Balkan Bound

Tickets Teljes Szakall and TarraXinha have been tying together since 2023, when they went to their first shibari camp, rolled up their sleeves and studied diligently in workshops given by Bo and Ewa of MyShibari, Wlada Wedmovskaya, Haag, Tifereth, Ludvig, Pedro Cordas and others. For Teljes Szakall, shibari is a way to build experiences together with partners, using rope as the medium and tool for examining what happens when the outside world disappears and trust and vulnerability remain. As a model, TarraXinha focuses on the possibilities of her body and the deep relaxation she gets from opening up to the rigger, with a special focus on connection, letting go and power exchange. She has recently started learning to tie herself, advancing now on both sides of the rope. At Balkan Bound they bring Opposites — a shibari storytelling performance using rope to express the driving forces of the Balkan region: passion, melancholy and loud celebration, intertwined parts of everyday life.

Ariana Ruža is an artist from New York who began studying shibari in 2018. Her work explores masculinity, power, and the visual language of dominance. She uses rope to create provocative encounters with men, motorcycles, chainsaws, and symbols of masculine identity. Ruža's work challenges traditional ideas of power by placing masculine imagery into unexpected contexts while drawing aesthetics from alternative and underground culture. Rebis is a shibari artist based in Belgrade and a student of Vlada Vedmovskaya. His work draws motifs from the alternative scene and explores the darker sides of human expression in his practice. They tie together as two Dominants, creating high-energy sadomasochistic scenes that express a combative side of eroticism.

Balkan Bound workshops are up. Before the festival — November 26 and 27. After — November 29. Main Bound day is November 28. Schedule, descriptions and prices: https://balkanbound.rs/workshops Nov 26 • Arseniy Nazaruk — Simple Ties to Confident Semi-Suspension, KnotCoven, 19:00–22:00 • Teljes Szakall & TarraXinha — Ropes in Motion, Kinkylab, 19:00–22:00 Nov 27 • Saara Rei & Anna Lysee — Body Manipulation in Suspension, KnotCoven, 19:00–22:00 • Nick FreeRider — Exploring Building Blocks of Shibari, Kinkylab, 19:00–22:00 Nov 29 • Anna Lysee & Saara Rei — Dancing the Line, Kinkylab, 12:00–15:00 • Nick FreeRider — Figurative Rope Binding, KnotCoven, 14:00–18:00 • Teljes Szakall & TarraXinha — Back to the Floor, Kinkylab, 15:30–18:30 Sign up: @KnotCoven

Arseniy Nazaruk is a shibari master from Saint Petersburg with 8 years of continuous rope experience. He runs sessions, training, and workshops, and creates shows and art projects that showcase the aesthetics of shibari. In his practice, Arseniy balances the tactile, aesthetic, emotional, and sensual sides of shibari. Rope isn't an end in itself for him — it's a tool for visual expression, practical application, and self-expression. His approach avoids rigid dogma: he treats shibari as a living dialogue, where technique supports improvisation and mutual exploration. In class, he helps you settle safely into practice — technique as a foundation for improvisation and shared discovery, with the partners' attention and comfort always coming first. Tickets on https://balkanbound.rs/ Or you can pay in cash in Belgrade in our studio, Questions: @KnotCoven

Welcome to Balkan Bound. November 28. KC Grad, Belgrade. A full day of ropes — and a night you don’t forget. Beginners and all levels welcome. Volunteers here for you all day. An escape challenge game. An exhibition anyone can join. Show night. 6 to 10 pm. International masters from all over the world. Questions - @KnotCoven Tickets on our website: BalkanBound.rs. See you there 🖤

Balkan Bound November 28 KC grad Anna Lysee & Saara Rei Berlin Tickets are limited: BalkanBound.rs

Wlada & Katya Balkan Bound 2025 Next in KC GRAD, Belgrade 📅 25–29 November 2026 Main day — 28 November Tickets → balkanbound.rs

