ARUCAD Celebrated World Dance Day with the “Bodies Speak / Ideas Move” Programme

Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) brought together art lovers at the Bandabuliya Stage with a two-day programme titled “Bodies Speak / Ideas Move,” organized on April 28–29 as part of World Dance Day. Led by the Department of Contemporary Dance within the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, the event showcased the expressive power of dance and its interdisciplinary nature through workshops, open-stage performances, and evening shows, attracting significant participation.

The first day of the program began with the Open Stage – Dance Productions event, where students shared their creative processes with the audience. This was followed by a workshop led by dance artist Tamara McCarty, offering participants experience in contemporary dance practices. The day concluded with an evening performance titled “Bodies Speak, Ideas Move 26” held at the Bandabuliya Stage.

The second day started with a manifesto reading and a video screening. Later, an improvisation performance gathering held at Bandabuliya highlighted the spontaneous and collective aspects of dance-making. The programme continued with evening performances and ended with a closing gathering after the event.

The choreographies presented within the event were shared with the audience as outcomes of the students’ coursework throughout the year. The works were prepared under the guidance of Department Head Asst. Prof. Dr. Handan Ergiydiren, Lecturer Yıldız Güventürk, Lecturer Bekir Şimşek, as well as Doğa Uluçlar and Tamara McCarty. Featured pieces included “Summer Time” choreographed by Nehir Nur Çelik, “Coil” by Julio Cesar Iglesias, a work by Doğa Uluçlar, “Café Müller” by Pina Bausch, “Othello” by J. Neumer, “Tie” by Nastja Bremec and Michael Rynia, and “Dream Within a Dream” by Lecturer Yıldız Güventürk. In addition to the students’ technical development, their individual modes of expression and dramaturgical approaches on stage drew attention.

The two-day programme brought together course content, workshops, and stage productions carried out by the ARUCAD Contemporary Dance Department, providing an opportunity for students to share the works they developed during their educational process with the audience.