Tangaj Collective in North America: BLOT – Body Line of Thought

About the Event

This fall, the internationally acclaimed choreographer Simona Deaconescu embarks on a North American tour with her groundbreaking work BLOT – Body Line of Thought, created in collaboration with Canadian artist Vanessa Goodman. Performed by Simona Deaconescu together with Simona Dabija and Maria-Luiza Dimulescu, BLOT reimagines the body as a living archive, exploring our intimate and interdependent relationship with the microbial world.

Presented in major cultural hubs such as Velocity Dance Center in Seattle, The Dance Centre in Vancouver, DJD Dance Centre in Calgary, University Theatre in Regina or The Roxy Theatre in Edmonton, the tour offers audiences not only the chance to experience this innovative performance, but also to engage through workshops, classes, and community conversations, deepening the dialogue between science, art, and society.

BLOT

Created By Simona Deaconescu, Vanessa Goodman

With Simona Dabija, Maria-Luiza Dimulescu

Original Music: Monocube

Stage Design: Ciprian Ciuclea

Artistic Consultants: Olivia Nițis, Marta De Menezes

Production Design: Diana Miroșu

Light Design & Technical Direction: Hermina Stănciulescu

Production & Distribution: Alexandra Mihali

Tour Schedule

➡ Oct 9–11: Seattle, WA – Velocity Dance Center

➡ Oct 23–24: Vancouver, BC – The Morrow, The Dance Centre CAD

➡ Nov 1-2: Calgary, AB – Fluid Festival, DJD Dance Centre

➡ Nov 13–14: Edmonton, AB – The Roxy Theatre, Brian Webb Dance Company

➡ Nov 18–19: Regina, SK – University Theatre, New Dance Horizons

Co-Produced By Tangaj Collective, Action At A Distance, The National Centre For Dance In Bucharest

Co-Financed By The Administration Of The National Cultural Fund In Romania, Canada Council For The Arts

Supported By Biofriction, Cultivamos Cultura, Plastic Orchid Factory, Left Of Main

The tour and the residency are part of the multi-annual program Body Narratives. Collective Actions (2025–2026), produced by Tangaj Collective Association, co-produced by Action at a Distance, and co-financed by AFCN – the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.

The tour also marks the beginning of a new collaborative project, Future Alternates, the recent recipient of the prestigious Chrystal Dance Prize and is scheduled to premiere in spring 2027.

About the Artists

SIMONA DEACONESCU’s international career spans stage works, installations, films, and video art, and her creations have resonated with audiences across Europe, Africa, Canada, and the United States. With BLOT, she continues her exploration of future bodily imaginaries, where anatomy, language, and empathy intersect to shape new choreographic experiences. (Photo credit: Cristian Pascariu)

VANESSA GOODMAN is a Vancouver-based choreographer and the Artistic Director of Action at a Distance Dance Society. A graduate of Simon Fraser University (BFA), she creates work that goes beyond aesthetics, exploring the complexity of the human condition. Her choreography has received national and international recognition, earning awards such as the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award and the Yulanda M. Faris Scholarship. Vanessa has been supported by institutions like The Banff Centre, Harbourfront Centre, and Biofriction, and her work has been presented across Canada and abroad, including in Brazil, New Zealand, and the UK. She respectfully lives and creates on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. (Photo credit: Ben Didier)

SIMONA DABIJA is a Romanian dancer, choreographer, and performer, interested in exploring hybrid bodies where mechanical and organic gestures coexist. She holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Choreography from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest. Simona is an active member of Tangaj Collective and co-founder of Delazero Association, supporting emerging voices in the performing arts. Her recent works include the solo BPM – Beats per Millennium and the collaborative performance installation Original Spaces / Legalized Gestures. In 2020, her contribution to Romanian contemporary dance was recognized by the National Center for Dance Bucharest. (Photo credit: Markos Tamas)

MARIA_LUIZA DIMULESCU is a Romanian dancer, choreographer, and writer. She holds a BA and MA in Choreography from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest. Her recent performance work includes projects with Tangaj Collective such as BLOT – Body Line of Thought, Ramanenjana, and Isolation in a Series of Liminal States. In 2023, she was recognized by the National Center for Dance Bucharest for her contributions to contemporary dance. As a creator, she explores socially engaged themes through performances like Bad Feminist and Ultima Picătură, and has developed several dance films, including Breath and Disconnected. She is also involved in community-focused projects, using dance as a tool for dialogue and healing. (Photo credit: Alina Usurelu)

This North American journey is made possible with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, affirming its commitment to fostering bold artistic exchanges and amplifying the voice of contemporary Romanian creativity on the world stage.

Please find out more about the event HERE.

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