Developing Art is a Cultural NGO dedicated to facilitating artistic processes to the public and to improving the relation between artists and public. DA is based in Bucharest and since 2017 has developed and coordinated a number of interdisciplinary cultural projects that have as priorities Contemporary Dance, Mixed Media, Education and Research and Visual Arts. DA’s co-founders and members are active in the Contemporary Arts scene, working both nationally and internationally. DA’s expertise with creating and successfully implementing publicly funded projects, as well as its members experience have led to a natural interest in growing communities and networks around their main artistic priorities.
Artist / Interdisciplinary Curator
ALINA USURELU
Alina Ușurelu, Bucharest (n.1990) She is an interdisciplinary artist-curator, a creator of transdiciplinary research processes, working across photography, videography, installation, performance and somatic practices. She uses images, bodies and words to open doors to unseen worlds. The themes She addresses in her artistic proposals are related to sexuality and sexual identity, mental health, community development and the kinship with the more-than-human world.
In 2014 she starts photography and joins the contemporary dance community, in 2016 she creates her first short dance film, in 2017 she establishes the Developing Art association with choreographers Irina Marinescu and Andreea Novac, and in 2019 she participates in an intensive training program in performing arts in Lisbon - Forum Dança and starts working in international projects and residency programs as a performer, visual artist or artistic director.
ANDREEA NOVAC
Choreographer, Perfomer
Andreea Novac is a choreographer and performer based in Bucharest, Romania. Born in 1981, she graduated in Psychology (BA) and Choreography (BA, MA, PhD) at National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest. She started making her own work in 2008 and some of her performances were presented in various national and international contexts. She participates regularly in dance, research, composition, and improvisation workshops in Europe. Artistic residencies in Great Britain, Estonia, Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, France, Ireland, and Romania. She received a series of scholarships to participate in the movement research workshops in Italy and Germany and regularly teaches classes for professional and amateur dancers, actors and works in theatre and film. She is the co - founder of Developing Art Association and worked as an artistic consultant within National Dance Centre Bucharest, co-curated Bucharest International Dance Film Festival (2020), artistic director of Caleido Festival (2020, 2021, 2023), associated artist of Areal (2022 - 2024). She received the best choreography award for her MA graduation work offered by the National University of Theatre and Film Bucharest and The Excellence Award offered by National Dance Centre Bucharest for her contribution to the development of contemporary dance in Romania.
IRINA MARINESCU
Movement Artist, Dance Therapist, Stand-up Comedian
Irina Marinescu fell in love with contemporary dance in 2009. Since then, she has participated in contemporary dance workshops, Feldenkrais, Viewpoints, Axis Syllabus, Das Theater Feedback Method, Contact improvisation, Gaga, dance and film production workshops with Romanian and foreign professionals.
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She has worked for The National Dance Center Bucharest and participated at the Cultural Management Academy 2019, she is the founder of the UnShame Dance platform and cofounder of the cultural NGO Developing Art. She wants to offer new perspectives of the world and its stories through various media and languages – be it dance, new media, stand up comedy. Her interests lie at the intersection between art and therapy, art and science and art and anthropology.
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From 2019 she has started doing Stand-up Comedy because she wanted to not take herself so seriously and because she didn’t feel represented by the stories that she heard on stage. From 2022 she has started a long term training specialization on dance-movement-therapy. Through DMT she intends to channel her contemporary dance experience in order to bring connection, healing and relief with tested and recognized methods from movement and therapy systems and techniques (Laban-Bartenieff, Somatic movement, Psychotherapy methods, Kestenberg, Authentic Movement, etc.).
LAURA TROCAN
Producer
Laura is a producer of contemporary dance and theater performances and has about 10 years of experience in organizing events in the cultural-educational field. She has a degree in sociology and a master's degree in performing arts, obtained at the Center of Excellence in Image Study.
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For two years he was an artistic consultant at the National Dance Center in Bucharest, being
involved both in the production of the institution's shows and in the organization of the Like festival CNDB and some international events.
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Starting with 2018, she coordinates independent cultural projects and collaborates with various organizations and artistic groups with which she produces shows and organizes events.
She has been with Developing Art since its beginning.