The “Embarking” Symposium as a Bridge Between Education and Professional Practice

Mover
2 days ago
2 min read

The Embarking Symposium, which we organized for the first time this year in collaboration with Vize tance as part of MOVE Fest Ostrava, focused on the transition of young dancers from school into the professional field, opening a space for sharing, inspiration, and exchange among emerging artists.

The three-day program offered students creative workshops, pitch sessions, lectures, the curated evening Fresh Dance, as well as the opportunity to take part in the project Lion’s Den UNLIMITED. “I see great potential in the connection between the Embarking Symposium and MOVE Fest,” says festival director Jana Ryšlavá. “We are creating a space for young creators, recent graduates, and students to share information, visions, fears, and first steps. At the same time, they meet established artists and have the opportunity to present their work to invited festival guests. I see a living exchange here - a kind of symbiosis that enriches both sides.”

According to Lucia Kašiarová, founder of Studio ALTA and member of the Board of Vize tance, the value of such gatherings lies above all in the opportunity to compare training approaches, share inspiration, and search for one’s own voice. “When students of contemporary dance from different schools meet in one place, they become aware of how different teaching methods and artistic priorities can be. Such encounters allow them to look beyond their own educational context and understand the wider landscape of dance education,” she says. Lucia also highlights the importance of connecting study and professional practice: “Meeting experienced managers offered practical advice on how to prepare for life after school - from independent artistic creation to production skills. Seeing evening performances by professional ensembles then added an important dimension of continuity between education and artistic practice.”

For Petra Skalíková, graduate of VŠMU in Bratislava, the symposium was surprisingly open and accessible: “As a student, I thought conferences were only for company directors. Now I see they are a natural part of the dance world - and that pitch sessions can be useful even when writing grants. We learned things no one teaches you at school - how to communicate, how to speak about your work, how to find your place after graduating.”

International guest Jaan Ulst from Tartu 2024 adds: “There are no borders in dance. It is important to teach young generations how to move across them — and how to grow from those experiences.” He says being part of the symposium as a mentor for international relations and career development was a pleasure.

The Embarking Symposium confirmed that formats of this kind are essential for the future of contemporary dance and movement arts. It offered emerging artists not only inspiration, but also concrete tools for navigating the professional field and becoming an active part of the wider cultural ecosystem.

MOVE Ostrava and Vize tance therefore plan to build on this year’s success and expand the symposium further next year. 💪🏼