The Association of Ballet Artists of Serbia (UBUS) has announced the recipients of the professional awards for contributions to dance in our country.
UBUS announced that the ‘Nataša Bošković’ Award for best classical interpretation in the field of ballet art went to Sofia Matyushenskaya for the role of Masha in the performance The Nutcracker, choreographed by Konstantin Kostyukov.
The ‘Smiljana Mandukić’ Award for best dance interpretation in the field of contemporary dance art was presented to Ognjen Vučinić for his role in the ballet Bolero, choreographed by Aleksandar Ilić. Ognjen Vučinić, a dancer, choreographer, and pedagogue, performed the choreography in the ballet Bolero (which premiered as part of the diptych Carmen Suite and Bolero) on April 25, 2025, on the Grand Stage of the Madlenianum Opera and Theatre.
With a lavish and hypnotic performance, Ognjen, supported by the ensemble of dancers, utilized all segments of Maurice Ravel’s pulsating rhythm, grading his dance to showcase the full potential of a mature dancer on stage. The collective warmth of movement and flawless control of dynamics brought the audience an intense collective experience that exceptionally celebrates the spirit of contemporary dance.
Through the extraordinary control of tension, repetitive structure, and the combined strength of the performers, by merging Ravel’s relentless gradation and modern stage expression, Bolero becomes a powerful collective moment that enriches and elevates our contemporary dance scene, led by the exceptional Ognjen Vučinić, whose performance is breathtaking.
We congratulate Ognjen Vučinić on this prestigious award and wish him many more striking roles in his career.
[Photograph by Zoran Skrbić]
