FLIGHT – a multimedia performance

Aleksandra Bengin is a cellist based in Belgrade. She received her classical education on two instruments—cello and piano—completing her studies in both (cello – Master’s degree, piano – Bachelor’s degree) at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. She is currently engaged as a regular external collaborator with the RTS Symphony Orchestra and is a member of two chamber ensembles—Duo Dragorad and Duo Bengin & Predolac. Alongside classical music, which is her primary focus, she is also active in composition and improvisation on her instrument, the cello.

Olga Uzikaeva is a dance artist born in Vladivostok, currently living and working between Belgrade and Antwerp, Belgium, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp / De Singel International Arts Center. Her work exists at the intersection of dance, physical theatre, visual art, and technology. Her artistic practice explores the connection between mind and body through the lens of instant composition—performance unfolding in the present moment. Her interdisciplinary approach is shaped by themes of boundaries, limitations, and belonging, often reflecting her personal experience as a foreigner abroad. Drawing on history and personal memory, she investigates the circularity of time and recurring patterns in human experience. Her creative process combines improvisation with set structures, always leaving space for spontaneity and presence.

The album “Let” (Flight) marks Aleksandra’s debut authorial project and consists of six compositions: “Jutro” (Morning), “Čekanje” (Waiting), “Let” (Flight), “Intermezzo,” “Pad” (Fall), and “Kraj” (End). It was recorded between June and September 2024 at Multimedia Studio, with recording and production by Nebojša Brdarić. The photographer is Miloš Dimitrijević, and the cover artwork was created by painter James Maj.

Placing the music from this album within a specific genre is not straightforward, but it can best be described as ambient–classical–experimental music—essentially, music for a film that has yet to be made. It carries traces of classical tradition while incorporating elements from other genres such as pop, electronic music, and improvisation. The idea was to merge the classical sound of the cello with modern tools—such as a looper and delay effects—in order to expand the instrument’s expressive possibilities. Melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic components are all performed solely on the cello, meaning that in addition to melody, the instrument simultaneously produces rhythmic pulses and harmonic layers through overdubbing and layering of sound lines. The result is the emergence of an “orchestra” of cellos.

The author found inspiration in nature, in film and film music, in everyday daydreaming, and in reflecting on what might emerge if all her musical and artistic ideas were unified into a single, distinctive sound. This is how the album came to life. It was released by the label Multi Media Music and is available on all platforms as well as on CD.

In the dance segment of the performance, as in the musical one, there is a combination of composed/choreographed and improvised fragments. The music and the story behind each composition served as inspiration for movement. Through her physical expression, Olga conveys both her personal experience of the music and what Aleksandra had in mind while creating each track. This is a shared experience—a way in which artists from different fields tell a story together, using their own artistic languages.

The idea of the live performance is to combine music with dance and video content, expanding the experience of the music and giving it new dimensions. Through choreography and improvisation, Olga Uzikaeva’s dance highlights and reframes the music, offering it a new context. The video content is created specifically for this event and serves as an atmospheric backdrop for the performance. Musical performance and dance meet and interact, influencing each other and creating unique moments in real time. The combination of composed and improvised elements ensures that each performance feels fresh and distinctive—something unrepeatable.

The premiere performance of the multimedia piece LET took place on August 31, 2025, at the alternative cultural space “Kvaka 22” in Belgrade, receiving a positive response from the audience.

This marks the second collaboration between Aleksandra and Olga. They first performed together in October 2024 at Gallery Neon in Belgrade, as part of the group exhibition “Memories: Lost & Found.”