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Nadina Cojocaru

Artist and Costume Designer

I am Nadina Cojocaru and I am an artist and a costume designer. I have been studying arts through my entire life from classical piano, dance and drawing. I graduated from the University of Arts in Сhisinau Moldova with a  bachelor in choreography.

In 2010 I moved to Japan a country I am fascinated with both in its country and culture. I lived there for 6 years  where I intensively studied the Japanese language, culture and traditional Kimono dressing. After I finished language school I worked in fields related to the fashion industry; as a creative director for wedding  fashion shows and as a designer and producer of wedding dresses, textile design and manufacturing,  photography, make up and hair styling.

For the last 2 years of living in Japan I had a great experience working for a big Japanese textile manufacturer, where my job was to work and collaborate with designers from high fashion brands from Europe, Asia and USA. The role required me to represent the company at international exhibition “Premiere Vision" travelling to Paris on a number of occasions.

After meeting Jiří Bubeníček in 2015 I moved back to Europe to collaborate in different artistic projects with him. I designed the costumes for a number of his ballets, “Chapeau” for Nürenberg State Ballet in 2017, “Metropolis” for the Croatian National Ballet in Zagreb in 2018, “Processen” for the Royal Swedish Ballet in 2019, “Cinderella” for the Nuovo Balleto di Toscana in 2019, online video project "Tanzgedichte aus der Stille" in Dresden and Saxony in 20221-22 and "Romeo and Juliet" for Croatian National Ballet Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka, in 2022.

“To design costumes for ballet is about making all the characters memorable for the audience. The message of the characters have to appear in the costume. I love to explore the limits of what is possible in my designs, and often try to combine the contemporary with the historic. I want each character to be special and the costumes to communicate my ideas to the audience. It is like having a parallel story that goes hand in hand with the choreography and with the dramaturgy of the piece.”


PROJECTS

NEWS

Cyrano de Bergerac

PREMIERE

Cyrano de Bergerac is undergoing a thrilling transformation, courtesy of Jiří Bubeníček collaborating with Nadina Cojocaru and set against the captivating stage design by Otto Bubeníček. Nadina will not only provide her expertise in dramaturgy, but will also craft the exquisite costumes for this upcoming neoclassical ballet premiering in September 2024 at the National Theatre in Brno, Czech Republic. Keep an eye out for more updates and details as this enchanting evening takes shape.

LA STRADA

The Vinohrady Theatre in Prague

"LA STRADA" a theatrical masterpiece, made its premiere to a standing ovation on March 10, 2024, at the Theater Vinohradyin Prague, featuring the Prague Chamber Balletcompany. With dramaturgy by Jiří Bubeníček (choreography) and Nadina Cojocaru (costumes and set design), this production breathes life into Federico Fellini's iconic film, ensuring an unforgettable experience.
"La Strada" tells a poignant and tragic tale of love, adversity, and personal growth - a night of theatrical brilliance that resonates across time and emotions.

Click here for futher performances.

Romeo and Juliet

Guesting performances at Theatre Winterthur in Switzerland

Jiří Bubeníček's "ROMEO AND JULIET" featuring captivating stage and costume designs by Nadina Cojocaru, is set to grace the stage once more. The performance was accompanied by a live orchestra as part of the company's tour, taking place at the Theatre Winterthur in Switzerland from January 25-27, 2024.

Bolero

Music Festival Krumlov 2023

July 14, 2023 - Prestigious Gala concert: "FRENCH NIGHT"For the opening concert of 32nd edition of international music Festival Krumlov, titled "French Night," Nadina has created costume design for Maurice Ravel's captivating "BOLERO" choreography by Jiří Bubeníček. The ballet was performed by leading ballet soloists LES BALLETS BUBENÍČEK / Semperoper Ballet that brought the evening to a mesmerizing crescendo.

SPARTACUS

The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb

Full length ballet in two acts "SPARTACUS" inspired by Raffaello Giovagnoli’s Novel celebrated its premiere on January 27, 2023 with The Croatian National Ballet in Zagreb. Jiří Bubeníček together with Nadina Cojocaru wrote entirely a new libretto and newly re-arranged Aram Khachaturian's music according to the story. This anabled the birth of a completely new ballet with stage design created by Italian by Dario Gessati and Nadina Cojocaru was responsible for the costum design that included over 100 costumes.

Kafka's "The Trial"

at the State Theater in Košice, Slovak Republic

The pre-production meeting of creators and the theater workshops began the preparation of the new ballet production "PROCES", which premiered in the first half of the new theater season 2022/2023.
Franz Kafka's "The Trial" had its world premiere in 2019 at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Now, Czech choreographer and Director Jiří Bubeníček together with Costume Designer and Co-Director Nadina Cojocara and his brother, Stage Designer Otto Bubeníček brings this exiting performance to State theater in Košice. "Proces" celebrated it's second premiered in October 2022.

Romeo and Juliet

The Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka

May 27, 2022  Nadina Cojocaru and Jiří Bubeníček succesfully premiered a new full length story ballet "ROMEO AND JULIET" especially created for the dance company at The Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka. For stage design was responsible Aleksandra Ana Buković and costumes were created by designer Nadina Cojocaru. 
The story is often thought to be about love and it’s power. But actually the audience fail to realise that the love is included in the piece only in few fragile moments of satisfaction. From the very beginning of the play it is very evident that violence will occur. Furthermore the needlessness of the deaths in society especially since it all happens a lot amongst youth.

TANZGEDICHTE AUS DER STILLE

Seven Continents, Seven Songs, Seven Dances

Forgotten buildings in Saxony are brought back to life through music and dance. In the virtual spotlight, you will be connected to the whole world through music from 7 continents. Video concept by Nadina Cojocaru and choreography by Jiří Bubeníček - "TANZGEDICHTE AUS DER STILLE". Gefördert durch die Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen, Landeshauptstadt Dresden und Nationale Performance Netz - Stepping Out.

COMING UP...

AN EXCITING NEWS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

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