Pulsar Prague cz - současný tanec

Выйду з лесу, выцягну хрыбет i ён будзе мне замест мяча. /

I will emerge from the forest, straighten my backbone, and it shall become my sword. 

PULSAR against TOTALITY

The Belarusian state. A system that depresses and deadens. It promotes uniformity, monotony and obedience. Crowds of individuals understand that they want to live differently. To speak differently. To breathe different air. Their stories have become individualized. This story is about discovering and awakening our own resources. The moment a person realizes how vulnerable they are. How traumatized they are. How much his whole world has collapsed. But the world is still standing and has many layers. Variants. Variations. It's not over yet. It doesn't look like it's going to let up yet. But the transformation has already begun...  

The dance-theatre event is the result of cooperation between Czech and Belarusian artists. It is based on a dramatic text by a Belarusian playwright. The production is based on the text and on the direct personal experience of Belarusian artists with the suppressed protests and the subsequent liquidation of cultural life in Belarus.

Original text: no name67 /by/

Translation, dance dramaturgy, direction: Tereza Krčálová

Choreography: Kateřina Stupecká, Helena Ratajová

Expert supervision: Romana Štorková Maliti

Music: Yegor Zabelov /by/

Artistic cooperation and stage design: Tomáš Žižka

Costumes: Mariana Novotná

Light design: František Fabián

Creation, interpretation: Tereza Krejčová, Jolana Šturmová, Helena Ratajová, Anna Wollemannová

Project curator, realization, production: Honza Malík a PULSAR association

Reviews:

"...The production activates with uncanny ease personal experiences of the tricky boundaries between care and violence, freedom and restriction, safety and threat..." M. Martinová, A2, #20/2023

"...Pulsar grasps the theme of serious human rights violations, the use of systematic torture and the suppression of personal freedom as a stage poem. The weight of it falls on the viewer with a kind of literary delicacy. It gives him space. It is not impotent. It shows the way to solidarity and the courage of the individual. And above all, it opens up a societal issue that, in times of actual wars, we should know and think about." M.Faustová, October 14th 2023, Opera+

"...The stagers led us into an imaginary forest of bridal-white outfits and filled it with mysterious and all kinds of dislocated images. A quartet of dancers (....) awakened and explored the archetype of the psychic, accentuating both life-giving and lethal abilities. (...) It was akin to walking through an art gallery, with Picasso's Guernica, Max Ernst and Dali's anti-war paintings and Munch's The Scream hanging side by side, which are unfortunately again topical appeals..." V. Boušová, Tsunami 2, September 22nd 2023

„…Based on the specific political situation of a European country, Pulsar has managed to realise a performative event in which the spectator is confronted with his own life situations, such as monotony, fear, frustration or trauma. The Belarusian undercurrent is surprisingly absent from the production; what remains are the generally load-bearing and powerful messages, which stand out most strongly in the dance parts. (…)The Pulsar team worked with the text not as inspiration or a literal script, but interpreted it through dance and performative means based on the physical experience of the text. (…)That forest is experiences, past events and emotions, and our spine, our axis, according to Pulsar, will no longer bend, but will resolutely face what is to come.“ K. Šalounová, 21. 9. 2023, Taneční aktuality

under the auspices of: Ivan Vyrypajev & Embassy of Independent Belarusian Culture

Co-producers: X10 Festival Kutná Hora, GASK Kutná Hora, CED – Centre for Experimental Theatre in Brno, Next Wave Festival

Supported by: "Nulová pozice" association, Theatre X10, Theatre of the National Theatre, Studio TEP39, TANEC Praha/Studio Krenovka, Studio Dance Perfect, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, City of Prague, EU4Culture Mobility

a world first night: September 8th, 2023, GASK, 9th Theater festival in Kutná Hora /cz/

pražská premiéra: September 21st 2023, X10 Theatre, Prague, …příští vlna/next wave…festival

Reviews:

