ABOUT US
VRUM Performing Arts Collective is an international collective which consists of artists from different fields that have been closely involved in the development of dance and theater for young audience for many years, with a fixed point in Sanja Frühwald as visionary and artistic director of the collective. In the center of the artistic work of the collective lies, above all, the body: the multidimensional body, the vocalization of the body, the moving and thinking body of the artist, the possibility of the body to open a dialogue...
Although the focus of VRUM is on contemporary dance, the collective is actively working to connect contemporary dance and theater, visual arts, music and new media. With each production VRUM searches for a new language, for other expressions. By working with artists from a wide variety of art genres -dance pieces, plays, operas, concert performances and interactive installations have emerged in recent years.
VRUM's work is characterized above all by sensitivity, humor, uncompromising honesty, joie de vivre, unconventional mix of different techniques and a strong will to give food for thought. VRUM works innovative, interactive and inclusive.
In recent years, VRUM has put a special emphasis on intergenerational collaboration to create daring productions without age restrictions, but with clear and subtle political messages that appeal to communities and different audiences.
We try to involve the audience as much as possible in the process through various types of workshops, audience discussions and feedback sessions, knowledge sharing with other professionals, as well as educators. VRUM develops and takes care of its audience development and seeks to create opportunities for high-quality dialogue with its audience and the community in which we live. VRUM's target group development strategies are designed to motivate young people, as well as adults, to contemplate, critically think and participate actively. Our pieces are often structured as interactive performances in which the audience actively participates on stage, such as in the successful event Baja Buf, which celebrated its 500th performance in 2018, and in The Milky Way, the new production of VRUM Performing Arts Collective for pacifier audience in 2020, the walk-in, self-designed Dance Museum, or some other kind of active participation, such as the "Audience Warm Up" format in the play From Molehill to Mountain, or the birthday party at the end of the play Tiger Lilies or Lover's Disco(urse).
Through the combination of the two sister organizations VRUM Performing Arts Collective Croatia and VRUM Performing Arts Collective Austria, founded in 2007 in Zagreb and 2016 in Vienna, it is possible to draw from a larger pool of artists from both countries, which greatly enriches the work of VRUM and support structures on international level.
VRUM Croatia, as the organizer of a festival for dance for young audiences and initiator and coordinator of KLIKER -the first Croatian network dedicated to the development of contemporary dance for young audiences, offers the possibility of co-productions and provides a platform for the exchange of productions, guest performances, residencies, research projects, celebrations, exhibitions and educational programs for children, amateurs and professionals with a special interest to young audiences.
VRUM aims to make contemporary dance and contemporary theater more visible and present, to support and train audiences and professionals through artistic lectures, series of workshops, networking, collaboration with institutions and artists. VRUM is aware of the role of art and culture in the development and health of every society and strives to take a stand and play an active role in these transformation processes. That is why we pay special attention to the networks and various development projects to which we belong or which we initiate. With this in mind, we are working to develop the dance scene for young audiences and to create new and better (and more interesting) conditions for working, creating and inventing.
At the regional level, we are an important part of the GENERATOR initiative, which included partner organizations from 5 different countries (Austria, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia) and program lines developing this regional network (Exercise book for theater and dance, Teen Generator, Moving Labs, Artistic Residencies, Pitching Hubs ...) or YOUNG DANCE NETWORK -a global network under Assitej International, in which Sanja Frühwald is among the 10 people from 4 different continents who made up the first board and its working group.
The various awards that VRUM has received in recent years make it very easy to read about it's success. Since its foundation, VRUM has developed more than 20 of its own productions, with guest performances in more than 15 countries in and out Europe and with the support of numerous European Organizations, production houses, embassies and cultural institutes. All members of the VRUM Performing Arts Collective firmly believe that their work in the field of dance for young audiences inspires the viewers to think and leaves a lasting impression.
Through VRUM's interactive dance projects, children and teenagers from all social classes have the opportunity to deal critically and enthusiastically with our society and the world we live in. It shows that it’s becoming increasingly important for the young generation, recognizable by the youth protest movements in Austria and around the world. It is, precisely at a time when populism and post-factual thinking are increasing, important to talk to children, listen to them and make them part of artistic processes.
Inspired by hundreds of thousands of children who care for their and our future, we would like to (re) consider how we live in our work, what role we play in society and what our contribution to positive change could be.
Queen Victoria said so beautifully: “Beware of artists. They mix with all classes of society and are therefore the most dangerous.”
Dance touches where the language does not work and clears the head for sensual experience.
Dance gives you the opportunity to look at the world differently.
