Olena Stoian

I’m a Ukrainian dance maker and performing artist exploring the body as a vessel of emotions, energies and ideas, as well as an archive of personal experiences and ancestral memory. This belief drives one of my core creative questions: what do we create whith our presence?

Emotions are often at the heart of my creative journey. As a Ukrainian, the recent pain and challenges caused by war have deeply impacted my artistic path — becoming both a burden and a catalyst for expression. 

Living and working in different countries and experiencing displacement to the Netherlands —has taught me to stay curious and open, fueled lifelong learning, have expanded my creative vision and deepened my curiosity about space, identity, belonging.

My recent research into the embodiment of Ukrainian traditions led to the creation of Air Has No Borders — a piece rooted in folk dance, physical labor, and connection to the land. 

stonehelenmail@gmail.com