"...The resulting production is thus more of a lyrical impression than a plot-driven performance. I take away the strong impression that believing in beauty is meaningful, despite its apparent transience. On the one hand, the performance evokes sadness by reminding us of finality, but on the other hand also hope that not every end is final. Eastern philosophy, for example, considers the water lily and the lotus as symbols of the endless cycle of death and birth. Leaving aside the possible spiritual dimension, there is still the beauty mentioned above. In this sense, the performance reminds us of its fragility and importance, hidden in unexpected places in the often ugly everyday..." A.Plíšková, 10. 11. 2022, tanecniaktuality.cz

"...It is pure impression as in Monet's painting, but transferred from the exultant nature to the darkness of the theatre. The sensitive diagonal counter-lighting in the same reddish colours deepens the whole space around the floating figure. (...) The whole movement miniature has a purely artistic character and communicates a mood and feeling, in line with the soothing colours of František Fabián's light design..." L.Kocourková, 2. 12. 2022, Opera+

A self-development art evening by relationship therapist Michal Nikodem with elements of therapy and dance. 
 
An encounter that is an opportunity to provoke our own resources, to provoke a greater sensitivity that makes us more receptive, open and authentic. It doesn't matter if we want to improve the environment we surround ourselves with or better understand the arts, if we want to develop our careers in a more sophisticated way or embark on a creative pursuit ourselves. The impulse at the beginning of each of our desires transitions to the need to take new steps. Of course, our wishes don't just come true! Anything new is subject to inner doubts and harsh tests. Our own resources are a deeply buried treasure, but they are the only ones that help us to pass these tests. 

Come and meet us. Come to be inspired. Come to discover your treasure!

Idea a moderator of the performance: Michal Nikodem

Creative co-operation: Tereza Krčálová

Music: Václav Chalupský

Choreography: Jitka Čechová, Yuri Korec

Interpretation: Jitka Čechová, Daniel Raček

Artistic supervision, production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

Thanks: public collection on Donio.cz, Helena and Jakub Urbanovi (TEP39), Berrak Yedek (Limpid Works), Jana Dolejšová, Štěpán Zahálka, Anna Línová, Jana Baladová.

a world first night: 19. 8. 2021, Přibyslav /Cz/

international premiere: 2. 9. 2021, A4 Bratislava, NU Dance Fest /Sk/

Prague´s premiere: 7. 9. 2021, Limpid Works Studio, Praha

German´s premiere: 9. 10. 2022, Room Hip-hop Spot, Chemnitz /De/, I. Liberal Arts Festival

Review:

"...art helps solve problems. Whether you think about bedbugs or the current dramatic situation in the world and your own position in relation to it. This performance may not have solved the problem, but it may have encouraged us to look deeper into it. (...) One thing the evening did bring: people were able to talk easily and casually amongst themselves after the performance. But the question remains in the air: Was it art or therapy, or a bit of both?" Peter Kees, Münchner Merkur/Ebersberger Zeitung, Nov 17th 2023 (article "Art as a kind of therapy - An exciting experiment with movement at the Meta-Theater")

This this this this this this this play…

is not a play anymore.

I am or I am not? We are or we are not? (Try to look at it through our eyes sometimes...)

Artistic collaboration: Tereza Krčálová, Honza Malík

Choreography, performers: Jitka Čechová, Tereza Lenerová

Music: Václav Chalupský

Costumes: Terezie Dvořáková

Light design: Patrik Sedlák

Coaching: Maja Hriešik

Project implementation, production: Honza Malík & PULSAR association

The idea of the project and the final work emerged during one of the artistic meetings of CAPTURE REALITY!2, organized by the Pulsar association, which is also where the creators of the choreography Jitka Čechová and Tereza Lenerová first met. Conditions and space were formed for their creative work, where together they tested the boundaries and limits of what is acceptable on stage, both for them personally and for the audience. The paradoxical situation where there is "no audience" and we do not know what it will be like when they return to the theatre sometimes caused total detachment. It was often like a game without an opponent. The whole project was not only based on choreography, but on an analysis of attitudes and feelings emanating from the current situation, and on thinking about the relationship between the audience and the artist, i.e. the work that the Pulsar group is constantly engaged in.

