Risima Risimkin

Risima Risimkin is one of the leading Macedonian choreographers and artistic director of Dance Fest Skopje and Skopje Dance Theater. She received her PhD in the University of “St. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, Macedonia on the thesis: “Contemporary dance styles in 20 century – Europe” and her MA from the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, at the Academy for Music and Dance Art (AMTI) in the section for Choreography, Ballet Directing and Pedagogy and was awarded the title ballet master. In the moment she is also, a full-time professor of the State University "Goce Delchev" in Shtip, Macedonia, where she leads The Contemporary Dance Department.

Risimkin is founder of the Interart Centre for Culture (1996), whose activities have helped the development of the Macedonian contemporary dance scene. In the season 2012/2013, she was working as Head choreographer of the State Ballet of Antalya, Turkey.

Risimkin is one of the most prolific contemporary Macedonian choreographers-an avant-garde representative in contemporary creation. She has actively represented Macedonia on the international contemporary dance scene with her own performances, which have received excellent reviews both in the country and abroad. Risimkin is the recipient of several awards, including the award for exceptional contribution to the development of culture in the Republic of Macedonia. In 2011 she was awarded as one of Top Ten Women – managers in Macedonia. With her work, Risimkin is in a constant movement in direction of development of contemporary dance in Macedonia. 

Risimkin has made more than thirty authorial projects, which established her as one of the most fruitful Macedonian creators in the contemporary dance area. Risimkin has represented Macedonia as a choreographer in New York, USA; Beijing, Hangzhou & Quanzhou, China; The Hague, Amsterdam & Rotterdam, Netherlands; Aarhus, Denmark; Dusseldorf, Leipzig & Cologne, Germany; Belgrade, Serbia; Burgas, Bulgaria; Podgorica, Monte Negro; Thessaloniki, Greece – European Capitol of culture; Lisbon, Portugal – EXPO – National day of Macedonia; Niamey, Niger; Ljubljana, Slovenia etc. In 2010 she was guest choreographer in the National Ballet of Ljubljana, Slovenia; in 2012 she participated in the Culture Olympiad in London with the choreography for the play Henri, VI of National Theater Bitola, Macedonia, for the Globe to Globe program of Globe Theater. Her performance “Hope” made with National Ballet of Antalya, Turkey has excellent review in Dance Europe magazine. In 2015 and 2016 she was a part of the First (second) International Chinese Summer Camp for contemporary dance and has two different programs guest performance on “Meet in Beijing” festival in Beijing, China with Skopje Dance Theater.

In 2016 Risimkin has premiere “R.E.M. – A dream section” with Nine Contemporary Dance Company in Beijing, China. The same performance was on European tour in April 2017: in Dance Fest Skopje, Macedonia; Exodos Festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia and De Nieuwe Regentes Theater in The Hague Netherlands. Risimkin has premiere of her new creation “Orlandina” for Slovenian contemporary dancer Rosana Hribar, in Ljubljana Dance Theater in Slovenia on 23 March, 2018. Her choreography “Cauldron” with Skopje Dance Theater was presented in Maritime Silk Road festival in Quanzhou, China in December 2017, in the program of Holland Dance Festival in February 2018 and on closing ceremony on Battery Dance Festival in New York on 18 August, 2018. Her piece “Existence - We are the Fancy people” was presented on International evening of the Festival of Beijing Dance Academy in Beijing in October 2018. Her performance “Identities” is invited to perform in “National theater de Chaillot” in Paris, France in 2021. 

“In the history of dance, and indeed in the history of the theatre, every generation seems to have produced a handful of extraordinary entrepreneurial pioneers who not only have innovative ideas but have the determination and skills to bring those ideas and ambitions to fruition. In Macedonia at the moment there is one such woman, who is not only artistic director of Skopje Dance Academy and Skopje Dance Theatre, is a Professor of the University and holds the position of chief choreographer at State Opera and Ballet Theatre Antalya in Turkey, but

has also set up the Annual Dance Fest Skopje, bringing companies from overseas to showcase their work. She is Risima Risimkin, and I was able to see the fruits of her various labours when I visited Skopje for the opening of this year’s Dance Festival.

