Students from the ARUCAD Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, under the direction of Associate Professor Dr. Handan Ergiydiren Doğan, staged a sound and movement performance titled “Nowhere” on the occasion of International Dance Day.
The performance titled “Nowhere” was created from the results of the creative process that involved all department students at ARUCAD’s Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, through their shared Self-Discovery classes that spanned from improvisation to production. The performance was inspired by three short films by Doğuş Özokutan and Vasfi Çiftçioğlu. The students’ solo works were brought together and presented as a group performance under the direction of Associate Professor Dr. Handan Ergiydiren Doğan.
The performance “Nowhere” embodied concepts such as time, space, memory, moment, and reminiscence, aiming to express the profound impact of events such as earthquakes and fires on individuals through words, sound, melody, and movement.
Commenting on the prepared performance and International Dance Day, Associate Professor Dr. Handan Ergiydiren Doğan, Head of the Modern Dance Department at ARUCAD, stated, “World Dance Day invites people to dance all around the world, urging them to feel the rhythm and discover the marvel of our bodies. We all know that the harmony between body and soul and meaning with matter brings peace to individuals. Engaging with dance and movement is one of the most enjoyable ways to harmonise with our bodies and love ourselves. Since the early days of human existence, we have been creating music and expressing our emotions through dance. Each person’s unique movement style, sway, and dance is beautiful. Each person’s unique way of dancing is correct and beautiful because every body is beautiful. In the contemporary world, dance has evolved beyond rhythmic movements and has become an individual and social expression that interprets events through movement. With this understanding, the performance we have carried out as the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts was a presentation of our students expressing themselves in their own unique way through their movement and vocal creations. In line with our university’s goal of producing artists who are sensitive to the social environment and global issues, each student reflected their struggle with the internal challenges of being human through their voice and movement.”
She added“I hope that World Dance Day will be a day when we all recognise and affirm our bodies with love, and acknowledge ourselves as a complete entity of mind and body. May dance always be a part of our lives. Happy World Dance Day.”