Sanja Frühwald
artistic director
bio
Till Frühwald
deputy director
bio
Sanja Tropp Frühwald
Till Frühwald
FRIENDS
Alek Kawka
photography
Born in 1980 in Düsseldorf. Alex Kawka is a Polish photo artist. She completed the course for artistic photography at fotoK in Vienna, then studied art and photography with Matthias Herrmann at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, where she graduated with Martin Guttmann. In her work, the artist consistently explores the spatial expansion of photography. The spectrum ranges from light boxes to multilayer dioramas and the examination of the material quality of the photographic illustration. The photographer exploits the entire spectrum of both analog and digital image production. Her preferred medium is primarily large format photography. She lives with her family in Vienna.
Cornelius Edlefsen
dramaturgie
Born in Villingen-Schwenningen in 1985, studied theater, film and media studies in Vienna. During his studies, he worked in several productions of the TheaterFOXFIRE group as an assistant, actor, production manager and dramaturge and thus gained initial experience that was to shape him for his further professional career. From 2012-2014 he was permanently employed as an assistant director at the Theater Münster, where he directed Nick Hornby’s monologue NIPPLEJESUS. In 2015/2016 he worked as an assistant at the Baden State Theater in Karlsruhe, where he set up several scenic readings and worked with directors such as Benjamin Lazar, Stefan Otteni and Hans-Werner Kroesinger (Stolpersteine Staatstheater, invited to the Theatertreffen Berlin 2016). From 2016 to 2019 Cornelius Edlefsen was employed as an assistant director at the Burgtheater Vienna, where he worked with directors such as Antù Romero Nunes, Alvis Hermanis, Bastian Kraft and Andrea Breth. During this time he and his colleague Anna Stiepani presented the film Der letzte Vorhang, in November 2018 his production Tropfen auf heiße Steine by Rainer Werner Fassbinder premiered in the vestibule of the Burgtheater. Cornelius Edlefsen now works as a freelance director and dramaturge.
Damir Šimunović
composer
Damir Šimunović was born in Karlovac, Croatia in 1974.
He wrote his first music for the theater in 1998 for the Karlovac City Theater Zorin Dom.
After moving to Zagreb, he continued to pursue theater composition and has worked with most of the country’s professional theater and contemporary dance companies.
His music has won multiple awards.
Damir Šimunović is an integral part of the VRUM Performing Arts Collective.
Gat Goodovitch
performer
Gat is a dancer, performer and teacher . She lives in Vienna.
Born in the USA and raised in Tel-Aviv, Gat started her professional dance career at the age of 13. From 2010 to 2014 she studied contemporary dance at SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance).
In October 2017, Gats’ first piece for young audiences (“Hüpfen”) premiered in Vienna Theatre Dschungel Wien.
Dina Marijanović
light design
Born in 1985 in Osijek, Croatia.
She studied sociology, Spanish language and literature at the University of Zagreb.
Since 2013 she has been working as a light designer at concerts, audio-visual events and music festivals in the Croatian independent scene (Club Attack!, Autonomous culture center) Club Močvara, SuperUho Festival, Modem Festival, Seasplash, etc.)
Since 2016 she has been studying light design at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb and she also works as a freelance light designer for various organizations in the independent scene (VRUM Performing Arts Collective, Platforma.hr, Faki Festival …) and cultural venues (ADU, MUZA)
Dina Marijanović works as a light technician at the renowned Zagreb theater “ZeKaeM”.
Imre Lichtenberger Bozoki
Composer/Musician
Born on December 4th, 1979 in Novi Sad (Serbia), Imre Lichtenberger Bozoki studied from 1999-2003 at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz (specializing in jazz trumpet). From 1999-2004 he was a trumpeter in the Sandy Lopicic Orkestar.
As a stage musician, he works at the Schauspielhaus Graz and the Vienna Volkstheater. He is responsible for compositions and musical direction for uniTcontner (Graz), Forum Stadtpark Graz, Volkstheater Vienna, Kretakör Szinhaz (Budapest), Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf, Theater im Bahnhof, Graz, Shakespeare Festival Rosenburg, KosmosTheater, Landestheater St. St. Pölten, Mozarteum Salzburg and the Burgtheater Vienna. Imre Lichtenberger Bozoki lives with his family in Vienna.
Martin Nussbaum
Video
Born in 1973 in Mödling. Works in the field of tension between audio-visual art forms. The relationship between image and sound, in different nuanced degrees of fusion, forms the central nexus of creation and is therefore omnipresent in different projects. Together with brother Jürgen, initiated the audiovisual project UKO in 1996, with a number of releases, remixes and performances – Schauspielhaus Wien, impulstanz Festival, brut Wien, Donaufestival, Jazzfest Wien, mixmove Paris. Numerous cinematic works and documentaries for artists of various genres.
