Two Serbian arts and culture journalists received annual „Visa Iskorak“ Award

Belgrade, February 24th, 2022 - "Visa Iskorak" award for journalistic excellence, professionalism, and reporting on the artistic dance in Serbia, has been given to the cultural editorial offices of the daily newspaper Danas and the weekly magazine NIN, this year. For the third year in a row, this recognition is handed out by the expert jury of the Belgrade Dance Festival and Visa, general sponsor of this prestigious cultural event in the region.

According to the jury's statement, the awarded editorial offices, ie journalist, Jelena Tasic from Danas and editor of the cultural section of the weekly magazine NIN Dragan Jovicevic are meritorious for informing the audience about the most recognized artists, new theater tendencies, and events in Europe and world stage. 

Vladimir Djordjevic, Country Manager of Visa for Southeast Europe, handed out recognitions to Jelena Tasic and Dragan Jovicevic. 

"First of all, I would like to thank this year's award winners for their important contribution to the affirmation of the art dance and temporary dance tendencies. The Belgrade Dance Festival is one of the most important cultural
events that connects art lovers in the country and the region. With the same vision of connecting people around the world, Visa recognized the need to support this Festival and strengthen its popularization. The media role is of great importance for the further growth and development of this cultural event, and I hope the interest in choosing the winners of the “Visa Iskorak” Award will be growing from year to year“, said Vladimir Djordjevic.

During the last year, the winners of this media award conducted a number of exclusive and unique interviews with top artists and performers in contemporary dance, offering their readers' unique access and deep look on practices and artistic life of such as Dimitris Papaioannou, Akram Kahn, Roberto Zapala, Gabriela Cariso, Jacopo Godani, Julio Boca. These interviews were also translated into other languages, so except for readers from Serbia, they also reached foreign audiences.

„On behalf of the cultural editorial board of the Belgrade daily newspaper Danas, I would like to thank the representatives of the Belgrade Dance Festival and the Visa, who recognized in our reporting professionalism and effort to bring readers closer to the world of modern dance. This recognition is mostly the result of successful long-term cooperation with the Belgrade Dance Festival. Despite the circumstances in which we have all been trying to survive for the last two years and the fact that market principles and corporate rules are increasingly suppressing creativity, talent, and common sense, I believe that art and beauty will save the world and civilization we belong to," said Jelena Tasic.

Pointing out the importance of reporting and good cooperation with the Belgrade Dance Festival, Dragan Jovićević from NIN also thanked for this recognition. 

"The Belgrade Dance Festival, led by Aja Jung, stands out from the others for the selfless gratitude of the organizers to those who helped in the, not at all easy efforts - the seventh force! And now, before the 19th festival starts, and on the eve of the great jubilee, I can't help but hide my excitement. First of all, because from the very beginning I was part of building that brand called Belgrade Dance Festival, as someone who monitored and reported on the festival, and thanks to my work, now, awarded with the Visa Iskorak, because it is not easy to gather courage and step into a better world. That is why, on my behalf and behalf of the editorial board of the weekly NIN, I would like to thank you for every step we have taken together for almost the past two decades. The years ahead will only prove how successful we have been in that joint mission," said Jovicevic.

In August this year, Jelena Tasić and Dragan Jovicevic, this year's winners, as a part of their professional recognition, supported by Visa, will visit "Tanz im August", the 34th International Dance Festival in Berlin,

"Visa Iskorak" award ceremony for professional reporting and contribution to the popularization of the artistic dance in Serbia during 2021, opened a new award cycle for the upcoming 19th edition of the Festival. Declaring a winner is scheduled for the end of the year.

About Visa Inc.

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