Matúš Ivan

PhDr. Mgr. art. Matúš Ivan, ArtD. is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Dance Creation, Faculty of Music and Dance, VŠMU. He holds a doctoral degree in Dance Art – Folk Dance Pedagogy and has worked as an in-house teacher at VŠMU since 2021. His academic background includes studies in ethnology, ethnomusicology, and rigorous research at institutions such as the Czech University of Music and Drama in Trnava. He has conducted international study stays in Belgium, France, Norway, and Hungary.

• Education:
  • Ján Levoslav Bella Conservatory in Banská Bystrica (Dance Major)
  • M.A. in Ethnology/Ethnomusicology at Faculty of Arts, Czech University of Music and Drama in Nitra (2011)
  • Rigorózna práca (2015) at FF UCM Trnava
  • Doctoral Studies in Dance Art at KTT HTF VŠMU (2021)

His research focuses on folk dance pedagogy, ethnographic methods in cultural preservation, and traditional Slovak dance forms. He co-authored the seminal publication Východiská k štúdiu ľudového tanca na Slovensku (2020) and contributes to journals like Tanec and Ethnologia actualis. His career includes roles as a professional dancer with the Military Folklore Ensemble Jánošík, cultural officer at Matica Slovenská, and director of SZUŠ in Malinov.

He maintains active roles in dance education across Slovakia, teaching at ZUŠ institutions and conservatories in Nitra and Zvolen. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in dance preservation and community engagement.