Melika Ramic
Production Manager
Born in 1984, worked as an assistant director to Astrid Griesbach – Theater des Lachens Berlin, Stephan Rabl at DSCHUNGEL WIEN, Peter and Annette Raffalt at Junge BURG – Burgtheater during her studies in theater, film and media studies, as well as in the organization team of SCHÄXPIR festival.
In the season 2011/12 and 2012/13 she worked as a theater teacher at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. Back in Vienna, she worked as a theater teacher for the Wiener Festwochen and the Burgtheater Vienna in 2014 and 2015.
She is also a freelance director and her productions have been shown at national (spleen Graz, SCHÄXPIR Linz) and international festivals in Great Britain, Malta, Switzerland, Luxembourg.
Moritz Wallmüller
Video / Music
was born in Graz in 1979. He spent his school days in Graz with lessons in classical guitar at the conservatory, private guitar and singing lessons as well as various band projects as a singer/songwriter. In 1999 he signed a record contract with Intonation Recordings/Virgin in Vienna. Subsequently in the pop business for several years with extensive studio stays and concerts as a singer/songwriter in GSA. Since 2004, in addition to various band projects, sound research in the field of electronic music and occasional video and photo works, he has primarily dedicated himself to the design of theater soundtracks. He worked at the Burgtheater Vienna, Volkstheater Vienna, Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, with Kretakör in Budapest, Staatstheater Mainz, Theater im Bahnhof Graz, Werk X, TAG Theater Wien and others.
Zdravka Ivandija Kirigin
Costume and set designer
Zdravka Ivandija Kirigin was born in Zagreb in 1981.
She graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, since 2003 she has worked as a costume designer and since 2009 also as a stage designer.
Her work with various dance and theater directors has been shown in many theater and dance institutions and festivals at home and abroad.
As an active member of the Croatian art scene, she has had several group and solo exhibitions since 2004.
Since 2010 she has been working on her own project, associated with art and fashion, called Elektrovintage.
Zdravka Ivandija Kirigin is a member of the Croatian Association of Artists and the Association of Croatian Freelance Artists and an integral part of the VRUM Performing Arts Collective.
Adriana Cubides // Performer // Tiger Lilies
Agne Ramanuskaite // Performer // Premiere
Ana Mrak // Performer // Baja Buf / No Logo Opera(tion) / Minimi / Duck, Death and the Tulip
Ana Vnučec // Performer // Large
Andrea Hršak // Performer // Muzej plesa
Andreja Jandrić // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Andrius Matusevicius // tech // Premiere
Arijana Pospišil // Performer // Minimi
Asher O’Gorman // Performer / author // Baja Buf
Barbara Kanc // Co-creator / Performer // Doodledee, it´s me
Bartholomäus Honik // Video artist // Bones
Bojan Gagić // technical director / light // Bones
Bosiljka Vujović- Mažuran // Performer // Large
Branko Banković // Performer / producer // Large
Brigita Urbietyte // Performer // Premiere
Bruno Isaković // Performer // Large / No Logo Opera(tion)
Bruno Kontrec // Performer // / the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Caroline Böttcher // Graphic design // Bones
Christiane Peschek // photography // Something to do with death
Dado Ćosić // Performer // Baja Buf
Danko Stjepanović // photography // Large
Darko Gorenak // photography // Tainted
David Mihoci // photography // Vanishing Acts 1&2 / Vanishing Acts 3&4 / Bones
Davor Dokleja // producer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Davor Konjikušić // video / photography // the killer in me is the killer in you my love / Von der Mücke zum Eelefanten
Dimitrij Matvejev // photography // Premiere
Dina Ekštajn // Performer // Large / Duck, Death And The Tulip
Dinko Uglešić // graphic design // Vanishing Acts 1&2 / Vanishing Acts 3&4
Dovile Dzervute // graphic design, photography // Premiere
Dragan Đokić // video // No Logo Opera(tion)
Emma Wiederhold // Performer // Tiger Lilies
Evaldas Taujanskis // Performer // Premiere
Fabian Lettow // author / director // No Logo Opera(tion)
Florian Lauss // Performer / singer // No Logo Opera(tion)
Franz Rogowski // Performer // Almost
Franzi Kreis // Photo // Tiger Lilies