Reviews:

“...a ‘feel good’ performance that aims to explore the borders of what is embarrassing and what the audience can still take. The auditorium would be capable of taking even more, but the pair of dancers came at the beginning of the season with a piece of high quality, well-constructed, smart, playful and light-hearted. (…) Dis pla y is a very good performance; it is consistent and without a sense of redundancy. A lot of credit for this goes to Honza Malík and Tereza Krčálová, who oversaw the project, which only confirms that a dramaturgical supervision in physical theatre is meaningful. (…) It is no doubt a quality, interesting and pleasant spectacle…” C. Zangová, Dis pla y – humour, fragments of embarrassment and positive energy, 24.9.2021, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

“…the space is given to their expressive potential. The situations change with good timing, and that gives the performance a pleasant flow, along with the dynamic music by Václav Chalupský. Gradually, a specific image of the two performers’ personalities is shaped in front of us, though they are actually hidden behind the costumes designed by Terezie Dvořáková. The inner and outer exposure is not finished. On the contrary, it continues (literally) to reveal the naked body…" Z. Smugalová, Dis pla y – A useless exhibition of a girl’s heart?, 30.9.2021, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

Co-produced by: TANEC PRAHA/PONEC – the dance venue, Prague, Studio Truhlárna, Johan z.s./Moving Station in Plzen

With the support of: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, City of Prague, Nová síť, Norwegian funds, Rezi.dance in Komařice, Studio ALTA, Studio Dance Perfect, Micro & Macro Dramaturgies in Dance, Balada SITE

Special thanks: Lucie Kocourková, Jana Baladová, Marie Malíková, Jana Tomášková, Yvona Kreuzmannová, Markéta Perroud (TANEC PRAHA z.ú./PONEC – the dance venue), the production and PR team of the Ponec Theatre, Josef Chuchma, Vojta Brtnický, Vojtěch V. Sláma, Vít Štaif, Markéta Málková & Aleš Hrdlička (Rezi.dance Komařice), Roman Černík & Eva Kraftová and coll. (Moving Station Plzen), Jakub Hradilek, Anna Benháková

a world first night: September 16th 2021, PONEC-the dance venue, Prague

Europe towards the Omega Point 

Dance performance based on voices of people around us and on teachings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest, palaeontologist and geologist

Are we able to guess Europe’s next development? Even though we have all the competencies: freedom and variety of alternatives, it seems we cannot move more than 1 millimetre further. Nothing happens. Nothing at all. But we have everything under control.

‘My vision of Europe was shadowed by the flight of a bird.’

Realisation team: Tereza Krčálová, Honza Malík, Heda Bayer

Choreography, direction: Michal Záhora

Artistic colaboration: Tereza Krčálová

Consultation: P. ThLic. Ing. Petr Vacík SJ

Music: Miloš Bok, Václav Chalupský

Sound, mix: Václav Chalupský

Lighting design: Lukáš Benda, Michal Záhora

Set design: Lukáš Benda, Honza Malík, Michal Záhora

Costumes: Markéta Sládečková

Creation and dance: Helena Arenbergerová, Katarzyna Kamecka/Barbora Ptáčková, Radim Klásek, Michal Nagy, Nikola Němcová

Project realizaton and production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

Reviews: 

“Záhora‘s and Pulsar‘s intuition to touch reality in their new project proved to be a prophetic gesture. (…) I perceive this incompleteness as an unfinished Europe, disturbing as it always invites you to a circle dance in which there is no hierarchy. (…) …as a repetitive continuity of tradition which cannot stand today without its humble necessity to be updated. (…) The prophetic intuition is expressed with clarity; however, we often can only understand it when we have a certain distance.” K. Boháčová, 5. 11. 2020, Theatre Newspaper

„…Scenes that develop in front of the audience’s gaze like a film fast-forwarded attract the audience with their plasticity, with their purity, and with the cohesiveness of the interpreters presenting them. Distinctive music creates an atmosphere of ever-changing transformation. The performance does not lure you to analyse it, but rather to perceive it and experience it along with the performers.” L.Kocourková, 24. 9. 2020, Opera plus.cz

