Assoc. Prof. Simona Șomăcescu, PhD – Project Manager and Curator of the International Conference on Creativity in Dance

The success of the inaugural edition of the International Conference on Creativity in Dance (ICCD) has confirmed the urgency of establishing an academic framework capable of fostering diversified approaches to dance. Such a framework must address practice-based methodologies while simultaneously engaging with theoretical, analytical, and critical discourses. This initiative emerged from the recognition that, despite the unprecedented cultural prominence of dance—amplified through digital platforms and social media—there remain relatively few academic institutions worldwide committed to advancing rigorous research in dance theory and criticism. The academic environment, by its very nature, requires sustained inquiry, conceptual reflection, and historically informed argumentation, which makes it increasingly challenging to keep pace with the rapid transformations occurring in the field of dance today.

In this context, it is an honor to have as a Special Guest for the 2026 edition Professor André Lepecki of New York University, a leading international scholar whose contributions have fundamentally reshaped contemporary understandings of perception, embodiment, and meaning in dance. His presence exemplifies the conference’s commitment to advancing critical dialogue at the highest intellectual level.

This edition also introduces a new section, FOCUS ON, designed to foreground choreographers whose artistic research interrogates and expands the conceptual and aesthetic boundaries of the discipline. The 2026 program positions choreographer Sergiu Matis at the center of this inquiry, acknowledging his work as emblematic of the ongoing redefinition of choreographic practice.

A further highlight will be the Gala performance jointly realized by students of the University of the Arts in Zurich and the I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film (UNATC), marking the 115th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Romania. This event inaugurates the celebratory activities scheduled throughout the year, positioning performance as a vehicle for cultural encounter and dialogue.

Also, the works of Camilla Greenwell, whose contributions to contemporary dance photography have positioned her as a key practitioner in the international performing arts landscape, will be presented for the first time in Romania on this occasion. Frequently commissioned by leading contemporary dance companies, her works offer a refined visual exploration of movement, gesture and spatial dynamics. A carefully curated selection of her photographs will be on display throughout the event.

Over the course of four days, the second edition of ICCD will convene an audience comprising distinguished international and national guests, scholars, educators, students, and practitioners. The program encompasses thematic panels: education, aesthetics and performance and dance medicine—as well as book launches, workshops, performances, and a photography exhibition.

This conference aspires to cultivate a space of critical reflection, interdisciplinary exchange, and artistic exploration, thereby contributing to the consolidation of dance as an expanding field of knowledge within contemporary academia.