TEATROSKOP Dialogues with Kristina Mandić on on finding her own language through movement

What happens when the language you were first taught is no longer enough? For Kristina Mandić, classical ballet provided discipline, technique and a strong foundation, but her curiosity gradually led her towards contemporary dance and a freer exploration of movement. Today, rather than choosing between different forms, she is interested in discovering how they can become part of a dance language of her own.

That search has taken her into different workshops, artistic environments and encounters with dancers from across the region and beyond. It has also brought together two important parts of her life: dance and her studies in English Language and Literature. In this TEATROSKOP Dialogue, Kristina reflects on learning from different movement practices while staying true to herself, on the body’s ability to communicate beyond spoken language, and on how tradition and cultural difference can become sources of connection and artistic discovery.

Your dance background began with classical ballet, while over the years you have increasingly explored contemporary dance. How has moving between these different approaches shaped the way you understand movement and your own body?

Classical ballet is a strong foundation for many other dance styles, so today I consider myself lucky to have started with ballet because it gave me a good foundation for all the other dance styles I have explored, especially contemporary dance. Ballet has taught me discipline and technique. However, at one point, I realized that ballet was no longer sufficient for me to express myself. I felt the need to move more freely and explore organic movement and different dance styles. Recently, I have been focusing more on developing my own dance style that incorporates all the different aspects of my artistic exploration.

You have taken part in workshops and dance programmes in different cities across the region and beyond. What do these encounters with different teachers, dancers and artistic environments bring to your development as an artist?

I really enjoy taking part in as many workshops and dance programs as possible, especially because there are not many opportunities to do so in my home country. Every workshop is a valuable experience because each teacher offers something new, whether it is a different technique, approach to movement or perspective on dance. Other dancers also bring their own unique styles and experiences, which I find inspiring and which encourage me to stay true to myself and develop my own dance style. Being exposed to different artistic environments helps me discover what resonates with me, while constantly challenging me and expanding my understanding of movement.

Alongside dance, you are studying English Language and Literature. Do language, literature or storytelling influence the way you think about dance and expression, even when there are no words involved?

Language and dance are more connected than people usually realize. Literature is greatly connected with theater and the performing arts, and there is a story behind every dance and movement, even when it is abstract or seemingly absent. Spoken language is the most common bridge that connects people. However, it is only when a language barrier appears that we begin to understand the power of body language. I was recently paired with a dancer from a different cultural and linguistic background, and we did not share a common language. Nevertheless, we made an incredible connection through movement exclusively. We had to, in a way, develop our own language to fulfil the tasks we were given. We managed to co-create some very interesting story-based pieces without traditionally communicating our intentions first. Such experiences always remind me that dance really is a universal language.

Is there a book, film, piece of music or artwork that has stayed with you recently or inspired you in some way? Why would you recommend it to others?

A piece of music that has particularly inspired me is a recording of live Palestinian wedding folk music from a workshop I recently attended. This piece of music is very simple and traditional, and we used this raw soundtrack from a video recording of a Palestinian wedding for our performance, which incorporated Palestinian traditional folk dance alongside contemporary dance and hip-hop – a mix of dance styles that are seemingly incompatible. It was very unique, mundane and powerful, and the way it resonated with the audience was simply incredible. At the end of our performance, we invited the audience to join us, and the performance continued for so long that we had to replay the whole soundtrack. This experience reminded me of the power of tradition and cultural background. It reminded me of the importance of acknowledging and embracing our roots and the value of cultural diversity.