The main theme of this year's seminar in Montenegro will be some of the famous Balkan & Gypsy songs such as:
Ederlezi Avela
Ciganka Sam Mala
Opa Nina Nina Naj
Čaje Šukarije
Mesečina
Niška Banja
Ramo, Ramo
And others...
Each of these songs requires a very specific and different style of dancing, if you decide to follow the traditional way of dancing to it. You will learn a full choreography to each song, but also learn how to create, afterwards, your own dances with these elements.
The seminar will be taught by Simona, an internationally renowned dancer and dance instructor with over 20 years of experience of teaching in this field. She grew up in the Balkans and has been dancing to these songs since her early age.
Discovery of The Music and Dances from Montenegro (Private Performance).
We will have the huge honor and joy to meet the young dancers of the local traditional dance group, one of the oldest folkloric ensembles in Montenegro (founded in 1910). They will come to Ulcinj and offer a private performance in traditional costumes especially for us. After which we will have the opportunity to dance with them and learn in that way a few typical dances from the country. We will finish the evening in a festive way, having a joyful dinner all together.
Places We Will Visit
The Skadar Lake
Our program there: we will rent a private traditional boat to take us on a beautiful relaxing cruise and to a small village where we will have lunch in a local fisherman's family. On the way back, we will jump from the boat and swim in the lake.
About the Lake of Skadar: Designated as a national park, Lake Skadar features picturesque islands, traditional fishing villages, and ancient monasteries. The area is not only a haven for wildlife but also steeped in history, having been a significant site during various historical events.
Budva
Our program there: A private minibus will take us to Budva where we will meet a few of Simona's friends with whom we will explore the beautiful narrow streets of its historical old town and have dinner in a traditional restaurant.
About Budva: Budva offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that inspires all who visit. With over 2,500 years of history, this ancient town boasts a well-preserved Old Town surrounded by medieval walls, where cobblestone streets echo tales of the past and the azure Adriatic Sea invites exploration.
The Ada Bojana Island & its old fish restaurant
Our program there: A private boat will take us to Ada Bojana where we will enjoy the sunset on the beach, learn to sing a few traditional songs and then go to one of the oldest fish restaurants in the area.
About Ada Bojana: Ada Bojana is a triangular island formed by the delta of the Bojana River where it meets the Adriatic Sea. The island features a 3-kilometer sandy beach. The area is also famous for its traditional seafood restaurants, offering visitors a chance to enjoy fresh local cuisine while surrounded by picturesque scenery.
The Old Town of Stari Bar
Our program there: The private minibus will take us in 30 minutes to the old town of Bar. It's a small but very picturesque place where it's nice to have a walk in the old streets, buy some souvenirs in the historical marketplace, visit the ruins and finally have dinner in one of the very traditional local restaurants.
About Stari Bar: Stari Bar is a fascinating historical site known for its rich past. Once a vibrant town, it has been largely abandoned since a devastating earthquake in 1979. The area features remnants of around 240 buildings, showcasing a blend of architectural influences from various empires, including the Venetians, Ottomans, and Serbians. The part that has been restored is full with traditional shops, restaurants and Ottoman style coffee places.
The Healing Women's Beach
Our program there: After taking a nice walk, mostly across the refreshing pine forest, we will get to Women's beach (located not far from Ulcinj old town), a small and unique place in the Mediterrenean, a private place where women meet to swim, rejuvenate and heal in privacy.
About the Women's beach: Women's beach is renowned for its unique therapeutic properties attributed to its sulfur-rich waters, blend of sulfur, radium, and sea salts, which many believe can alleviate health issues such as eczema, psoriasis or infertility. The access to it is forbidden to men.
Ulcinj and Its Diversity
Our program there: We will be staying in the old town of Ulcinj, so, during your free time, you will have the opportunity to witness and experience the incredible mix of the old and new, the traditional and modern, as well as both the orthodox and the muslim traditions.
