From Novi Sad, Through Moscow to the Stars: Dance Steps of Staša Kukić

‘My name is Staša Kukić and I’m a choreographer graduate’ – this is how 22-year-old Staša from Novi Sad introduced herself to us. This sentence seems rather simple and straightforward, but it hides numerous certificates, praises, medals, successful competitions. It all led her to Russia and succeeding in what she deems her biggest achievement so far – enrolment in the Moscow State Institute of Culture. She started dancing when she was 3 years old. At first it was sports dance, and then, after a couple of successful years of dancing with her partner Ivan Salonski, she became part of the national team of Serbia. She was graduated from both Ballet High School, Department of Contemporary Dance, and Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Grammar School. As a high school student, Staša won the first prize in the ballet national competition of 2016. That same year, she decided to leave her hometown and take the admissions test at one of the most prestigious cultural and educational institutions.

I try to read and analyse topics related to Serbia and its culture as much as possible, because I think that, unfortunately, there’s so much things left unexplored and unused.

When your friends from abroad visit you in Novi Sad, where do you take them?

After taking them sightseeing, I like to show them the old streets of authentic beauty and historical importance in the city centre and Gradić. I believe that’s how you can truly feel the atmosphere of Novi Sad.

There’s large number of cultural events happening in Novi Sad, more and more of which are dance oriented. How do you choose which ones to visit?

I try not to choose but manage to visit all of them. I think mutual support, what our colleagues are working on and art in Novi Sad in general, are very important.

What do you do when you’re not doing dance-related activities. How do you spend your free time?

I like to spend my free time with my friends and family by either taking a walk or simply visiting the places in the city that we like. I like to travel whenever an opportunity for it arises. Also, spending time with animals, helping them, especially as a volunteer, is an activity dear to my heart.

How do you envisage further development of culture in Novi Sad? What improvements would you like to see?

I’d like for Novi Sad to maintain this raising cultural path that it took. I think encouraging both the emerging and affirmed artists to create and share their artistic creation with audience is very important. Raising awareness about art is hard work, but, continuing this way, I think the changes will eventually be even more visible.

What are you working on right now and what are your plans for the future? What would you like to accomplish in your career?

I was invited to be part of the choreography team for the I am Mileva Einstein musical in the Viva Dance Academy. Out of all the projects I’ve worked on, this one is the biggest. In addition to this, I’ve been working on a personal, mini project for some time now. When it comes to my career, I would like to implement in my work all the topics important for us and for presenting us to the world. Our cultural heritage is so rich that there’s so many new things not shown to the world yet, and there’s also stuff that can be presented again but in a new format, in a way that would remind the audience of the old, forgotten heritage. Photo: Vladimir Veličković

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This performance was inspired by Laza Kostić and Lenka Dunđerski’s love story. How often do you find inspiration in cultural and historical heritage of this region, and how do you implement that in your artistic expression?

I try to read and analyse topics related to Serbia and its culture as much as possible, because I think that, unfortunately, there’s so much things left unexplored and unused, things not worth any less than major art pieces which have been on the global scene for quite some time now, or which have been presented to the world through some other forms of art. I adapt and create my artistic expression in accordance to the topic I chose, thus trying to find the most accurate way to portray my own vision of it.

You completed your studies at the Moscow State Institute of Culture. During that period, were you nostalgic for Novi Sad and what did you miss most?

When the initial shock of coming to a new place and adapting to new surroundings passed, I started to feel nostalgic. I’d never left Novi Sad for such a long period of time before, and then, after a couple of months, I started to miss everything: places that I loved and used to visit, familiar faces I was regularly seeing on the streets and the fact that, due to its not being very big, nothing is that far away in Novi Sad. It was only then that I realised that it’s a privilege to have someone smile at you when passing you by or to have a bunch of memories in every corner of the city. Of course, after a couple of months, Moscow became my second favourite city, but Novi Sad, the city I grew up in, will always be special to me.

I’d like for Novi Sad to maintain this raising cultural path that it took.

Your performance Ritam prostora (En. ‘Rhythm of the Space’) captured special attention at this year’s Kaleidoscope of Culture. Where did you find inspiration for a choreography describing one working day in a factory? How did the location you performed at fit into the concept of your choreography?

The initial idea proposed by the artistic team was to preserve the atmosphere that used to dominate the Chinese Quarter throughout its history. By exploring the factories and workshops that were there, I made a selection of shops and interpersonal relationships that I wanted to portray. The choreography was created by styling the work movements and adding some elements of drama, thus achieving the contrast between continuous work and breaks. The location added up to the desired atmosphere due to its rural looks and hidden beauty. It all made for a perfect ambient for performing this dance.

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When your friends from abroad visit you in Novi Sad, where do you take them?

After taking them sightseeing, I like to show them the old streets of authentic beauty and historical importance in the city centre and Gradić. I believe that’s how you can truly feel the atmosphere of Novi Sad.

There’s large number of cultural events happening in Novi Sad, more and more of which are dance oriented. How do you choose which ones to visit?

I try not to choose but manage to visit all of them. I think mutual support, what our colleagues are working on and art in Novi Sad in general, are very important.