A little over two months left until the festival — and we are starting to write in detail about the artists who will take the stage at Balkan Bound. 28 November · main stage Nikolai Freerider and august Nikolai Freerider is a participant of major Russian and international festivals and the founder of the Russian shibari community Shibaru. He has worked as a rope consultant on feature films, TV series, and music videos. He has been practicing shibari professionally since 2019. His performances often blend engineering and theatre, and in his actions he leans toward a traditional Japanese approach. He wouldn’t call himself a follower of any particular school — his focus is squarely on the functionality of the rope. His guiding principle: “If you can’t explain to yourself the purpose of a given element of a tie, don’t do it.” Telegram: NickFreerider Instagram: @nick.makrame Rope bottoming since 2023, august initially endorsed rope within the scope of domination/submission dynamics as a ritual of surrendering the self for the other and as means of transgression through extreme physical experience. All this while modelling has remained for her a part of the general service to the master. Over time, she has embraced multiple faces of rope and performs as a rope master since 2025. She regards traditional shibari as a distinct genre and admires its ceremonial nature which makes room for epiphany through repetition, precision, and accrued context. As a performer, she adopts a modernist approach to rope, using it as one of the means of transverbal expression accommodating eros, art, and cognition, which to her are indivisible. Telegram: august They will also hold two workshops — one before the festival and one after. The workshop schedule will be out soon. Tickets: BalkanBound.rs

Jaeger & Orsa Balkan Bound 2025 Next in KC GRAD, Belgrade 📅 25–29 November 2026 Main day — 28 November Tickets → balkanbound.rs

🪢 Balkan Bound III — Artists Lineup The international shibari festival in Belgrade is proud to present its lineup: 🖤 Vlada Vedmovskaya & Feuertänzer Belgrade / Switzerland Instagram · Instagram · Telegram 🖤 Anna Lysee & Saara Rei Berlin Instagram · Instagram 🖤 Teljes Szakall & TarraXinha Croatia Instagram · Instagram 🖤 Ariana Ruža & Rebis New York / Belgrade Instagram · Instagram 🖤 Arseniy Nazaruk & Milana St. Petersburg Instagram · Telegram 🖤 Nikolai Freerider & август Moscow Instagram 📍 KC GRAD, Belgrade 📅 25–29 November 2026 Main day — 28 November Tickets → balkanbound.rs More details about each artist coming soon. Who are you most excited to see? 👇 #BalkanBound #Shibari #Kinbaku #RopeFestival #Belgrade

Balkan Bound 2025. Autumn Romknots & NatNata

Archival. Nawashi Kanna and Kagura. Shibari is not about pain. And it’s not really about the ropes either. It’s about being completely present — when everything unnecessary falls away. No rush, no pressure to look beautiful, no familiar roles. Just breath, tension, and the person next to you whom you trust enough to surrender into their hands and ropes. What I love is that you don’t need to be flexible, strong, or experienced. You don’t even need a partner. All it takes is openness and curiosity. From there, it unfolds in its own way. Sometimes it feels almost like meditation. Sometimes it’s simply quiet and beautiful. And sometimes it becomes a deep, unexpected connection — even subspace. 🖤On November 28 in Belgrade, we’re creating a space where you can experience all of this and, if you feel like it, try it yourself. Softly, attentively, and without any pressure. ✨BalkanBound. If shibari resonates with you — come.

Safely Trying Shibari with Experienced Masters at BalkanBound At the BalkanBound festival, you can discover shibari for the first time in the safest and most supportive atmosphere. A large number of experienced masters from different countries will gather here, which means there will be the most opportunities to be tied by professionals. What it offers newcomers: • Rope jam with plenty of suspension points — a great chance to experience being in the hands of professionals. • Masterclasses and seminars explaining techniques, risks, and safety rules. • An atmosphere of trust and care: masters carefully monitor the model’s condition, use proven techniques, and are always ready to adjust or stop. The festival is created precisely so that people can safely and consciously discover the beauty of shibari by being tied by true experts. Date: November 28 Presenters will be announced soon! Follow updates! Shibari by - https://t.me/cherryrope

RopeMark & Keira - Balkan Bound 2025 See you all in November 28 at Balkan Bound 2026🖤🖤🖤

Otowaya Otonawa и Tsubasa Wing(Япония)

A few excerpts from Wyck Dave and Clover’s performance at MoscowKnot 2013. I still have the full video archive from that show. If anyone would like to see it, just send me a message. 🖤