The 8th International Solo Contemporary Dance Festival took place at CerModern with 20 dancers from 13 countries. Performers from around the world met in Ankara and treated the audience to a visual feast, telling stories through body language.
The 8th International Solo Contemporary Dance Festival showcased some of the most original examples of contemporary dance. Staged on CerModern’s open-air platform, the festival gave the capital’s audience two days to experience the individual expressive power of dance. Alongside Turkish dancers, artists from France, Italy, Georgia, Belgium, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Korea, and the Netherlands performed solo pieces. The festival also featured workshops, artist meet-ups, and talks.
FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES TO MOVE
Festival programmer and dance artist Deniz Alp noted the growing interest among Ankara audiences: “There has been huge interest. Submissions are diversifying. We have started to receive applications from countries we never expected. The Solo Dance Festival also has a big impact on Ankara’s dance scene. Because this festival is not only about watching; it is a space for sharing. Through workshops, everyone comes together—from amateurs to professionals, from university students to freelance dancers. Everyone who loves to move meets in Ankara at this festival.”
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Zihni Tümer, Director of CerModern’s Culture and Arts Programs, drew attention to the festival’s international reach: “The 8th Solo Dance Festival is achieving success internationally. We have gone beyond the participation we see at festivals in Europe. Dancers from 13 countries took the stage. Within the art of dance, solo dance first emerged as a small cell and later evolved into an independent discipline. Artists bring their societies, countries, or the environments they live in to the stage through a one-person performance. This individual narrative makes dance much more powerful. When music, movement, and the intellectual dimension come together, they offer the audience a story-driven experience.”
A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORIES
Festival program consultant Özgür Adam underlined the event’s importance for young dancers: “This festival at CerModern provides a valuable environment for our young artists to encounter international examples and develop their own modes of expression. It gives our young people a chance to tell their own stories.”
