Ballerina Horror Project

“Ballerina Horror Project” is a solo show by Polish-Łemko dancer and choreographer Monika Błaszczak. The solo draws on Błaszczak's experiences as a former student of the State Ballet School in Poznań, Poland, and explores themes of bodily and political regimes, queer transformation, and the utilization of ballet as a weapon in the Soviet imperialist project. Błaszczak takes a close look at the traces that ballet education left on their body and follows those lines to study the philosophical foundations of the practice of ballet. With its origins in the royal courts of sixteenth-century Europe, ballet is inherently intertwined with the political and philosophical beliefs of that era. In a sharp, tragicomic, and unapologetic way, Błaszczak presents how ballet has functioned as an oppressive system to control, regulate, and discipline bodies. Simultaneously, the artist suggests an alternative to physical practices rooted in cruelty: a queer becoming. As a queer descendant of the Łemko ethnic group, whose roots lie in the Carpathian Mountains between Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine, and who faced the cruel displacement wrought by the Soviet army after World War II, Błaszczak is determined to make their art a powerful force for change. Through “Ballerina Horror Project”, they aspire to contribute to the creation of a world where safety, care, and growth are extended to all. In this mesmerizing solo performance, Monika Błaszczak weaves together the past, present, and a transformative vision for the future. The “Ballerina Horror Project” stands as an enthralling testament to the resilience of the human spirit, while also embracing the force of love that heals, transcends boundaries, and binds us all.

Monika Błaszczak is a dancer and choreographer whose practice reimagines the possibilities of dance as a medium of transformation that opens portals into the unknown. Originally trained as a professional ballerina, she later transitioned to experimental and interdisciplinary approaches to dance. She is the founder of Monika’s Dance World, a dance company established in 2025 and working internationally. She is the creator of the movement practice Soliloquy – Hauntological Somatics, which she has taught internationally. Her performances have been presented in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America, including at Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Place, Laban Theatre, V.O Curations, South London Gallery, Polish Dance Theatre, and the Barbican Centre. She holds degrees from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied under André Lepecki, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. Her work has been supported by numerous awards and residencies, including the Young Poland Scholarship, the Young Arts Medal, NYU Performance Studies Award, and the Trinity Laban Innovation Award.