Oriented on making people closer

ALMATY/ASHGABAT, October 2 | ORIENT. The two-week intercultural dance residency at Jolda Dance Theatre for choreographers and dancers from Turkmenistan is concluding in Almaty. A final open show will take place on October 3, showcasing the results of the intensive work that culminated the multi-component "Dance Turkmenistan!" project.

The residency, which began on September 22, marked the successful development of the project, implemented by the French Institute in Turkmenistan in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, as well as the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of France and Italy, and the Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan.

The project's goal—creating a space for the exchange of experience, networking, and co-creation—was fully realized. Over the course of two weeks, participants, under the mentorship of curators, refined their own ideas, attending daily workshops, seminars, and master classes with local specialists. A curatorial and coaching team, comprised of choreographers and directors, helped the participants develop sketches for the performances that will be presented at the final show on Friday.

The residency program provided Turkmen dancers with a unique opportunity to explore the work of leading cultural venues in Almaty, including the Samruk and Tselinny Contemporary Dance Theaters, and to work with renowned performing artists.

This project is of significant importance for strengthening international cultural ties, as it is funded by EUNIC, a network of national cultural institutes in the European Union. The project was implemented within the framework of the European Spaces of Culture program, which supports innovative models of cultural cooperation between EU members and local partners in countries outside the Union.

The successful completion of the residency underscores the fruitful partnership between Turkmenistan and the EU in the cultural sector, laying the foundation for the further development of contemporary dance in the region.

Photo: Institut Français du Turkménistan