folk reveals just how confrontational, seductive and frightening collective forces can be.

New rituals at the intersection of tradition, trance and transformation

Eight international dancers bring this virtuoso, technically refined choreography by Swan Award winner Dunja Jocić to life. For *Folk*, she drew inspiration from the rich folk traditions of the former Yugoslavia and the turbulent 1990s, when ideological shifts profoundly altered everyday life and personal identity. Beyond this historical context, Jocić re-examines her own roots and draws parallels with the world of today. In *Folk*, she uses the raw energy of Balkan music and dance to create new rituals: at the intersection of tradition, trance and transformation, with echoes of social upheaval.

Dunja Jocić

Dunja Jocić creates cinematic dance performances that lay bare the depths of the human psyche. She is a much sought-after choreographer for major ballet companies in Germany, Italy and Switzerland. In 2021, her work was honoured with the VSCD Dance Prize ‘De Zwaan’.