„…There is more often an effort to touch the neuralgic point of today (…) Dance might impact individuals who are usually resistant to it.” M.Magdová, A2 – 22/2020 

„…Záhora is one of the few Czech choreographers who are not afraid to open more difficult philosophical themes with an existential overlap (…). He creates intuitively, because his spirit calls for it, not because he wants to create trends or to satisfy his ego. He does not need to do so, because what he carries with him is a spiritual aspect of a higher and more original function of art.” Z.Smugalová, Taneční aktuality.cz, 30. 9. 2020

Co-production: Tanec Praha z.ú./Ponec-the dance venue; Meeting Brno association; Art Muzeum in Olomouc; …příští vlna/next wave…;  Taupunkt e.V. Chemnitz /De/

Supported by: Ministry of the Culture of Czech Republic; City of Prague; Buran Teatr, Brno; Studio Dance Perfect; BaladaSITE

Poděkování: Yvona Kreuzmannová and Markéta Perroud (TANEC Praha), producing, technical and PR team of the Ponec Theatre, Lenka Dombrovská (festival …příští vlna/Next Wave…), team of Meeting Festival in Brno, Blanka Návratová, Petr Kalousek, Lucie Fabišíková, Petr Dvořák and Saša Jeništa (Art Muzeum in Olomouc), Miloš Bok, Heda Bayer, Lenka Ottová and Studio Dance Perfect, OSA, Jana Baladová, Barbora Capová and Štěpán Roubalík, Anna Benháková, Vojta V. Sláma, Vojta Brtnický, Cezary Zemis, Juraj Augustín, Klaudia Klembarová, Soňa Skočovská, Mariana Novotná, Jirka Jiráček, Dominik Žižka, Štefan Bugi Tóth, Michaela Raisová, Jitka Baslová, Lukáš Lepold, Ondřej Kačer, Eva Klosová, Zuzana Smugalová, Marta Ljubková, Hanka Košíková.

a world first night outdoor performance version: July 23rd 2020, Moravské Square, Brno, Meeting Brno Festival

a world first night: September 21st 2020, PONEC-the dance venue, Prague, …příští vlna/next wave…Festival

a German first night -ONLINE-: September 26th 2020, Komplex Teatr, Chemnitz, Germany

A dance solo that expresses emotions of a generation that experienced the turn of two eras.

Nomination for a Thalia Award 2020, Helena Arenbergerová for a dance performance.  

A childhood marked by restrictions first accepted by the society and later loosened. Beating hearts, pulse of one’s own blood that can be heard. A man/woman has matured, one that knows what he/she wants and doesn’t want. His/her steps are not guided by his/her will. The Cold War is not over yet. We live in its shadow. We live in escalated positions in which we strive for a basic human politeness. God help us. Only the active one and the one who isn’t afraid to show the direction to others can win.

40 years since birth, 30 years since the revolution – a reflection of one’s own life on the background of a big social change. The performance is based on life experience and worldview of 20 significant individuals born between 1979-1980 who are successful in the Czech society in the fields such as art, science and politics.

Concept, choreography, direction: Michal Záhora

Theme, research and artistic colaboration: Tereza Krčálová

Creation and dance: Helena Arenbergerová

Music: Tomáš Procházka

Assistance with costumes: Terezie Dvořáková

Consultation: Martin Buchtík (STEM - Institute of Empirical Research for Democracy)   

Technical support: Lukáš Benda

Project realization and production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

The performance is preceded by Martin Buchtík´s sociological happening (STEM). As a part of programme 30 YEARS DANCING TO FREEDOM.

