PLANETARY DANCE: Existence

A Participatory Dance Ritual

KID Plesonoga and MOJA KREACIJA Institute, Maribor – festival co-production, 2025

In collaboration with Narodni dom Maribor

The event lasts 90 minutes and has no intermission.

Ritual facilitation and vocals: Jelena Oleami
Dance and music: dancers, drummers, participating audience
Partner: Narodni dom Maribor, Summer Art Kamp
With the financial support of: Ministry of Culture, Municipality of Maribor, Narodni dom Maribor, MOJA KREACIJA Institute, Maribor

The Planetary Dance is a community ritual – a simple dance that anyone can join. Participants are invited to run, walk, or simply stand in a series of concentric circles, forming a moving mandala. As they move to the steady rhythm of drums, they become one collective body. The Planetary Dance was created in 1980 by Anna Halprin as a dance of active participation. It promotes peace among people and with the Earth, and each time carries a specific theme. This time, we will explore the theme of existence.

The ritual is simple and suitable for all ages and physical abilities.

Anna Halprin said: "When enough people move together in a common pulse with a common purpose, a deep power can emerge – a power that can renew, inspire, teach, create, and heal."

Jelena Oleami (formerly Milovanović) is a graduate in cultural studies, choreographer, dance educator, dancer, producer, and artistic director. She is currently studying at the Tamalpa Institute (USA) and is an ArtCorps scholarship recipient. In 2014, she received the Meta Vidmar Award for her contribution to the development of contemporary dance in the Inner Carniola region, where she leads the KID Plesonogo collective. She has created over 40 dance performances and films for children and has participated in more than 20 projects with national and international artists (including Daria Halprin, DISKOlektiv, Dohee Lee, Frey Faust, Gregor Luštek, among others) and organizations (PTL, Aksioma, Emanat, Ljudmila…).