Dancing Histor(y)ies: The Year with Workshops, Residencies and Performances
Dancing Histor(y)ies, co-funded by the European Union, is dedicated to exploring cultural heritage archaeological sites through contemporary dance.
Throughout 2025, ilDance continued its activities on the project through artist residencies, workshops with local communities and archaeological site visits, to deeply engage with the local history and contemporary culture. ilDance’s Artistic Director and choreographer Israel Aloni collaborated with artists Elias Khanamidi, Jennifer Wallén, Tomer Giat and Victor Persson. ilDance’s work in Dancing Histor(y)ies in 2025 was coordinated and led by Arunas Giambino Mozuraitis from ilDance’s team.
In 2025 the Dancing Histor(y)ies residencies and workshops took place in Gothenburg, Uddevalla, Vitlycke and Mölndal (Sweden), Rome and Sardinia (Italy), Viminacium (Serbia) and Merida (Spain).Through these activities, new artistic works were created and later presented at festivals organised by local institutions and organisations (local authorities and institutions responsible for the archeological and heritage sites) in Sweden, Italy, Serbia and Spain.
In the summer of 2025, ilDance premiered a series of new dance pieces elaborated on the knowledge generated from the initial research phase of residencies, and through the community workshops. For both the artistic work and the community workshops, ilDance featured the perspective of queer and other under-represented communities in the sensitive context of cultural heritage.
The artistic work explored the concept of time and its interpretation across different eras, cultures and geographic contexts in which the artists worked this year. Israel Aloni described their inspiration: “In the distant and the proximate time there are stories and histories which gain or lose meaning, depending on the contexts in which they are reiterated.” The pieces incorporate poems by local authors and historical references, and explore senses and sensations of time and how it can be pulled, morphed and transformed through relations and relationships.
Soundtrack and costume design
The 2025 performances were accompanied by an original soundtrack composed by Didi Erez. Amanda Wisselgren designed the costumes, inspired by the specific themes and aesthetics which were explored and developed in each location.
Summer 2025 Performances
ilDance artists Elias Khanamidi, Jennifer Wallén, and Victor Persson were joined by local artists to create a singular iteration of the performance in each location in the Dancing Histor(y)ies Festival 2025. They were joined by ilDance artist, Tomer Giat, for the performances in Gothenburg. The festivals took place at several archaeological sites including, Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy; Viminacium Archeological Park (Limes Park), Viminacium, Serbia; The Temple of Diana, Merida, Spain; Nora Archaeological Park, Sardinia, Italy; Gathenhielmska Huset, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Only When Few Days Remain
21 May 2025, Castel Sant'Angelo - Rome, Italy
Incorporating poems by Giuseppe Ungaretti and Alda Merini, Only When Few Days Remain.
No Other More Treasured
08 June 2025, Viminacium Archeological Park - Viminacium, Serbia
Incorporating text from To the Gods Manes of Allia Potestas, freedwoman of Allius, No Other More Treasured.
Time Respects You
04 July 2025, The Temple of Diana - Merida, Spain
Incorporating poems by IMaMéndez and JDíaz, Time Respects You.
Under The Gemlike Eye of Venus
08 August 2025, Nora Archaeological Park - Sardinia, Italy
Incorporating poems by Grazia Deledda and Giangavino VascoIn, Under The Gemlike Eye of Venus.
A Moment of Endlessness
29-30 August 2025, Gathenhielmska Huset - Gothenburg, Sweden
Incorporating text by Hayim Nahman Bialik and Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), A Moment Of Endlessness.
We concluded our public activities for Dancing Histor(y)ies for this year, with a two day program in Göteborg Kulturkalas, on August 29-30, 2025 at Gathenhielmska Huset and Balettakademien, in collaboration with Göteborgs Kulturkalas.
CREDITS:
Cast: Elias Khanamidi, Victor Persson and Jennifer Wallén joined by local performers
Concept: Israel Aloni
Choreography: Israel Aloni & Cast
Choreographer assistant: Tomer Giat
Production manager: Arunas Giambino Mozuraitis
Original composition and soundtrack: Didi Erez
Costume design: Amanda Wisselgren
Production: ilDance
Creation residency host: Regionteater Väst Uddevalla
Photographer: Adey
Dancing Histor(y)ies is co-funded by the European Union. ilDance’s participation and activities in the project are made possible with the support of the Swedish Arts Council and Kulturförvaltningen Västra Götalandsregionen.