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SIMONA DEACONESCU (RO) & VANESSA GOODMAN (CA)

Tangaj Collective (RO) & Action at a Distance (CA)



Simona Deaconescu is a choreographer and filmmaker based in Bucharest, Romania. She explores social constructs by bridging fiction and objective reality, examining the body’s role in society through interdisciplinary collaboration. Deaconescu served as the artistic director of the Bucharest International Dance Film Festival, and founded Tangaj Collective, a transdisciplinary production company that works with artists and researchers.


She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in choreography from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, along with a bachelor's in film directing from the Media University of Romania. In 2016, she received the National Centre for Dance Award for her contributions to Romanian contemporary dance. Her work has been recognized by various innovation networks and showcased across Europe, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Madagascar, and the United States.


Vanessa Goodman is a choreographer based on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. She holds a BFA from Simon Fraser University and is the artistic director of Action at a Distance Dance Society, a contemporary dance company.


Goodman has received multiple honors, including the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award and the Chrystal Dance Prize, with work touring Canada, the USA, Europe, and South America. Recent collaborations include Graveyards and Gardens with Caroline Shaw and BLOT with Simona Deaconescu.


Tangaj Collective, founded in 2014, operates as a cultural NGO in Bucharest, producing artistic works and educational programs. Known for its training programs in contemporary dance, it has engaged over 3,000 participants and organizes the Bucharest International Dance Film Festival (BIDFF), dedicated to innovative artists in dance and film.


Action at a Distance Dance Society is a contemporary dance company that focuses on creating immersive experiences that explore themes of intimacy and connection through movement and sound. Since its inception, it has presented work locally, nationally, and internationally, fostering artistic collaboration across multiple disciplines. The company actively engages the community through open studio showings, workshops, and discussions, inviting audiences to become integral collaborators in the creative process.



Work presented at the Moving Balkans Showcase 2025: BLOT – Body Line of Thought


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