Zsófia Szász
On The Outset
Zsófia Szász (1998, Budapest) is a dancer, choreographer, arts administrator, and programme manager at Workshop Foundation Budapest.
As an artist she is a freelancer, she creates her work and is part of Willanyleo Improvisational Dance Theater, ICODACO (International Dance Collective), and Irene Plaque.
Together with Irene Plaque, she createed works like The Meeting (Next Feszt 2025.03.09.), The Dollhouse (site-specific to exhibitions) and Dance Shop (LLB Project series)question what a dance performance can be and what roles the audience and the artist take in it. Her choreographic focus explores “transformative statements,” dreaming to be brave to declare, but flexible never to narrow down the creative flow of the human capacity. Her latest piece, Softloneliness is a dance stand-up, a self-reflective exploration of solitude (Next Feszt 2025.03.08).
Beyond the stage, Zsófia aims to support the dance community through her role at Workshop Foundation, working to keep on integrating dance into social competence and seeking ways to uplift the art she is so fond of.
Lágymagány / Softloneliness
at Nextfeszt in Budapest
Softloneliness is a self-critical and funny dance stand-up, mixing Moldavian folk dance and contemporary choreography. Zsófia Szász masterfully crochets not only her set, props and costume, but also her movements and thoughts, creating an intimate yet welcoming world on stage in her first solo work.
“My theme is solitude. The performance started with a research in which I was seeking a sense of community that can be experienced alone. I found this sensation in circle dances from the Moldva region of Romania. I cherish how thoughts take shape in solitude, and then flow back into an undefined state. The language of contemporary dance enables this fluidity. By merging the two dances (contemporary technique and folk dances from Moldva), I arrived at a movement quality full of familiar forms, yet unexpected and unintelligible. This search and research culminated in the character of Terpsichore. With a guided tour of Therpsichore's dance and home, I transform solitude into a communal experience on stage.” (Zsófia Szász)
The program is presented as part of NEXTFEST’s special feminist focus. 8th March is International Women's Day and since 2018 it is also Transnational Feminist Strike Day. We celebrate this occasion by sharing the work of artists who work with a feminist approach.
NEXTFEST is Trafó's very own mini festival, with which it showcases new forms, emerging artists and the joy of experimentation each year. Please find the full festival programme here, most events are English-friendly!
Lágymagány / Softloneliness
by Zsófia Szász
8 March 2025, 18:00
Nextfeszt Trafo Budapest
Find details & tickets here.
The NEXT Meeting
at Nextfeszt in Budapest
Having drifted to the edge of definability, in times of redefining, undefining, self-searching and self-questioning, Irene Plaque decided to become something.
This is an invitation to The NEXT Meeting: come, be present, and help Irene see clearly during this tough yet magical time.
The Meeting is about Irene themselves: their art and creation, their past, present and future, friendship and connection. They get inspired by whatever is at hand: their surroundings, circumstances, experiences, dreams, moods and thoughts, feelings and emotions in the here and now of NEXTFEST.
The Meeting is an abstract yet simple event, a performative conference, a constant flow of thoughts, simultaneous construction and deconstruction. Your attention, feedback, and suggestions are crucial for Irene.
You can bring your laptop, smartphone and notebook, and become part of the whole conference experience. Pens, ropi (salty sticks), and soda are provided.
Only in English!
The NEXT Meeting
by Irene Plaque (Alja Branc, Katalin Bitó, Zsófia Szász)
9 March 2025, 18:30
Nextfeszt Trafo Budapest
Find details & (free) tickets here.