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Using music by Beethoven, culminating in the Ode to Joy, Risimkin’s ballet depicts the struggle of the people to be free from “The Power”; interventions by Happiness, Beauty and Hope eventually help to infect The Power with Love, and everybody finds “the desired way.” Choreographically there is much of interest; some lyrical lifts and arresting patterns when dancers were massed on stage. Risimkin has a talent for putting together strands of small, linear steps, punctuated with a head movement or an arm position.”

Amanda Jennings for Dance Europe, June 2013

“… We classify Risima Risimkin's creative work in the Macedonian dance avant-garde, who has (sometimes even for the prize of fierce critics and denials) successfully changed our views related to dance.”

Sonja Zdravkova Dzeparoska – “The theatre on the Macedonian ground 20th century”

“A leading criteria for Risima Risimkin is the visual moment, because of which she creates effective, impressive images, which speak for her qualities as a director.. “

 Emilia Dzipuniva, dance critic

RISIMA RISIMKIN

Education:

2016 – PhD on University of “St. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, Macedonia – “Contemporary dance styles in 20 century – Europe”

2000 – Academy for Music and Dance (AMTI) Master degree (MA)

1998 – Academy for Music and Dance (AMTI), Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with professional classification choreographer and ballet master

1995 – Royal National Theatre – London, U.K.

1982/1983 – Specialization in State theatre “Shevchenko”, Kiev, Ukraine

1972/1980 – State Ballet school – Skopje

Work experience:

2019 – Master classes in Arthur Bruckner University, Linz, Austria

2019 – Master classes on Minzu, University, Beijin China

2018 – Master class on Battery Dance festival, New York, USA

2018 – Master class on Holland Dance Festival, Hague, Netherlands

2017/2018 – Master classes on Beijing Dance Academy, Beijing, China

2017/present – Dean of the Department for Contemporary Dance, Goce Delchev University, Macedonia

2017 – Member of the Jury for Silk Road festival in ‘Xian, China

2016/present - Member of the Board of Dance Culture Union between China and CEEC

2015/2016 – Part of artistic/organization team & teacher coordinator of the First & Second International Chinese Summer Camp for Contemporary dance

2014 – Editor of the book “The Wonderful world of Dance” – 10 years of Dance Fest

2012/2013 – Artistic director of the National Ballet Antalya, Turkey

2013 – Editor of the book “Skopje Dance Academy – The beginning” 

2012 – Editor of the book “The Path of changes”

2011/present – Founder & Artistic director of Skopje Dance Theater

2011 – Editor of the book “The New Dance Theater”

2010/2017 – Dean of the Skopje Dance Academy, part of ESRA University, Skopje

2010 – Editor of the book “On the Wings of Dance” 

2010/present – Artistic director & Founder of Risimkin research center (education in dance for youth)

2009/2017 – Professor for movement on ESRA University in Skopje, Macedonia

2009/2010/2011 – Head of the Conference for Dance “Contemporary dance (culture)as a factor of transformation of the society” - Skopje, Macedonia 

2009 – 2015 – President of Skopje office of CID UNESKO

2008 – Publishing the first book for dance, supported by UNESCO in Macedonia: “The Art of Dance”          

2005/2009 & 2009/2013 – Member of the Executive council of CID UNESCO. Paris

2005/present - Artistic director of DANCE FEST SKOPJE

2004/2005 - Delegate of CID UNESCO for Macedonia

2003/2007 - Professor in State Music and Ballet education center 

2003/2004 - Artistic director of April-month of dance! – Skopje 

2002 - Founder and president of Macedonian dance center – Skopje

2000 - Choreographer in National Ballet – Macedonian National Theater, Skopje

1999 - Producer on the Macedonian National Ballet tour in Taiwan (November)

1999 - Producer on May Opera Evening – Macedonian National Theater, Skopje (May)

1996/2004 – Founder & Artistic director of “Week of Modern Ballet” part of Ohrid Summer Festival

1996/present – Founder & General manager of INTERART CULTURE CENTRE

1980 - 1999 soloist in Macedonian National Ballet

Choreography:

2019 – “Identities” – m. M. Modent/D. Hridgikj, Skopje Dance Theater

2019 – “Colors” – m. A. Vivaldi, Skopje Dance Theater

2018 – “Anima” – Skopje Dance Theater

2018 – “Sequences – Past/Present/Future” – m. T. Kitanovski, ZJCM, Hangzhou, China

2018 – “Orlandina” – m. T. Kitanovski, Ljubljana Dance Theater, Slovenia

2018 – “Existence – We are the Fancy people” – Skopje Dance Theater

2017 – “Cauldron” - m. T. Kitanovski, Skopje Dance Theater

2016 – “R.E.M.  – A Dream Section” – m. Luboyno, 9 CDT, Beijing China

2015 – “SMS (Soul, Mind & Something else)” – m. D. Bojadjiev, Skopje Dance Theater   

2014 – “Ludus” – m. A. Pert, Skopje Dance Theater

2014 – “Garden of the souls” – National Ballet Kosovo

2013 – “HOPE” – m. L.van Beethoven, National Ballet of Antalya, Turkey  

2013 – “In the fields of Haven” - m. K. Dzajkovski, ITS festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands          

2012 – “ORLANDO” – Skopje Dance Theater, DANCE FEST SKOPJE

2012 – “The Man in the Corridor” (1st & 3rd part) – SDT & TKO Theater, Skopje&Koln, Germany 

2011 – “A World In-Between” – Skopje Dance Theater, DANCE FEST SKOPJE

2010 – “UNICORN” – m. G. C. Menotti – National Ballet, Ljubljana, Slovenia          

2010 – “The 3rd” – m. K. Dzajkovski, Rotterdam Dance Academy, Rotterdam, Netherlands 

2009 – “Pieces” – DANCE FEST SKOPJE 2009

2008 – “The House of Alba” – DANCE FEST SKOPJE 2008

2006 – “mozART” – m. V.A. Mozart, Skopje, Gala evening of DANCE FEST

2005 – “DIARY FOR US” – m. Dr. Maslin, Niamey, Niger

2005 – “DALY’S DIARY” – m. J.S. Bach, DANCE FEST SKOPJE 2005 

2004 – “Three sisters” – m. Piacola, Tochka space, Skopje

2004 – “STRAVINSKY DIARY”  - m. I Stravinsky, with Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra

2003 – “The Great window” m. M. Necak -MDC - Skopje 

2002 – “Memento” – Macedonian dance center (MDC) – Skopje

2001 – “Three Face” – m. Balansku – “Risto Siskov” – Strumica

2001 – “Lady Macbeth” – m. D. Dautovski – MOB – Skopje

1999 – “Memories” – m. Foltin – MOB  - Skopje

1998 – “Oak wood” – m. V. Stefanovski - MOB – Skopje and Ohrid summer festival     

1997 – “Wedding (thoughts and pictures)“ – m. G. Bregovic - Leipzig, Germany

1996 – “Human . . . man and woman” – m. V. Stefanovski, Interart, Skopje

1996 – “Vacuum” – m. V Stefanovski - MOT – Skopje

1994 – “Bloody Countess take me home tonight” – m. L. Konstantinov – Aarhus, Denmark

1994 – “Whirlpool …” – m. Bizet-Schedrin – Macedonian Opera and Ballet, Skopje

1993 – “Bolero” – m. M. Ravel – Special project on Skopje Summer Festival

1990 – “Janis” – m. J. Joplin – opening on MOT (Youth Open Theatre), Skopje

Shorts choreography (selection):

“Dance” – m. Ch. Madzone

“The dream” – m. E. Moricone

“Morana“ – m. L. Konstantinov

“Baltepe” (part) – m. T. Skalovski

“The Power” – m. V. Stefanovski

“Gama” – m. D. Ortakov

Choreography in drama plays (selected pieces from 1990 to 2015):

