Katarina Barešić (2000, Rijeka) is a dance artist and educator working in the field of contemporary dance. She began her dance journey at RiS Dance Centre, where she gained experience in commercial dance styles, with a focus on the fusion of hip hop, jazz, and heels. During her secondary education, her interest shifted towards experimental and contemporary dance, leading her to join the K2K Dance Ensemble under the direction of Kristina Paunovski. In 2019, she performed in the full-length ARTissue production Situations, which premiered at the Streetforma Festival. In the same year, she enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, Department of Contemporary Dance. She further developed her practice through residencies and international collaborations, including a professional internship in Berlin under the mentorship of Mila Pavčević. As a performer, she has collaborated with both Croatian and international artists and organisations, including Simone Aughterlony and Saša Božić (Agenda), Kristina Paunovski (ARTissue – Lineage), Koraljka Begović (Liquid Love), and the artistic organisation ON/A (Dance and Tradition). She is also active on the commercial dance scene as a performer and movement assistant, collaborating with musicians such as Vesna Pisarović, Vojko V, and Dino Merlin.
Alongside her performing work, she develops Humaniosity Movers, an interdisciplinary practice that explores the relationship between the body and a constantly changing environment through movement, improvisation, and creative interaction. Her work is influenced by the methods of Stefan Crainic, Josephine Haas, and the Fighting Monkey practice.Her pedagogical approach is grounded in contemporary dance techniques, improvisation, human animal practice, and calisthenics, with an emphasis on curiosity, play, and communication. Through this approach, she creates space for the development of creativity, transformation of perception, and exploration of movement dynamics.
She joined Zagreb Dance Company in 2026.
