As part of her residency at Transcultures from February to June 2025, Lithuanian artist Kotryna Žilinskaitė is also conducting doctoral research on sound and bodily practices, in connection with neurodivergent individuals, including those on the autism spectrum and/or living with mental health challenges.
Her project Sfere is a methodological space developed by Lithuanian artist-researcher Kotryna Žilinskaitė — a constantly evolving field of exploration born from a journey that blends dance, theatre, Taichi, so-called somatic body practices, as well as vocal work and therapeutic approaches to the voice. It is not a fixed method, but a living process where movement, sound, space, and time intertwine to cultivate a deeper awareness of oneself and one’s environment.
Transcultures and its partners invite you to meet Kotryna Žilinskaitė and discover her research during the Sfere workshop, where body, voice, and gesture become tools of expression and connection — both inward, toward inner experience, and outward, toward the world around us.
Sfere - Presentation and methodology
The method is built upon a metaphorical framework: the “Five Elements in the expressive dimensions of body and voice.” Each element offers a poetic anchor to concretely explore distinct qualities of movement, presence and interaction within an artistic setting.
- Earth — Grounding, weight, structure. Here, the body explores its density and relationship to the floor and gravity. In vocal and corporeal practice, this translates into a stable posture, measured breath and a voice rooted in support.
- Water — Fluidity, resonance, receptivity. We work on transitions, the flow of gestures and vocal modulation. Attentiveness to emotion becomes material for movement, rhythm and phrasing.
- Fire — Impulse, clarity, transformation. This element is the realm of intention, decisive gestures and the precise release of sound. The voice sharpens, the body asserts itself with energy, the performance gains definition.
- Air — Lightness, openness, connection. Movements unfold and breathe. The voice circulates freely. We explore interaction, transitions and the permeability between self and other, between gesture and sound.
- Ether — Synthesis, freedom, holistic listening. The elements intertwine. Movement becomes more intuitive, the voice more flexible, imagination takes flight. We enter into a living, plastic and open composition.
Who is Sphere for?
Arts professionals — dancers, actors, musicians — seeking to deepen the body-voice connection, refine stage presence and fuel their creative drive.
Care and therapy practitioners — looking to enrich their work with sensitive tools that support emotional regulation, bodily awareness and inner listening.
Anyone on a personal development journey — eager to explore their expressiveness, cultivate harmony between body, voice and feeling, and strengthen their relationship with self and others.
Workshop Format
The workshop spans five hours, dedicated to exploring movement and voice. Certain exercises use suspended fabrics (aerial yoga hammocks) to help the body release tension, experiment with shifting relationships to gravity, and perceive itself as a living, ever-evolving structure.
A significant segment of the workshop is devoted to a collective creative experience: an improvised performance where participants explore sounds and movements within a shared space. Each person unfolds their unique experience in dialogue with others, shaping a collective dynamic — a moment of vibrant expression and sensory connection.
During the performance, participants will be invited to interact with the video installation Microcosm by Julija Šoblinskytė. Composed of moving images inspired by microscopic structures, this visual environment extends the workshop’s sensory investigations. It functions not as mere scenery but as a dialogue space between body, voice and image. Participants can draw on this visual presence to enrich their improvisation, playing with the suggested rhythms, textures and dynamics of the projection. Microcosm thus becomes a creative partner, stimulating attention to detail, spatial awareness and collective imagination.
Sfere, exploring voice and body differently: an interview with Kotryna Žilinskaitė
Jacques Urbanska: You started with performing arts. How has that path influenced your current research?
Kotryna Žilinskaitė: I became interested in theatre when I was eight. It was truly a space for play (in the way children experience it), but also for observation and listening. Later on, I studied theatre at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. That training gave me a solid foundation, but it was the urge to connect body and voice differently that pushed me to look further.
J. U.: How did the “Sphere” approach come about?
K. Ž.: The “spherical explorations” of movement and voice are part of a research I’ve been developing for several years. It’s not a fixed method, but rather a living, constantly evolving process. It’s been built up layer by layer, nourished by my artistic, physical and personal journey.
J. U.: What has nourished this approach?
K. Ž.: As a child, I often watched my father practicing Taichi. His movement was slow, grounded, almost silent. That relationship to the body, to weight, to time, really fascinated me. It was probably my first doorway into an embodied understanding of movement.
Then came theatre. What I learned there is that repetition is never mechanical: it’s alive. Each moment repeated reveals something new, as long as you are fully present. Dance followed. Then one day, a physical injury slowed everything down, and I had to search differently—through detail, through subtle body listening.
J. U.: What role do the suspended fabrics play in your practice?
K. Ž.: Their arrival was a revelation. The suspended fabrics offer a different relationship to space and gravity. They helped me rediscover a more supple body, more attuned, carried by gentleness. It transformed my relationship to movement—but also to time: less linear, more organic.
J. U.: What theoretical or artistic influences have “given body” to your research?
K. Ž.: There are several. Butoh, through Juju Alishina (a Japanese dancer and choreographer), introduced me to a dance “from within”, where silence and slowness are active forces.
The vocal work of Kristin Linklater (see Freeing the Natural Voice, Routledge, 2006) and Yurijus Vasiljevas (Professor of the Department of Stage Language, St. Petersburg State Academy of Theater Arts) helped me integrate voice as an extension of the body.