Georg „ Guru“ Hübner // Musician and Composer // Sons
Giordana Pascucci // Performer // Tiger Lilies / Baja Buf
Goran Škofić // Video artist // Bones
Gytis Ivanauskas // author // Premiere
Hannes Röbisch // Light Design // Lauter Haufen / Tanz Museum
Harald Gaukel // Graphic design // Something to do with death
Hrvoje Jelinčić // music / Performer / Svijet igara
Ieva Simukauskiene // Performer // Premiere
Igor Dobričić // dramaturg // Large
Igor Petrovski // light / photography // Vanishing Acts 1&2
Ina Sladić // Performer / assistent // No Logo Opera(tion)
Ivan Blagajčević // Performer // Tainted
Ivan Grčić // Performer // Baja Buf
Ivan Lučišić Liik // visuals & multimedia / Performer // Svijet igara
Ivan Mijačević // Performer // Almost // sound // Something to do with death
Jagoda Kralj Novak // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Janko Oven // Light Design // Doodledee, it´s me
Jasmin Steffl // Assistant director // Tiger Lilies
Jasmina Bojić // musician // No Logo Opera(tion)
Jelena Gabrić // marketing / producer
Jouzas Statkevicius // costume // Premiere
Jule Flierl // Performer // Almost // Performer / director // Bones
Karolina Horvat // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Katarina Kutnar // musician // No Logo Opera(tion)
Katharina Müller // Costume // Bones
Katja Kähkönen // author / director /set and costume // Doodledee, it´s me
Katja Povše // author / set and costume // Doodledee, it´s me
Katja Somrak // Producer // Doodledee, it´s me
Kerstin Pohle // Performer / singer // No Logo Opera(tion)
Koraljka Begović // Performer / producer// Muzej plesa
Kristina Mrčela // musician // No Logo Opera(tion)
Lada Petrovski Ternovšek // Performer // Almost
Larisa Navojec // director / Performer / Svijet igara
Leo Vukelić // video / stage // Minimi
Maja Katić // Dramatization // Duck, Death And The Tulip
Maja Patafta // graphic design / stage // No Logo Opera(tion) // Minimi
Maja Puhovski // public relations
Maria Farcher // Performer // Tiger Lilies
Maria Teresa Tanzarella // Performer // Von der Mücke zum Elefanten
Marija Krpan // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Marino Frankola // light // Minimi / the killer in me is the killer in you my love / Von der Mücke zum Elefanten / Duck, Death and the Tulip
Mario Kovač // dramaturg // Minimi / the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Marta Klepo // producer
Martina Nevistić // Performer // Almost
Martina Tomić // Performer // Large
Matej Povše // Photo // Doodledee, it´s me
Mateja Ocepek // author / set and costume // Doodledee, it´s me
Matija Kezele // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Matija Šantić // stage // Large
Mia Horvat // public relations
Milan Kovačević // light // Large / Vanishing Acts 3&4
Milena Leeb // Performer // Tiger Lilies
Mirjam Klebel // Performer // Tainted / Von der Mücke zum Elefanten
Mirjam Schmuck // director // No Logo Opera(tion)
Mirza Kebo // Light design // Tiger Lilies
Modestas Kulikauskas // stage // Premiere
Naglis Bierancas // Performer // Premiere
Nastasja Štefanić // Performer // Muzej plesa
Nikolina Medak // Performer // Muzej plesa
Paola Bralić // musician // No Logo Opera(tion)
Paulius Tamole // Performer // Premiere
Petar Borovec // photography // No Logo Opera(tion)
Petar Cvirn // Performer // Minimi / the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Petra Bokić // Performer // Duck, Death And The Tulip
Petra Hrašćanec // Performer // Vanishing Acts 1&2
Petra Mrša // photography // Minimi
Raphael Nicholas // Performer / author // Baja Buf
Roberta Milevoj // Performer // Svijet igara
Sara Parađiković // musician // No Logo Opera(tion)
Saša Bogojević // tech / light // Dani Suvremenog Plesa
Saša Božić // dramaturg // Vanishing Acts 1&2
Sebastian Graf // Performer // Almost
Slaven Edvin Bot // light // Tainted
Tina Valentan // Co-creator / Performer // Doodledee, it´s me
Tomas Petraitis // music // Premiere
Vesna Kolarec // light // No Logo Opera(tion)
Viktorija Ilioska // director // Muzej plesa
Wolfgang Weissgerber // light design // Something to do with death
Žarka Krpan // costume // the killer in me is the killer in you my love / Duck, Death And The Tulip
Zdenko Brlek // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love
Zvezdana Novaković // music // Doodledee, it´s me
Zvonko Zečević // Performer // the killer in me is the killer in you my love