“Electra” – National Drama Theater, Yunan, China

“Antony and Cleopatra” – NT Bitola

“Henri IV” – part three, NT Bitola for Globe Theater, London, UK

“Jane Zadrogaz” – NT Bitola

“Evmenidys“– Ohrid Summer festival

“Libretto Wagner” – NT Bitola

“Old times” – NT Strumica

“Master and Margarita” – NT Bitola

“Iphigenia on Avlida” – NT Veles

“The dance in Lunassa time” – Drama theater – Skopje

“Frogs” – MNT – Skopje

“The Beauty” – MNT – Skopje

“Bacchanalias” – MKC – Skopje

“The servants” – NT Bitola

“Hasanaginica” – Albanian drama, Skopje

“Decameron” – NT Bitola

“Life of the Cesar’s” – NT Bitola

“Closer” – Turkish drama, Skopje

Abroad:

2019 – Beijing, China, Belt & Road Art Week International Conference & Artistic program

2018 – “Existence” – Beijing, China, Beijing Dance Academy International event festival 

2018 – “Cauldron” – New York, USA, Battery Dance Festival 

2018 – “Cauldron” – The Hague, Netherlands, Holland Dance Festival 

2018 – “Orlandina” – Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ljubljana Dance Theater

2017 – “Cauldron” – Quanzhou, China, Maritime Silk Road Festival

2017 – "Zeroo degree" – Share festival, Bratislava, Slovakia

2017 – "R.E.M." – B9DT in De Nieuwe Regentes Theater, the Hague Netherlands

2017 – "R.E.M." – B9DT on Exodos festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia

2016 – "The New" - International Contemporary dance festival, Beijing, China

2016 – Art Forum in Beijing, China – represent of Macedonian Dance Stage

2015 – “Meet in Beijing” festival, with Skopje Dance Theater, “SMS..” & “Impulse”

2014 – Guest choreographer in the National Ballet of Prishtina, Kosovo

2014 – Düsseldorf, Germany – Dance fair, represent of Macedonia

2013 – New York, NY, USA, American Dance Recon – Dance symposium

2013 – ITS festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2012 – New York, NY, USA, American Dance Recon – Dance symposium

2012 – Koln, Germany – with the performance “The Man in the Corridor”

2012 – Düsseldorf, Germany – Dance fair, represent of Macedonia

2011 – Dance festival, San Vincenti, Croatia

2010 – Guest choreographer in the National Ballet Ljubljana, Slovenia

2010 – Guest choreographer in Rotterdam Dance Academy, Netherlands  

2010 - Düsseldorf, Germany – Dance fair, with the performance “Pieces”

2008 - Düsseldorf, Germany – Dance fair, represent of Macedonia

2006 - Düsseldorf, Germany – Dance fair, represent of Macedonia

2005 - Niamey, Niger – “Diary for us – Day)”

2005 - Niamey, Niger – “Diary for us – Day)”

2004 - Düsseldorf, Germany – Dance fair, represent of Macedonia

2003 - Belgrade, SCG – “Great window”

2000 - Burgas, Bulgaria – “Memories” 

2000 - Belgrade, SRJ – “Memories”

2000 - Essen, Germany – Dance fair, represent of Macedonia

2000 - Belgrade leader of choreographic workshop

1998 - Burgas, Bulgaria – “Weeding”

1998 - Podgorica, SRJ teaching lecture

1998 - Thessaloniki, Greece – European Culture Capital – “Weeding” 

1998 - EXPO, Lisbon, Portugal – National Day of Macedonia – “Weeding”

1998 - Belgrade, SRJ – “Weeding”

1997 - Podgorica, Belgrade, SRJ – “Vakuum”

1997 - Leipzig, Germany – “Weeding”

1995 - Varna, Bulgaria – “Bloody Countess take me home tonight”

1994 - Aarhus, Denmark - “Bloody Countess take me home tonight”

Awards:

2011 – One of the TOP 10 women managers in Macedonia

2010 – One of the 50 top influence women in Macedonia – Globus magazine

2005 – Award for Special contribute in culture and art in Macedonia

1997 – Best choreographer of the year – National TV, Macedonia

1997 – Final platform on the choreographic competition in San – Sent Denis, Banole, France with “Human… Man and Women” (part of “Vacuum”)

1993 – Top then evening in Macedonia with performance “Bolero”