Reviews:

 ‘…Záhora created an intimate dance; he somatised big historical events into the body of one modestly melancholic female dancer. Arenbergerová’s dance expression is disciplined (…), distinctive because of the accuracy of movement which lacks the aggressive perfectionism. It is admirable for its precision of depicting shades of mood. This generation isn’t concerned with some Bacchanalia, vertigo and trance. It wants to keep its distance… Perhaps it’s not interested in battles anymore.’ N. Vangeli, Theatre Newspaper, 20/2019

‚… through dance, a personal intimate manifesto of a certain generation is presented. One that doesn’t need any additional means of explanation. (…) The choreographic material mixes fragility with Arenbergerová’s detailed and thorough dance expression and distinctive originality of Záhora’s dance vocabulary (…) One doesn’t need to know the background of individual images, for their energy resonates deep inside each perceptive viewer. (…) Apart from the programme, there is also a book this unique dance performance is based on…’ Z. Smugalová, 26. 10. 2019, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

‘… This is a project that cannot be perceived as a mere dance performance. For it doesn’t transcend genres but whole fields. The choreography, research and interpretation are all valuable parts of the production. (…) Generation X concentrated in one female representative is full of contradictions, both the inner ones and the ones that come from the outside world as she searches for moments of stillness in the middle of chaos; she feels the need to react to impulses without stopping, sometimes sliding on the inner wave of calm. Don’t look for new vocabulary in this choreography. Look for the moment of experiencing, intensity of expression that the viewer receives 100 %...’ L. Kocourková, 28. 10. 2019, www.operaplus.cz

Co-producers: TANEC Praha/PONEC-the dance venue, Monastery in Broumov - Educational and Cultural Centre

Supported by: Ministry of the Culture of Czech Republic, City of Prague, Studio Dance Perfect, Studio ALTA, Balada SITE

Participants of the research: Vojtěch Bednář (sociolog, publicista a vysokoškolský učitel), Ondřej Beránek (filmový producent), Kamil Bouška (básník), Vojtěch Dlask (klavírista, skladatel a dramaturg), Daniel Erhardt (klavírista), Lucie Ferliková (malířka), Lucie Kunzová Filimonova (malířka), Jan Farský (politik), Jiří Havelka (režisér a herec), Jiří Honzírek (divadelní režisér), Tomáš Hrůza (multimediální umělec, pedagog a nakladatel), Martin Jemelka (historik a publicista), Adéla Laštovková-Stodolová (choreografka, režisérka), Judita Matyášová (novinářka, spisovatelka a kulturní manažerka), Tomáš Měcháček (herec), Hana Polanská-Turečková (tanečnice a choreografka), Pavel Turek (novinář), Kateřina Tučková (historička umění, spisovatelka, dramatička a publicistka), Petr Vaněk (herec), Ondřej Závodský (právník a státní úředník)

Thanks to: Aleš Freiwald, Monastery in Broumov - Educational and Cultural Centre, Yvona Kreuzmannová and Markéta Perroud – TANEC Praha, producing, PR and technical crew of the Ponec Theatre, Lenka Ottová and Studio Dance Perfect, Dominik Žižka, Romana Maliti Štorková, Karel Král, Dáša Zbořilová, Dragan Dragin, Michaela Raisová, Patrik Hábl, Karolína Šnajdrová, Petra Štěpánová, Štefan Bugi Tóth, Evženie Brabcová, Zuzana Kubíčková, Romana Hozáková.

a world first night: October 21st, 2019, PONEC-the dance venue, Prague

CREVICE: penetrations in the framework of UNESTABLISHED project

We’ve ended up in a place where touch is but an empty trace. Reality and dreams have merged. We no longer recognize the border between our bodies and the space around us. Something must have happened… To us, the world, me.

there is silence

a drop of water runs down the wall

is it my sweat?

movement…

We try to understand.

With no outcome…

Project idea, artistic cooperation: Tereza Krčálová, Honza Malík

Idea, choreography: Barbora Ptáčková

Assistant choreographer: Simona Dejmková

Music: Václav Chalupský

Costumes: Natálie Tunová

Lighting design: František Fabián

Creation and interpretation: Magdalena Havlínová, Rozálie Stárová, Emily Jane Steele, Metoděj Vykydal

Project realization, production: Honza Malík & PULSAR association

An authorial dance piece that originated as part of the project UNESTABLISHED by the tandem formation, Pulsar – Honza Malík and Tereza Krčálová. The project creates space for young authors to engage in artistic dialogue as well as strengthening their artistic, producing and curating skills.

