Three Days in Motion – July Encounters at MPC

From 18 to 20 July, artists and audiences gathered in San Vincenti – some for the first time, others already familiar – to spend three days filled with dance, exchange and togetherness.

The programme began with short welcome words by Petra Glad Mažar and Petra Valentić, joined by greetings from Dean Perković, Mayor of San Vincenti, and Anera Stepfer, Head of the Creative Europe Desk Croatia – a reminder of the value of support that makes artistic programmes possible.

On Friday, the main square hosted Waterkind, a poetic duet by Joanna Holewa Chrona and Yared Tilahun Cederlund (Land Before Time), inspired by the flow and intimacy of water. The evening continued with Blue Carousel, a sharp and witty satire on seduction and feminine representation, choreographed by Lisa Colette Bysheim and Katrine Patry. The performance was accompanied by a live techno set from the sister DJ duo asiangirlsonly, whose music pulsed through the walls of Grimani Castle.

Saturday was dedicated to exploration through workshop formats. Dance artists and enthusiasts joined the workshop by Land Before Time, as well as the session led by Branko Mitrović, held within the European project D. Dance Alliance.

The evening brought Memory in Motion – a workshop devoted to mapping memories and stories of San Vincenti. It brought together locals, passers-by and cultural workers in a conversation moderated by Martin Yankov and Irina Altanova (Collective Foundation, Bulgaria).

Saturday night was marked by the performance of NON+ULTRAS – an energetic and provocative piece by German choreographer Moritz Ostruschnjak, using the aesthetics of football fan culture to reflect social dynamics. Eight performers, 500 football scarves, and among them – one from the local club NK Smoljanci.

The programme concluded on Sunday with Look Back, Step Forward, an interdisciplinary exhibition marking 15 years of the Mediterranean Dance Center. Featuring photographs by Andi Bančić – long-time collaborator and visual chronicler of MPC – the exhibition also included soundscapes recorded by resident artists and the vocal performance Impro/esije by Melita Lovričević. It was an evening of shared memory – quiet, tender, and sincere.

Thank you to all performers, workshop participants, our loyal audience and the wonderful community of San Vincenti. For the conversations, the dance, the emotion, and the energy.

See you again soon.