Art, where the author simultaneously presents the idea and takes part in the action itself, is called performance. As a rule, this type of art has a clear plan or scenario, but does not deny the moment of improvisation, and 4 elements are needed for implementation: time, place, the body of the artist and the relationship between the artist and the viewer. The content of the performances takes the viewer by surprise, engages them in interaction with art and life, makes them look at themselves, life and what is happening in the world from a radically different point of view, frees art from conventions, gives rise to many questions and does not provide answers.

The birth of new independent states, during the fall of the USSR, contributes to the emergence of performance art in the post-Soviet space. This is due to less pressure from the government and the desire of artists to experiment, express themselves and innovate. This short transitional period had a strong influence on the subsequent development of art, in particular Belarusian art.

Lyudmila Rusova is the author of the first performances in Belarus. In her work, this type of art can be traced before the term “performance” itself was introduced in the Belarusian art community. She promoted the value of individualism, personal autonomy and independence. In 1997, the Sixth Line Gallery hosted a performance week dedicated to the director and stage reformer Artaud, in which Lyudmila Rusova took part. It was the first attempt to gather the independent creative forces of Belarus. Due to the closure of the gallery, the festival was not repeated.

Viktor Petrov, another pioneer in the performance genre. He mainly exhibited his performance projects in Polish galleries, which began to actively exhibit the art of the Belarusian underground. Since 1999, the artist has been the head, organizer and participant of the international festival of performance “Navinki”, which takes place annually in Minsk, making Minsk and Belarus the center of presentation of performance in Eastern Europe for several years. Lyudmila Rusova was also a participant in the first four festivals. Over the history of the festival, more than 500 performances and actions were held, in which more than 300 foreign artists took part. For Belarusian artists, it was an opportunity to exhibit at the international art platform.

Since 2018, the international festival PERFORMENSK has been held in Minsk. The event is aimed at the presentation of performing arts and works in such areas as experimental theater, performance art, sound art, intermedia. Attention is also drawn to new, hybrid forms of art.

Other prominent representatives of Belarusian performing arts: Irina Anufriyeva, Krasny Borshchevik group, Bergamot group, Sergei Zhdanovich, Zmiter Vishnev, Igor Kashkurevich, Ales Pushkin, Denis Romanovsky, Alexander Sarna and others.

Delegated performances appeared, when the authors act as curators, organizing not their own body, but other people's bodies. A form of delegated performance is mass, folk performance - now popular flash mobs or monsters.