About Ulcinj: Ulcinj is the most southern city in Montenegro situated not far from the Albanian border. It is known for its diverse population and this multicultural environment is reflected in the town's architecture, cuisine, and traditions, showcasing influences from its historical ties with the Ottoman Empire and other cultures.
The Long Beach
Our program there: A private boat will take us to the Long beach where we will spend a rejuvenating afternoon enjoying the beach, swimming, having a coffee in one of bars and simply relaxing.
About the Long beach: Velika Plaža, or Long Beach, is a stunning 12-kilometer stretch of sandy shoreline making it the longest beach in the country. Renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, the beach features shallow waters ideal for swimming. It is set against a backdrop of natural beauty, bordered by lush dunes and alluvial forests, providing a picturesque environment for relaxation and recreation.
For our excursions, we will book a private boat and private minibus.
About
Gallery
About The Host
Simona
Simona is a Serbian/Czech internationally renowned dance artist, choreographer, actress, singer, movement instructor, and cultural explorer based in Paris.
Her Balkan cultural heritage being the starting point, she conducted years of research in the field, immersing herself in traditional, spiritual, and healing music and dance celebrations, ceremonies, and rituals in the Eastern world and across the globe. And she has been sharing her discoveries, knowledge, and experience as a first-source artist in performances, seminars, workshops, and conferences all over the world for the past 20 years.
Among many other encounters around the world, she danced with the nomadic communities in India, visited tribes in the Sahara desert, stayed in the Gypsy families in Transylvania, Turkey, and the Balkans, took part in the authentic healing Sufi trance ceremonies in the Maghreb, attended fire-walking rites in the Indian Ocean islands, participated in traditional music and dance celebrations in small villages in the mountains in Greece and Armenia, explored rich and meaningful rituals in long Romani weddings in Serbia and Macedonia and much more.
She is the first dancer in the history of the European council in Strasbourg, France to be invited to perform in the hemicycle. Her dances were recorded for the official archives of National Center for the Arts in New Delhi, India.
As a soloist dancer, Simona Jovic performed in venues such as Palais des Beaux-Arts (Brussels), Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (New Delhi), Institut du monde Arabe (Paris), Auditorium de la Grande bibliothèque (Montreal), Teatro colonial (Buenos Aires), Casa del Lago (Mexico City), Antique Theater (Ohrid), Auditorium Edgar Neville (Malaga), Teatro Cousiño (Santiago de Chile) and many others.
Simona Jovic organized dozens of cultural dance trips to meet communities - their way of life, culture, and customs - in various countries: India, Armenia, Serbia, Greece, North Macedonia, Turkey, Tunisia, Montenegro, Romania, and Albania. As well as several dance retreats in Bahia (Brazil), the South of France, and the Sahara desert.
She has been giving dance workshops and intensive training worldwide for over 20 years in France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Greece, India, Serbia, Romania, Northern Macedonia...
Things to keep in mind
FAQ
When should I arrive and leave?
You should arrive to Montenegro on June 23rd in the afternoon and leave on June 30th end of the morning.
What is the level of dance required?
The dance workshop is open to dancers with experience in any dance form.
When does the program starts and ends?
The program starts on June 23rd at 6pm and ends on June 30th at 10am.
What will be the language used during the trip?
The official language used during the trip and the workshops will be English. But many people speak French.
What is the weather like in June?
The weather is usually very beautiful end of June in Montenegro, it's the summer.
What is the local money?
The official currency in Montenegro is euro. It is also very easy to pay by credit card (please note that the card transactions are not free, the bank charge for it as Montenegro is not part of the UE).
What happens if the weather is not good enough for the boat/beach activities?
We will readapt the program and visit other places (towns, museums etc.)
Is the dance trip limited?
The dance trip is open to 17 dancers.
Will the workshop be recorded?
Yes, the workshop material (videos & music) will be sent to the WhatsApp group.
Do you accept the non-dancers in this trip?
If a spot stays available it can be taken by a non-participant in the dance workshop, but only if that person accompanies a dancer.