What do you do when you’re not doing dance-related activities. How do you spend your free time?

I like to spend my free time with my friends and family by either taking a walk or simply visiting the places in the city that we like. I like to travel whenever an opportunity for it arises. Also, spending time with animals, helping them, especially as a volunteer, is an activity dear to my heart.

How do you envisage further development of culture in Novi Sad? What improvements would you like to see?

I’d like for Novi Sad to maintain this raising cultural path that it took. I think encouraging both the emerging and affirmed artists to create and share their artistic creation with audience is very important. Raising awareness about art is hard work, but, continuing this way, I think the changes will eventually be even more visible.

What are you working on right now and what are your plans for the future? What would you like to accomplish in your career?

I was invited to be part of the choreography team for the I am Mileva Einstein musical in the Viva Dance Academy. Out of all the projects I’ve worked on, this one is the biggest. In addition to this, I’ve been working on a personal, mini project for some time now. When it comes to my career, I would like to implement in my work all the topics important for us and for presenting us to the world. Our cultural heritage is so rich that there’s so many new things not shown to the world yet, and there’s also stuff that can be presented again but in a new format, in a way that would remind the audience of the old, forgotten heritage. Photo: Vladimir Veličković ‘At the admissions test in Moscow, I showed that I’m worthy of being part of the class accepting only 25 students,’ says Staša, who attracted attention of the Novi Sad audience with her one-act ballet Santa Maria della Salute. This fragment was performed recently in the Egység Cultural Station within the call Artistis. Now!

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This performance was inspired by Laza Kostić and Lenka Dunđerski’s love story. How often do you find inspiration in cultural and historical heritage of this region, and how do you implement that in your artistic expression?

I try to read and analyse topics related to Serbia and its culture as much as possible, because I think that, unfortunately, there’s so much things left unexplored and unused, things not worth any less than major art pieces which have been on the global scene for quite some time now, or which have been presented to the world through some other forms of art. I adapt and create my artistic expression in accordance to the topic I chose, thus trying to find the most accurate way to portray my own vision of it.

You completed your studies at the Moscow State Institute of Culture. During that period, were you nostalgic for Novi Sad and what did you miss most?

When the initial shock of coming to a new place and adapting to new surroundings passed, I started to feel nostalgic. I’d never left Novi Sad for such a long period of time before, and then, after a couple of months, I started to miss everything: places that I loved and used to visit, familiar faces I was regularly seeing on the streets and the fact that, due to its not being very big, nothing is that far away in Novi Sad. It was only then that I realised that it’s a privilege to have someone smile at you when passing you by or to have a bunch of memories in every corner of the city. Of course, after a couple of months, Moscow became my second favourite city, but Novi Sad, the city I grew up in, will always be special to me.

I’d like for Novi Sad to maintain this raising cultural path that it took.

Your performance Ritam prostora (En. ‘Rhythm of the Space’) captured special attention at this year’s Kaleidoscope of Culture. Where did you find inspiration for a choreography describing one working day in a factory? How did the location you performed at fit into the concept of your choreography?

The initial idea proposed by the artistic team was to preserve the atmosphere that used to dominate the Chinese Quarter throughout its history. By exploring the factories and workshops that were there, I made a selection of shops and interpersonal relationships that I wanted to portray. The choreography was created by styling the work movements and adding some elements of drama, thus achieving the contrast between continuous work and breaks. The location added up to the desired atmosphere due to its rural looks and hidden beauty. It all made for a perfect ambient for performing this dance.

• 

• 

When your friends from abroad visit you in Novi Sad, where do you take them?

After taking them sightseeing, I like to show them the old streets of authentic beauty and historical importance in the city centre and Gradić. I believe that’s how you can truly feel the atmosphere of Novi Sad.

There’s large number of cultural events happening in Novi Sad, more and more of which are dance oriented. How do you choose which ones to visit?

I try not to choose but manage to visit all of them. I think mutual support, what our colleagues are working on and art in Novi Sad in general, are very important.

What do you do when you’re not doing dance-related activities. How do you spend your free time?

I like to spend my free time with my friends and family by either taking a walk or simply visiting the places in the city that we like. I like to travel whenever an opportunity for it arises. Also, spending time with animals, helping them, especially as a volunteer, is an activity dear to my heart.

How do you envisage further development of culture in Novi Sad? What improvements would you like to see?

I’d like for Novi Sad to maintain this raising cultural path that it took. I think encouraging both the emerging and affirmed artists to create and share their artistic creation with audience is very important. Raising awareness about art is hard work, but, continuing this way, I think the changes will eventually be even more visible.

What are you working on right now and what are your plans for the future? What would you like to accomplish in your career?

I was invited to be part of the choreography team for the I am Mileva Einstein musical in the Viva Dance Academy. Out of all the projects I’ve worked on, this one is the biggest. In addition to this, I’ve been working on a personal, mini project for some time now. When it comes to my career, I would like to implement in my work all the topics important for us and for presenting us to the world. Our cultural heritage is so rich that there’s so many new things not shown to the world yet, and there’s also stuff that can be presented again but in a new format, in a way that would remind the audience of the old, forgotten heritage. Photo: Vladimir Veličković