PREMIERE OF MEDITERRANEAN BY THE BALLET ENSEMBLE OF THE MONTENEGRIN MUSIC CENTER
Dean of the Belgrade Dance Institute, Prof. dr Vladimir Tomašević, attended the premiere performance of the contemporary dance piece Mediterranean produced by the Montenegrin Music Center (MCCG) and performed by the Montenegrin Ballet Ensemble.
Ensemble members Ksenija Sinđić, who is also the assistant choreographer, Angela Mihova, Marija Boljević, Kristina Mrkić, and Staša Šćepanović presented themselves to the audience last night on the stage of the Montenegrin Music Center, marking the second performance since the establishment of the Ballet Studio of the Music Center.
The choreography for the performance was created by Saša Evtimova, directed by Aleksandar Vujović, with original music composed by Srđan Bulatović and Darko Nikčević, and video design by Siniša Radulović.
After the performance, choreographer Evtimova stated that the audience expressed everything through thunderous applause. “The night before in Budva, after the premiere, we received a fantastic applause. I am thrilled that we have an exceptional performance that can continue to be played. I believe it is a fantastic beginning for the ballet ensemble in Montenegro,” Evtimova said.
When asked to explain the symbolism of the props, the boxes, used by the girls in the performance, Evtimova clarified that the boxes symbolize life, memories of origins, and roots. “They represent our hearts, emotions, hopes, and losses. So, that box signifies a lot of life.”
Director Aleksandar Vujović stated that the ballet performance is a refreshing addition to Montenegro’s cultural scene and expressed his happiness for having the opportunity to direct one of the first productions of this kind in Montenegrin production.
“We opened the first Adriatic Dance Festival on Friday with a premiere performance in Budva, and impressions both there and tonight in Podgorica have been phenomenal. I hope the audience enjoyed it,” the director stated.
Professor dr Vladimir Tomašević expressed his pleasure at attending the performance of Mediterranean and viewed it as a moment of continuity, recalling his attendance at the first performance of Tre Sorelle last year.
“After tonight’s performance, we can see that this represents the pioneering of ballet in Podgorica. Last year, I said that Podgorica placed itself on the map of the Western Balkans as a capital of dance. I am glad to have been right because a year later, I can say that the rise in quality is evident daily. I extend my congratulations to the management of MCCG,” Tomašević stated.
The Montenegrin Ballet Ensemble of the Montenegrin Music Center was established in 2022 upon the initiative of director Isidora Damjanović with the aim of launching the first professional ballet troupe affiliated with this institution, coinciding with the premiere of the dance performance Tre Sorelle choreographed by Prof. Aleksandar Ilić.
(Photography by Aleksandar Jaredić)