- event type:WOMEX 25 Conference Session
- date:22 Oct 2025 - 26 Oct 2025
- time:11:00 - 18:00
- city/area:Tampere
- venue:tba
- country:Finland
- event posted by:Piranha Arts
Links
Chaired by
Anna Dantchev (Bulgaria/Finland), Dantchev:Domain;
with
Daniel Lazar (Serbia/Norway), violinist/composer;
Sabina Smailagic (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Denmark), Music culture facilitator
This session explores the intersection of Nordic and Balkan cultural identities, questioning who "belongs" in these spaces. Who are Nordic Balkans? Are Balkan influences in the Nordic region seen as exoticized elements or as authentic, evolving traditions? By examining music, musicians and their stories, we try to uncover how cultural expressions navigate between being romanticized or truly integrated. Drawing from lived experiences and artistic practices, we discuss the balance between appreciation and appropriation, shedding light on how historical migration and modern globalization shape these narratives. Attendees will gain insight into the fluidity of cultural belonging, the challenges of representation, and the power of tradition as a living, evolving force rather than a static relic of the past.