The performance gives us a chance to catch a glimpse of topics that are resonating in the current generation of those in their twenties. It’s an artistic statement that was born out of a subjective experience of the world and later transformed into a scientific and civic discourse in which the engagement of individual attitudes and views causes tension that springs from the knowledge that our reality is no longer based on dialogue.

Co-producers: TANEC PRAHA/PONEC-the dance venue, Praha, Terra Madoda association/29 Theatre in Pardubice

Supported by: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, City of Prague, Domus Vitae, Studio TEP39, Duncan Centre Conservatory, Balada SITE

Thanks to: Zdeněk Závodný (29 Theatre in Pardubice), Jiří Dobeš (Terra Madoda association), Yvona Kreuzmannová, Markéta Perroud (TANEC PRAHA z.ú./PONEC-the dance venue), the production and PR team of the Ponec Theatre, Tereza Kulhánková, Helena & Jakub Urbanovi (TEP39), Petr Tyc (Duncan Centre Conservatory), Nikola Němcová, Jiří Jiráček, Michaela Raisová, Eva Klosová, Jana Baladová. 

a world first night: November 29th 2021, PONEC-the dance venue, Prague

Dance creation of the Way of the Cross to the music of the same name by Petr Koronthály - in the worship service led by Mons.Michael Slavík

Choreography and direction: Michal Záhora

Artistic cooperation: Klára Mašatová

Creation and dancec: Dagmar Chaloupková, Radim Klásek/Pavel Mašek, Nikola Němcová, Michal Záhora

Music: Petr Koronthály

Music preparation: Krása Quartet – Šárka Petříková, Jan Palouček, Daniel Menhart, Marie Dorazilová

Costumes: Tereza Bušková a Mariana Novotná

Lights: Lukáš Benda

Project realisation and production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association, Prague Archbishopric

Co-producer: Prague Archbishopric

Supported by: TANEC PRAHA /PONEC-the dance venue, Ministry of the Culture of Czech Republic, Alta Studio, Studio Dance Perfect, Balada SITE

Thanks:  Mons. Michael Slavík, Th.D., Mgr. Vladimír Koronthály, Aleš Hnízdil, Pavel Mašek, Ladislav Knotek, Mgr. Vladimír Kelnar, Karolína Šnajdrová, P. ThLic. Ing. Petr Vacík SJ, Yvona Kreuzmannová and Markéta Perroud (Tanec Praha z.ú.), ZUŠ Šimáčkova Praha 7, Jana Baladová, Vojtěch Brtnický, Jiří Jiráček, Lucia Kašiarová and Studio Alta, Lenka Ottová and Studio Dance Perfect.

a world first night: April 17, 2019, Saint Nicholas Church, Prague

How to dance away a hundred years without going crazy? A dance kaleidoscope from the history of a man which may – but doesn´t have to – recall the present anniversary of the Czech State. Four different dancers, four different bodies, four characters and a number of familiar moments. History in movement, dance as a record of individual and collective memory. Michal Záhora´s production, born from the desire to celebrate the foundation of Czechoslovakia, its 100th anniversary.

Concept, choreography, directed: Michal Záhora

Creation, performed: Josef Bartoš, Anna Línová, Zuzana Richterová, Michaela Suša

Dramaturgy: Marta Ljubková

Assistance with the choreography: Honza Malík, Jana Vaníčková

Music: Carlo Natoli

Costumes: Zuzana Kubíčková

Stage design: Peter Smetáček, Michal Záhora

Light design: Robert Štěpánek, Lukáš Benda, Michal Záhora

Project realisation and production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

PR: Karolína Šnajdrová

reviews:

"…The Anniversary cannot be deprived of the certainty with which he succeeded in capturing and incarnating the absurdity inextricably linked with years past…" Zuzana Rafajová, 1.11.2018, www.operaplus.cz

"…Záhora reached for humour, which is not typical of him. He ironically depicted the absurdity of the era (…) A work was created that is definitely worth talking about…" Jana Návratová, 5.11.2018, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

