Oriented on making people closer

From September 22 to October 3, 2025, the Jolda Dance Theatre in Almaty (Kazakhstan) is hosting an intercultural dance residency for dancers and choreographers from Turkmenistan. This event is part of the large-scale, multi-component project “Dance Turkmenistan!”, aimed at developing contemporary dance in the country.

The project is organized by the French Institute in Turkmenistan in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of France and Italy in Turkmenistan, as well as the Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan. Funding is provided by the EUNIC network within the framework of the “European Spaces of Culture” program.

The main goal of the residency is to create a space for exchange, networking, and joint creativity. Over the course of two weeks, participants will work with a curator, attend workshops led by local professionals, and get acquainted with the theatre and dance community of Almaty. Under the curator’s mentorship, they will develop their own ideas and performance sketches, which will be presented at a final open showcase on October 3.

The program includes daily practices, workshops, independent sessions, excursions, and creative meetings. Participants will visit JOLDA DANCE THEATRE, the Samruk Contemporary Dance Theatre, TEATRO89, the cultural space “TRANSFORMA,” the Almaty Museum of Arts, and other venues. Meetings are also planned with renowned artists and composers such as Tamara Said, Ella Baiysbayeva, and Mark Kuklin.

The residency is produced by Zhanna Tulendy, founder of Jolda Dance Theatre, and independent producer Nafisat Yermagambetova. The curatorial and training team includes experienced dancers and choreographers: Artur Galimullin, Gulsaya Taurkhanova, Maria Gubanova, and Tomiris Mettybayeva.

The French Institute in Turkmenistan coordinates cooperation in the fields of culture and education, offering French language courses and cultural events. JOLDA DANCE THEATRE is a well-known contemporary dance company in Kazakhstan, while the Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan actively promotes international cultural cooperation, German language, and culture in the region.

ORIENT

Photo: eu4turkmenistan