The Premiere of Connecting/Stations Through the Eyes of the Audience

The first presentations of the new site-specific dance happening Connecting/Stations took place on 24 and 25 June 2025at the railway stations in Trnava and Banská Bystrica.

The project, created by a Czech–Slovak team of artists from the Slovak collective Tanečno and MOVE Ostrava, brought contemporary dance directly into the everyday flow of public life - among travelers, luggage, waiting and farewells.

It showed that even a space we usually perceive only as a place of transit can become a powerful environment for shared experience and presence.

How did audiences experience the premiere? We are sharing the authentic reactions of those who were there - whether they came intentionally or encountered the performance unexpectedly in the middle of their day.

Their words show that even in the rush of a train station, a space for shared experience and unexpected closeness can emerge. The reflections are accompanied by photographs by Marek Jančúch from the presentation in Banská Bystrica, which capture the atmosphere of the project with striking clarity.

“I really enjoyed the performance. I loved the chosen location and the music they used. It was very moving to watch the surroundings - people who didn’t know they were watching a performance. I noticed that the group of homeless people who were laughing at the beginning ended up deeply feeling the final duet - I even saw tears 😊 So I’m absolutely satisfied, and I’m very excited for future projects. I hope I’ll definitely hear about them.” — Nikola, Trnava

“The happening at the station in Trnava allowed us to sink for a moment into sensitivity and gentleness. It was a small miracle to watch people slow down, to see how the dance drew them in. In a station space that usually feels cold, impersonal, and distant, the happening acted like a softening - helping us focus on our own emotions and experiences. For a few minutes, the station became an island of empathy, where every observer became part of the performance.” — Anna, Trnava

“Performances like Connecting/Stations don’t happen here often. They chose the unusual setting of the Trnava train station, full of people in a hurry - often detached from their surroundings, just wanting to move quickly, to leave quickly, not to spend too much time there. Throughout the performance, they worked with strong moments of surprise, slowing down, softening, smiles, and closeness. They managed to transform the station into a place where you actually wanted to stop - and for a brief moment, it didn’t matter that the trains were delayed.” — Soňa, Trnava

“It was very pleasant - I loved how it kept developing and how different passages flowed into each other: calm, emotional moments followed by fast, energetic ones. I especially enjoyed the partnering work and the dynamic sections. I’m a very active, dynamic type of person, so that energy really resonated with me. I’m also really curious about how other people experienced it - especially those who were just waiting at the station. I often ask myself what speaks to audiences who don’t usually go to theatre, and what can touch them enough to invite them in.” — Katarina, Bratislava

It brought dance to a place where we wouldn’t normally expect it - into the middle of an ordinary day, among people, in public space. With these first performances, the project has now begun its journey across cities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and beyond. We believe it will continue to create moments of shared pause and empathy for many others.

Stay with us — Connecting/Stations is far from over. In fact, this is only the beginning.

Creative Team

The project is created by a Czech–Slovak team of distinctive artists working in contemporary movement:

Andrej Štepita – performer, educator and founder of the Tanečno festival, whose work draws from the energy and explosive physicality of movement.

Jana Ryšlavá – performer, choreographer and founder of MOVE Ostrava, working at the intersection of dance and acrobatic partnering.

Michaela Králiková – performer and author of the Sign Dance research connecting contemporary dance and sign language.

Viktorie Szalóczi – dancer and acrobat with Cirk La Putyka, specialized in tightwire and aerial techniques.

Matúš Szeghö – dancer, choreographer and founder of MOMENTUM Dance Team, working across Vienna, Prague and Bratislava.

Zuzana Burianová – choreographer, musician and dance film author, focusing on intergenerational dialogue through movement.

Jakub Turác – percussionist performing on club stages and festival platforms, recognized both as a soloist and as a member of ensembles.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the Railways of the Slovak Republic (ŽSR) for their generous cooperation and for enabling the performance to take place directly in the public spaces of the train stations in Trnava and Banská Bystrica. Thanks to this collaboration, Connecting/Stations could unfold authentically — in the very place where human stories, movement, and the quiet of waiting intersect every day.

The project is supported from public funds by the Slovak Arts Council (Fond na podporu umenia) and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.