I also studied music therapy at Vilnius University, and explored somatic approaches like Paul Newham’s Voice Movement Therapy (The Singing Cure, 1993) and Body-Mind Centering developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.
Each of these practices gave me tools to experience voice, movement and breath as a living, sensory, interconnected whole.
J. U.: How would you describe “Sphere” today?
K. Ž.: It’s an invitation to explore voice and movement as sensitive, artistic practices. It’s an open framework where each person can work with their own materials—sensations, memory, imagination. For me, “Sphere” links the intimate and the collective, gesture and sound, observation and presence. It’s an ongoing exploration, shaped by everyone who takes part in it.
J. U.: You also lead many parallel projects. How do they enrich your practice?
K. Ž.: For several years now, I’ve been organizing festivals, concerts, making films and plays, and taking part in interdisciplinary and choreographic performances. Many are influenced by Butoh. I also lead creative workshops, and I’ve founded two complementary spaces in Vilnius.
Užiateka is a center for cultural and interdisciplinary practices, a space for artistic encounters, performances, and collective creation. Oasis – art therapy is a more intimate space, focused on healing through artistic practices—particularly voice and movement—through a sensitive and embodied approach.
In connection with Transcultures and its international sound art festival City Sonic, I also currently coordinate the “City Sonic Vilnius” initiative, which led to several events in 2022 and 2023. These projects keep me connected to a wide range of artists and constantly nourish my practice.
Kotryna Žilinskaité (Lt)
Kotryna Žilinskaitė is an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of theater, contemporary dance, video, and sound. With a background in performance and movement, she explores the interplay between body, voice, and space, integrating these elements into both artistic and therapeutic practices. Recently, she earned her Master’s in Music Therapy from Vilnius University, further deepening her approach to creativity, embodiment, and sound.
Her work spans a wide range of formats—from aerial yoga and voice-movement improvisation to experimental sound compositions and dance films. She has presented her projects at international festivals and art residencies, including Transcultures, Ponderosa, Užupis Art Incubator, and Kintai Art Residency, where she continues to develop interdisciplinary work that bridges movement, sound, and digital media.
In addition to her artistic practice, Kotryna is actively engaged in cultural initiatives. Through Užiateka and Menų Oazė, she curates and organizes international projects that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration. Whether leading creative workshops, designing performances, or facilitating artistic exchanges, her focus remains on creating immersive and dynamic experiences that connect artists and audiences in meaningful ways.
Užiateka (Lt)
Užiateka is a vibrant cultural organization founded in 2019 with a focus on creativity and community. It has become a hub for artistic expression, blending creative arts with well-being and educational initiatives. The organization brings people together through a variety of activities, including interdisciplinary projects, cultural events, and creative workshops.
Užiateka’s approach encourages both personal growth and collective engagement. By combining art, well-being, and education, it offers unique experiences that foster collaboration and open up new possibilities for artistic exploration. Through its media platform, “Užiateka TV,” the organization also shares cultural events, educational sessions, and artist interactions, making creativity accessible to a wider audience.
At its core, Užiateka believes in the power of art to connect people and create meaningful partnerships. Whether locally or internationally, it continues to contribute to the cultural fabric, creating spaces for creativity to thrive and supporting individual and community development.
La Pommeraie Center (Be) and Opaline association (Be)
La Pommeraie’s mission is to ensure the well-being and support of adults with disabilities by providing the necessary resources to meet their needs and aspirations. The values upheld by La Pommeraie aim to allow each resident to live and thrive.
La Pommeraie is affiliated with the National League for People with Disabilities and Specialized Services. Its origins also trace back to the “La Porte Ouverte” institute in Blicquy, which primarily welcomed children and adolescents with epilepsy. However, it was in 1972 that La Pommeraie truly became autonomous, establishing its headquarters in the former convent of the Sisters of Saint Francis de Sales in Ellignies-Sainte-Anne.
It was only natural that a dedicated section was created to welcome adults working in sheltered workshops. This home, originally located in an apple orchard, was later moved to Ellignies-Sainte-Anne, and it is from that initial setting that it takes its name.
Initially a single structure, decentralization became necessary about ten years later. This helped ease tensions caused by close living quarters, allowed for more individualized projects, and encouraged social integration. Since 1989, this decentralization process has continued, and today, the various homes are spread across four villages: Ellignies-Sainte-Anne, Quevaucamps, Basècles, and Tourpes.
The OPALINE Association
OPALINE offers an inclusive medico-social living environment located in Saint-Ghislain. This facility provides a warm and secure setting for residents, promoting their well-being on a daily basis. It welcomes people with disabilities, elderly individuals who are dependent, and those experiencing a loss of autonomy.
The facility is designed to meet the specific needs of each resident, while respecting their individuality and dignity. The association stands out for its personalized and human-centered approach, aiming to provide individualized support to every resident.
The professional and caring team is fully committed to ensuring the comfort, safety, and well-being of those they support. Friendly living spaces and a variety of activities help create an enjoyable and stimulating environment for all.
Informations
- 31.05.2025 | 11:00 – La fabrique de vêtement
- 30, rue Albert et Isabelle 7130 Binche
- 01.06.2025 | 11:00 – Le chant des chevaux
- 41, rue j wauters 7992 Beloeil
Production
- Transcultures – Užiateka. En partenariat avec Le Chant des Chevaux.
- En collaboration avec La Pommeraie, Opaline, La Traverse asbl
- Visuels : Užiateka, Julija Šoblinskytė
