BALKAN DANCE PROJECT VOL. 3
It is a triptych of three different choreographies by three different choreographers coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Macedonia.
BLASPHEMY IN ST. FLORIAN’S VALLEY
(Based on na famous Slovenian novel by Ivan Cankar)
What is going to happen in the valley of St. Florian when its paradise, covered in a haze of dust, separated from the rest of the world by a spider’s web, gets invaded by a blasphemous event which threatens its ominous harmony?
This Blasphemy, all woven of bright colours of life, passion, love and challenges erupts all conceit, lies, double morality and greed, so carefully concealed under the cloak of innocence and honesty, to the surface like a tectonic cataclysm. In his uncharted burlesque Blasphemy in the valley of St. Florian’s, Ivan Cankar ruffles all the dangers of social hypocrisy, opposing the petty leaders on one side, and two young vagabonds, adventurers and criminals - Peter and Jacinta on the other, who with their sincere desire for a life of fulfilment storm like a hurricane through the valley and the lives of its inhabitants, raising the dust for a moment, causing a commotion and ultimately mocking all of the inhabitants.
However, when the Hurricane Peter and Jacinta passes, when the masks fall down and the inhabitants of the valley look each other in the eyes in all of their nakedness, the result of their experience is not change but a shout: "Thank God, everything will be back to as it was before."
In front of the creators of the dance story, there is a no small obligation and a task of translating a given theme from words into the universal language of dance that will reveal a secret message hidden among Cankar's lines: "Wake up! Shake off the dust! Have the courage to look into your own eyes and face your true desires and needs... and LIVE!
Choreography: Aleksandar Ilić
Directed by: Aleksandar Nikolić
Advisor for literature and author of accompanying text: Teodora Sujić
Costumes: Neira Sinanbašić, Melisa Musić
Music: Lana Toković-Studio Lana
Dancers: Mojca Majcen, Ema Janković. Zulejha Kećo, Branko Mitrović, Luka Živković, and Jakša Filipovac
Light design: Amir Ahmić and Davorin Štorgelj
SIGNS BY THE ROADSIDE
Ivo Andrić says that every man is doomed to a “long suffering and a safe victory”. This thought of his leads the reader through his work “Signs by the roadside”, as well as the audience through the choreographic interpretation of this book.
“Signs by the roadside” is a treasury of thoughts on life and death, fears and victories, society and tradition, family and love. In his meditative writing, Ivo Andrić is bemused by human values, and writes with particular diligence about women, fear, art, friendship and dreams...
The story “Signs by the roadside" is a universal story about the human destiny of eternal fighting with oneself. Around every corner lurks our desire for a life after death, a need to leave something behind us for people to remember us by and to never be forgotten.
In their fear of being forgotten, we leave signs as we go along the road so that one day we can return, although we are deeply aware of the fact that there is no return. Yes, we leave the bridge between us and this world as if we will return one day. That is a constant struggle... and fear. Only a few sighs of mortals names remain in this world. A longing for eternal life and a game of death.
The story of eternal struggle has been framed into a contemporary dance expression and interwoven with one's knowledge of himself, the world around him, and the influences that build his essence. Society, tradition, family, modern age and love build a human mini-cosmos in which we fight with ourselves over and over again, not wanting to be standing still, but to live life to its fullest.
The choreography “Signs by the roadside” was created based on the motifs of the famous book bearing the same title by the Bosnian Nobel prize winner Ivo Andrić. The book was published posthumously as an overview of his thoughts and emotions which he had been writing down over the years.
Choreography: Ivana Hadžihasanović
Choreography assistance: Svea Thalia Čatić
Costumes: Janja Stijepić
Dramaturgy: Mirjana Blažević Lešić
Cosultancy by: Zoran Lešić
Actor: Miki Trifunov
Music: Music studio Antika
Dancers: Mojca Majcen, Ema Janković. Zulejha Kećo, Branko Mitrović, Luka Živković, and Jakša Filipovac
Light design: Amir Ahmić and Davorin Štorgelj
ŠTO TE NEMA
The choreography “Što te nema” is an ode to my love for traditional music, all that is good and positive, that we carry within ourselves from our earliest age. This particular work was inspired by a Bosnian traditional music form called “sevdalinka”.
I often use Macedonian traditional melody as the musical base for my choreographies. However, this time I have decided to use four traditional Bosnian songs, as well as one famous gipsy song performed by contemporary musicians. This encounter of the traditional and the modern enables me to show both myself and my choreographic poetics in a best way possible.
What’s most important for me is the fact that this choreography represents a symbol of Balkan Dance Project in its own unique way. As the musical numbers vary in style, their lyrical and philosophical messages they bare within, so do the members of our choreographic and dance team. We all come from a wider Balkan region, with different artistic traditions, backgrounds, education and poetics, yet we selflessly share a common passion towards the art form of dance. All of these people bring in the most beautiful enthusiasm and diversity. That exact diversity is what makes Balkan Dance Project a unique piece of art.
Choreography: Igor Kirov
Costumes by: Janja Stijepić
Music: Almira Medunjanin, Božo Vrečo, Marko Louis
Dancers: Mojca Majcen, Ema Janković. Zulejha Kećo, Branko Mitrović, Luka Živković, and Jakša Filipovac
Light design: Amir Ahmić and Davorin Štorgelj
Production: Tanzelarija BIH, Festival Velenje Slovenija, Tanzelarija BIH, Institute for contemporary dance Belgrade, PUBS Serbia and Balkan Dance Project 2017
Sponsors: Ministry of civil affairs BIH, Federal Ministry of Sport and Culture BIH, Ministry of culture of Sarajevo, Ministry of culture of Republic of Slovenia, Fondation for performing, music and visual arts Sarajevo, Unicredit Bank, Violeta, Hayat TV, Cultural Centre of Sarajevo, Embassy of Republic Slovenia in BIH, Zavarovalnica Triglav, City of Belgrade , City Council Celje
Premiere: 14th of October 2017 in Bosnian Cultural Centre Sarajevo, BIH
Shows: Bosnian Cultural Centre Sarajevo, BIH, October 2017, House of Culture Velenje, October 2017, Madlenianum Opera&Theatre Belgrade Serbia, December 2017, House of Culture Krško, October 2018, Open dance scene Slovenia, Maribor Puppet theatre, June 2018, Šibenik dance festival, July 2018, Sarajevo Baščaršija nights Festival, July 2018, Festival of alternative theatre Podgorica, September 2018, SARTR Sarajevo, December 2018