Founded in 2022 by Oana Mureșan (choreographer and dancer), OM Studio is a choreographic centre based in Cluj, Romania. It was established out of a desire to explore the cognitive and emotional complexities of dance and to shed new light on the process and production of this type of movement in space and time, with a particular focus on its performative quality and expressive dimension. The OM Choreographic Centre offers a comprehensive framework for exploring the languages of dance through an active approach (production and dance classes) and a generative approach (research and residencies).

Jasmin Sisti (AA24-25) and Hugo Langlade (AA24-25) undertook a one-month residency at OM Studio.

Here is Hugo’s account of their experience:
Jasmin and I were very interested in Romania’s current political context. We had several meetings, notably with Adriana Bicazan, who explained the country’s situation following the presidential elections in October and May. These discussions were also echoed during a guided tour of Flaviu Rogojan’s exhibition Connect To Peers, which addressed the circulation of information online.We were also very curious to learn about the country’s history, having emerged from communism only thirty years ago, as well as the economic, architectural and social impacts of this gradual transition to a market economy, leading up to its integration into the European Union in 2007. We also watched numerous films rooted in Romanian culture, such as Dracula and Time of the Gypsies.

We met many people and visited numerous exhibitions in galleries across the city of Cluj-Napoca. This allowed us to observe the diversity of themes explored and the different scales of works on display.

On a more personal note, following the residency, I decided to travel across the country to discover the differences between a city like Cluj-Napoca — a major economic player in Romania thanks to the presence of numerous IT companies — and other urban contexts such as Sibiu or Bucharest. I therefore spent a week travelling through the country, taking the Transfăgărășan road before arriving in Bucharest, a city characterised by its prominent Brutalist architecture.

Finally, we met many people who came to see us during the open studio, where we presented our projects and shared a meal that we had cooked ourselves. We hope to return very soon to see them again.

Artistic events and tours during the residency:

Zina Gallery - “Cache”
Contemporar - “Connect to Peers”
Biju Gallery - Abel Rad - solo show
Vault One Gallery - “As Above, So Below”
MATCA Art Space - “EXECUT LUCRĂRI”
Non Centru - Spectacle “On Hold”
UAD Graduation Diploma Show
Festival Electric Castle
Steampunk Museum Cluj-Napoca
Cinema Arta