From Lyon to Iași: HazarDance brings a new choreographic language of contemporary dance to the Romanian Creative Week
A performance discovered at the Lyon Dance Biennale, one of the most important European contemporary flamenco productions and guest artists from France, Spain and Romania transform HazarDance into one of the most international editions of the project so far. Part a Romanian Creative Weekthe largest event dedicated to creative industries in the European Union and held for the first time under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, the platform curated by Ștefan Lupu brings to Iasi performances that go beyond the classical boundaries of dance and build a dialogue between body, image and identity.
Part of the Content Creation section, supported by Pepsi, Iulius, Jidvei, Stella Artois and Audi Iasi Sandra Group, HazarDance transforms the city into a choreographic route that goes beyond the boundaries of the classical stage and brings dance into theaters, alternative spaces and outdoors.
“HazarDance does not stop at a single type of expression, but crosses the boundaries between styles: from flamenco and contemporary dance to African influences, street dance, ballet or physical theater. The result is not a simple juxtaposition of styles, but a real dialogue between them, where the body becomes a means of exploration and meaning“, the curator said Stefan Lupu.
One of the novelties of this edition is the collaboration with the French artists invited in the show “L'heure du thé”, presented on May 19, in two performances, at Sala Uzina cu Teatru of the National Theater of Iași. Created by choreographer Rebecca Journo, the project explores the theme of the snapshot and identity in constant transformation, in a choreographic language that combines contemporary dance with pantomime technique. The show functions as a living museum of the selfie and identity reflection, where bodies are continuously fragmented, multiplied and reconstructed in a game between self-fiction, memory and image.
“We first saw the performance at the Lyon Dance Biennale and were fascinated by its choreographic language. It is not contemporary dance in the classical sense, but a very special combination of dance and pantomime. You have the impression that you are watching frames unfold in front of you, like a living movie“, he declared Mara Tătar, RCW artistic director.
The HazarDance program also includes a number of awards and special collaborations. On May 17, the show “5+3=9”, the production that inaugurated the first independent theater built in Romania, Grivița 53 Bucharest, was premiered in Iasi, at the Cub Hall of the National Theatre. On May 18, “Fade to Grey”, signed by Andrea Gavriliu and Edwin Mokaya, brought to Sala Uzina cu Teatru a performance that combines contemporary dance and physical theater in an intense exploration of the body and the relationship between movement and identity.
The edition ends on May 21 with “Muerta de Amor”, the performance of the famous Spanish choreographer Manuel Liñán, considered one of the most important contemporary flamenco productions in recent years. “It's the strongest flamenco show we've had so far in RCW and for the first time we're choosing to close HazarDance with flamenco, not open it“, he also declared Stefan Lupu.
Also in this edition, HazarDance develops a wide educational component through a series of workshops dedicated to both professional dancers and the public interested in movement and performance. From waacking, a style born in the queer underground culture of the 70s, to choreographic repertoire workshops, improvisation and explorations of the relationship between instinct and structure, the workshops transform dance into a tool for reconnection and personal expression.
HazarDance events
May 19, 2026 | 19:00 & 21:00, “L'heure du tea” at Sala Uzina cu Tru, Iași National Theatre. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
May 20, 2026 | 19:00, Enchanting Flashmob in the Palas Gardens. More than 70 young artists transform the space into a live show built from dance, music and theater, coordinated by Tatiana Grigore and Adelina Bălteanu.
May 21, 2026 | 20:00, “Dead of Love” – Manuel Linán in the Great Hall, the National Theater of Iași. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
HazarDance workshops
May 19, 2026 | 11:00 – 14:00 “Act in Motion” Workshop. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
May 20, 2026 | Time 11:00 – 14:00 Portrait Workshop. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
About Romanian Creative Week
Romanian Creative Weekdesignated in 2023, by the EUIPO, as the largest creative industries event in the European Union, is organized by the Creative Industries Employers' Federation, the only nationally representative employers' federation active in the creative industries sector. It was established in Iași, in August 2011. It has so far organized, directly or through member patronages, more than 100 projects for national and international promotion of creative industries.
Institutional partners of RCW: Iași City Hall, Ministry of Culture, Iași County Council, National Museum of Romanian Literature Iași, National Museum Complex Moldova Iași, Union of Plastic Artists from Romania Iași Branch, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iași, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University Iași, “George Enescu” National University of Arts Iași, “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași, University of Art and Design from Cluj-Napoca, UAD 100, Order of Romanian Architects – Iasi, “Regina Maria” Municipal Museum Iasi, National Athenaeum Iasi, ARTCOR, COR, ARTEP, Iasi Airport, Fontis.
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