A choreographic residency lab led by Diane Portelli that invites artists to reconnect with their instinct, dissolving judgment through grounded, impulse-driven movement research.
Where: Spanski Borci, Ljubljana
When: 15-20 February 2026
Deadline for applications: 13 February 2026
En Knap and Moveo are offering a 5-day choreographic lab led by Diane Portelli choreographer and director of Moveo and 2 moveo dancers, as part of the international research project Ashes 2 Ashes. This lab is conceived as an intensive space for embodied research, focusing on the relationship between the human body and the earth as both physical and metaphorical ground. The aim being that the body moves without the judgment of our second self, thus finding a coded freedom.
Through guided improvisation, and compositional tasks, participants will investigate how movement emerges from weight, gravity, resistance, and connection to the ground. A key aim of the lab is to support dancers in finding a sense of freedom in their bodies , exploring what happens when movement is not overly controlled by the mind, but allowed to emerge from impulse, sensation, and instinct. These impulses will be observed as they evolve, communicate, and transform through contact with the floor, with objects, and with other bodies.
Soil and earth will serve as central sources of inspiration, prompting dancers to explore how standing, falling, yielding, and rising shift when the body listens deeply to the ground beneath it. Voice, breath, rhythm, and collective presence will be used as additional catalysts for movement, allowing individual impulses to develop into a shared physical language.
The lab is designed for advanced or professional contemporary dancers (16+), welcoming participants of all gender identities, cultural backgrounds, and nationalities. It offers a space for exchange, experimentation, and dialogue, prioritising process over product while fostering meaningful artistic connections.
On 20 February, an informal sharing will take place at Španski Borci, where those who attended the residency are invited to witness the material developed by Diane Portelli and Moveo dancers throughout the residency. The sharing will be followed by a Q&A session, offering insight into the creation
How to apply:
Send Cv and 30 sec improv video in any style to info@moveodancecompany.com
For further information, please visit https://www.instagram.com/dianepor?igsh=cXMwbnI5OXRzczVz&utm_source=qr
