The world of dance, interpreted through the lens of architecture.
Edited by Anna Popper
As part of the Budapest Photo Festival and the Budapest Dance Festival, a powerful exhibition of black-and-white art photographs entitled “DANCER INSIDE BUDAPEST” by renowned photographer Simone Ghera was inaugurated on 28 April 2025 at the Italian Cultural Institute in Budapest, in collaboration with the Hungarian National Dance Theatre (Nemzeti Táncszínház).
The opening was attended by Simone Ghera, Dr. Gabriele La Posta, Director of the Italian Institute, Mr. Péter Ertl, Director of the National Dance Theatre, and Mr. Zoltán Sándor, Head of International Relations at the Dance Theatre, as well as the dance and photo loving audience.
As part of Ghera’s international Dancer Inside project – previously presented in cities such as St. Petersburg, Berlin, Rome, Geneva, Paris, and New York – this Budapest edition features dancers from various Hungarian companies, photographed in some of the city’s most iconic locations. Each image captures the essence of movement in architectural and historical spaces, rendered in striking monochrome. The project stands out for the artist’s creative and original approach, blending the language of dance with the silent poetry of urban settings.
The conceptual core of the project is the interplay between Architecture and Dance. While architecture reflects the cultural identity, history, and geography of a place, dance serves as a universal language – expressive, borderless, and immediate. By fusing these two art forms, Ghera creates a visual language where cultural specificity and human expression meet in a harmonious dialogue.
Simone Ghera, a Roman-born, Berlin-based architect and photographer, first encountered photography as a child, accompanying his father on photographic outings in nature and urban settings. He soon began taking photos on his own during frequent travels around the world, developing them in his personal darkroom. The experience of watching images “magically” appear on white sheets left an indelible mark on his soul.
Mr. Ghera continues to favour black-and-white photography, emphasizing the dramatic interplay of light and shadow and exploring the expressive potential of monochrome. Over time, he developed a deep interest in the world of dance – a long-standing fascination – which he interprets through the lens of architecture.
The Budapest series includes newly created photographs alongside selected works from earlier phases of the project, offering a unique visual journey through both local and global cultural expressions.
Simone Ghera – in the process of taking the photos in Budapest venues.
The opening event featured a live ballet performance by Hungarian dancers, further reflecting the exhibition’s central theme: the fusion of body and structure, motion and monument.
We warmly invite you to visit this visually stunning exhibition, which is open until 10 June 2025, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Budapest, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 18:00.
Source: Italian Cultural Institute Budapest
Photos by the Italian Cultural Institute Budapest and DPA
