Viktor Ruban, a respected Ukrainian choreographer and activist, has been appointed as the Valeska Gert Visiting Professor at Freie Universität Berlin for the summer semester of 2025. Renowned for his significant influence on European dance, Ruban is set to engage with students in the Critical Dance Studies master’s programme. An opening ceremony will occur on April 15, 2025, at the Akademie der Künste Berlin—marking the start of his scholarly journey.
In his upcoming lecture, conducted in English, Ruban will delve into the role of Ukrainian artistic practices in sustaining the European arts landscape, particularly in the wake of ongoing aggressive conflicts. A collaborative performance with students will be showcased on July 17, 2025, also at the Akademie der Künste, and the public is invited to witness this artistic convergence.
The turmoil wrought by the Russian war in Ukraine has deeply informed Ruban’s artistic approach, showcasing how contemporary dance can drive societal change. Since Russia’s incursions in 2014 and 2022, he has championed the interplay of culture, education, and the arts to bolster democratic resilience, impacting countless lives in both personal and communal spheres.
As a co-founder of various platforms for Ukrainian creatives, Ruban tirelessly fosters intercultural dialogue across Europe, significantly enhancing the visibility of Ukrainian arts. Since 2024, he has contributed as an educator at the National University of Ukraine, dedicating himself to nurturing upcoming Ukrainian talents.
In addressing the war’s psychological wounds, Ruban has collaborated with psychologist Liudmyla Mova to formulate recovery frameworks through dance and somatic techniques, aimed at supporting those facing the strains of conflict. His inquiry during his tenure at Freie Universität will span the history of dance, memory, and the future of performance art, providing students a unique opportunity to reevaluate dance’s socio-political dimensions.
The Valeska Gert Visiting Professorship, established in the winter semester of 2006/2007, champions dialogues between performance art and scholarship and bears the name of the innovative avant-garde dancer, Valeska Gert. Integrating theory and practice within its curriculum, this professorship aligns perfectly with Ruban’s ethos and vision for dance as a transformative medium.
Ukrainian artist Viktor Ruban has been appointed as Valeska Gert Visiting Professor at Freie Universität Berlin for summer 2025. He will deliver a lecture on the role of Ukrainian art amid conflict and collaborate with students on a performance. Ruban’s work promotes cultural resilience and psychological recovery in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Valeska Gert Visiting Professorship fosters connections between artistic practice and academic research.
Viktor Ruban’s appointment as the Valeska Gert Visiting Professor marks a significant milestone for Freie Universität Berlin and the broader artistic community. His impactful work amidst adversity illustrates the transformative power of dance and art as vehicles for societal resilience. Through his lecturing and collaborative performances, Ruban is poised to inspire a new generation of artists while advocating for intercultural dialogue and the healing power of the arts in the face of conflict.
Original Source: www.fu-berlin.de
