Sima R

Ukraine

乌 克 兰

Dancer, Educator & Community Architect

Professional Profile A contemporary dancer and specialist in Contact Improvisation (CI) and performance. As a facilitator and organizer, they have dedicated their career to fostering vibrant artistic ecosystems through weekly jams, international festivals, and creative intensives. Their mission is rooted in community architecture: having built the CI foundation in Crimea since 2019, they are currently focused on the expansion and development of the CI community in Bali.

Research & Movement Lineage Their current inquiry delves into the historical evolution of CI, bridging its founding principles with contemporary trends and emerging somatic proposals. This research is further informed by their commitment to high-level technical disciplines, specifically the Axis Syllabus and Gaga.

Beginning their lifelong journey with CI in 2012, they have studied under an extensive lineage of international masters, including Benno Voorham (Sweden), Mirva Mäkinen (Finland), Adrian Russi (Switzerland), and Bruno Caverna (Brazil), among other esteemed educators from Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova.

Artistic Background & Performance With a foundation in contemporary dance since age seven, they were professionally trained at the Nikolay Ogryzkov Jazz-Modern School-Studio and the Natalya Fiksel School of Modern Dance in Moscow. Their performance career spans diverse theatrical productions and international companies, including:

  • Theatrical Works: Collaborations with Vladimir Chekasina, Natalya Fiksel, and Sergey Starostin.

  • International Companies: Jungle Dance Theatre (India) and Daniell Alnuma Dance Theater Company (France).

  • Selected Productions: The Sea (2016), Body of Nobody (2017), and Night Distances (2019).

Beyond performance, they served for five years as the Chief Organizer for "Ash Arambol," a prominent concert and cultural venue in India, further refining their expertise in large-scale artistic curation.

Performer | CI Facilitator |Cultural Organizer

I. Community Architecture & Vision Their work transcends individual practice, focusing on the cultivation of CI communities across borders.

  • Bali: Current focus on community development and residency curation.

  • Crimea: Established the regional CI framework since 2019. Their passion lies in creating inclusive spaces where the evolution of movement serves as a catalyst for human connection.

II. Academic & Technical Inquiry Combining historical reverence with forward-thinking research, they explore:

  • CI Origins: A deep dive into the roots of the form to inform contemporary practice.

  • Somatic Excellence: Advanced integration of Axis Syllabus and Gaga techniques.

III. Performance & Curation Heritage

  • Contemporary Roots: Early training at the Nikolay Ogryzkov Studio (Moscow).

  • Global Stages: Professional experience in France (Daniell Alnuma) and India (Jungle Dance Theatre).

  • Curatorial Leadership: 5 years of experience as Chief Organizer at Ash Arambol, India’s renowned cross-cultural venue.

Photography courtesy of Sima R