ANNIVERSARY OPENING IN THE FORTRESS, UNDER THE SIGN OF EMOTION AND THE MEMORY OF MOVEMENT
The „Matei Stegerean” Gallery of the „Euro Foto Art” Exhibition Center, hosted by the Princely Palace of the medieval Oradea Fortress, proved to be too small on the evening of Friday, December 19, 2025. The history-laden walls became witnesses to an anniversary moment of profound emotional charge: the opening of the international exhibition organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Stephany Dance Academy Sport Dance Club Association. Suggestively titled „Steps Sculpted in Time”, the exhibition was created by the Euro Foto Art International Association (AIEFA) and Summit Agro Romania, in partnership with the Association for the Promotion of Tourism in Oradea and Surroundings (APTOR). The public was offered 101 representative photographs for contemplation, dedicated to the dancers of the celebrated association – images that can be admired both in the exhibition space and online, on the AIEFA website. The event was opened by photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István AFIAP, ESFIAP, in his double capacity as president of AIEFA and one of the founders of the celebrated Association. He expressed his joy for an exceptional year, in which, in the four galleries managed by the prestigious international association, no fewer than 48 international photographic art exhibitions were opened, bringing together artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Canada, China, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, the United States of America, Turkey, Ukraine, and Hungary. „The opening of the last exhibition of this year is, for me, the most emotional,” he confessed. „The photographs capture the journey of the dancers trained by coaches Noémi and István Tóth, from the period when they were multiple national champions of Romania, to their role as mentors who, for a quarter of a century, have raised entire generations of sport dancers. Many of them have, in turn, become coaches for prestigious clubs in the United States of America, Romania, or Germany.” Next, university lecturer Dr. Ramona, historian and art critic, highlighted the immense effort behind the visible grace: the continuous work necessary for learning and transmitting a dance choreography, but also for transposing it into the static, yet profoundly expressive, language of photography. Coach István Tóth spoke about the human dimension of this journey: ”Spending twenty-five years with someone – or building something for twenty-five years, caring for, enriching, and continuously renewing it – requires immense inner strength, perseverance, and not a few sacrifices.” In turn, coach Noémi Tóth added with emotion: ”Dance is not just steps and rhythm, but people, characters, and destinies. Every child who entered our rehearsal room left a mark, and every success obliged us to be better, more attentive, and more responsible.” The anniversary moment was crowned by the presentation of the jubilee album, published on this occasion by the „Euro Foto Art” Publishing House, a visual synthesis of a quarter-century of passion and dedication. The event could also be followed live, via online broadcast, on the Facebook page of the Euro Foto Art Association. The evening’s atmosphere was enriched by refined musical moments, performed by viola artist Thurzó Sándor József, who played works by Corneliu Torsan, Bartók Béla, Zeno Vancea, Lavotta János, and Hilda, as well as by student Izabella Gurău, 10th grade E at the Oradea High School of Arts, prepared by Prof. Ferencz Mercédesz, who performed the „Galopp” study by C. Czerny on the piano. The exhibition images can also be admired on the screens of modern transport vehicles in the municipality of Oradea, thanks to the partnership between AIEFA and OTL S.A. The exhibition remains open to the public until January 10, 2026, on working days, between 08:00–16:00, with free access.
INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION ”STEPS SCULPTED IN TIME”
The Euro Foto Art International Association (AIEFA) and Summit Agro Romania, alongside their partners – the Association for the Promotion of Tourism in Oradea and Surroundings (APTOR) and the Museum of the Criș County – have transformed, during this year, the spaces of the four permanent photographic art galleries in the FIAP and EFA Exhibition Centers into a veritable continent of images. No fewer than 48 international photographic art exhibitions have opened gates for the public to diverse worlds, cultures, and sensibilities. In this extensive visual journey, visitors could admire over 2,500 photographs signed by creators from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Canada, China, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, the United States of America, Turkey, Ukraine, and Hungary – a constellation of perspectives gathered under the same artistic sky. In this context, 101 color photographs will be presented, accessible both in the exhibition space and online, on the AIEFA website: https://eurofotoart.ro/easociatia-club-de-dans-sportiv-stephany-dance-academy-25-de-ani-de-existentă
The year’s exhibition program will conclude on a festive note with an international photography exhibition dedicated to a story written in dance steps and years of dedication: The 25th Anniversary of the Stephany Dance Academy Sport Dance Club Association. The exhibition will take the public on an emotional journey through memories, successes, and fulfilled dreams of dancers who grew up under the spotlights and the demanding gaze of the ring. The exhibited images reveal the journey of coaches Noémi and István Tóth, from the period when they were multiple national champions of Romania, to their role as mentors who, for a quarter of a century, have trained generations of sport dancers. Many of them have, in turn, become coaches for renowned dance clubs in the United States of America, Romania, or Germany. The photographs tell profound truths without words: such as “Sport dance is the place where discipline meets grace, and effort becomes art”, “On the ring, the steps are visible, but the true work remains in the heart”, “The hardest steps are those taken towards your dream – the rest is music”. The opening of the jubilee exhibition will take place on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 18:00, at the „Euro Foto Art” and FIAP Exhibition Centers in Oradea, located in the Princely Palace of the Medieval Fortress of Oradea (Building E, ground floor). During the opening, the jubilee album published for this occasion under the care of the ”Euro Foto Art” Publishing House will be launched. Access to the opening will be exclusively by invitation, and the event can be followed live via online broadcast on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EuroFotoArtAssociation The evening’s atmosphere will be complemented by musical moments performed by viola artist Thurzó Sándor József, who will perform the compositions: ”Playful Moment” by Corneliu Torsan, ”Slovak Boys’ Dance” by Bartók Béla, ”Song” by Zeno Vancea, ”Folk Dance No. 17” by Lavotta János, and ”From Jew’s Harps” by Hilda, whose interpretations will add depth and emotion to the encounter between photography and dance. Additionally, the exhibition images can also be admired on the screens of modern transport vehicles in the municipality of Oradea, thanks to the partnership between AIEFA and OTL S.A. The exhibition will remain open to the public until January 10, 2026, on working days, between 08:00 and 16:00, with free access.
Exhibited photos