Co-producers: TANEC PRAHA /PONEC-the dance venue, Prague; K-club in City of Jičín

Created with a financial contribution: City of Prague, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, City of Jičín

Supported by: Studio ALTA, Studio Dance Perfect, Czech Tourism, Balada SITE

Thanks to:  Yvona Kreuzmannová and Markéta Perroud,  technical a producing team of Ponec Theatre, Lucia Kašiarová and Studio ALTA, Lenka Ottová and Studio Dance Perfect, Lenka Vacková and K-club in City of Jičín, Jan Szucs, Josef Záhora, Jana Baladová, Marie Faruzelová, Jakub Vrbík, Ondřej Kačer, Patrik Balonek, Matěj Sláma, Jirka Jiráček, Vojta Brtnický, Lukáš Bajer (project ČS100), Zdeněk Vejvoda, Renata Johnová, Zuzana Rejchová, Evženie Brabcová, Kateřina Stupecká, Nora Sopková

A world first night: October 28, 2018, PONEC-the dance venue, Prague

dancing journey through the landscape

One show only: Saturday 29. 9. 2018, Gallery Klatovy / Klenová (in Klenová 1, Janovice n. Úhlavou)

review:

"...an unusual experience!" Hana Jakubčíková Sádlíková, 3.10.2018, www.novinky.cz

„It does not happen very often that an open-air project would successfully unite artists and spectators to partake in an exceptional event. Although Slavnost has put its neck on the line by taking the risk of not being accepted, it has changed into a singular experience, which resonates with participants even days after. (…) The dance festival in the countryside, attended by 30 dancers and 250 spectators, definitely lived up to its name...” Kristýna Boháčová, 15.10.2018, www.chrisnet.eu

The raven circles low above the abyss, guarding the darkness, and above him the falcon soars anticlockwise with the sun on its back ... In the space between their bodies, vertical astral time flows. Darkness below, brightness above.

Idea, choreography, dance: Michal Záhora

Violoncello: Petr Šporcl

Script, music collage, film, light design, direction: Jan Komárek

Music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Petr Hejný, György Ligeti, Ondřej Štochl

Costumes: Zuzana Kubíčková

Sound: Eliška Bejčková

Project curator, production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

Project assistent: Karolína Ondrejková

This solo concert for violoncello is conceived as a duet between sound and image, between the musician and the dancer. Here, in this meeting between accomplished musician Petr Šporcl and gifted choreographer Michal Záhora, music is the fixed point in space, the source of inspiration and a guide to the senses. The project is directed by Jan Komárek, creator of movement and dance based projects.

The music chosen by the director is emotionally highly charged. We enter the space of the imagination through Bach's Prelude in C major, moving to the lyrical Sonata for Violoncello of Gyorgy Ligeti, which leads us into the enigmatic world of the music of two contemporary composers, Ondrej Štochl (Tetralog) and Petr Hejný (Metalsonata).

reviews:

„...Concert for HER performed by the instrumentalist P.Šporcl and the dancer M.Záhora is quite an experience. The entrée is already very impressive. (…) Záhora absolutely masters his body which allows him to create objects and their silhouettes, symbols; his creative dance repertoire is limitless…” Mária Uhrinová, 21/2018, Tvar Magazine

„…an unusual experience!“ Hana Galiová, 27.3. 2018, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

 „90% (…) manifest of decadence!“ Nina Vangeli, 10.4. 2018, www.operaplus.cz

Coproducer: Za Trojku

Supported by: City of Prague, Ministry of the Culture of Czech Republic, Limpid Works s.r.o., BaladaSITE

Thanks to: Petr Hejný, Ondřej Štochl, Magda Danel, Markéta Kozinová, Lenka Dohnalová, Berrak Yedek, Zuzana Rejchová, Jan Trojan, Tomáš Pálka, Karin Militká, Lucie Konopiská, Jana Baladová, Evženie Brabcová, Jakub Vrbík, Andrea Miltnerová, Ondřej Kačer, Simon Todorov, Václav Hejduk, Jirka Jiráček, Vojta Brtnický, Alfréd ve dvoře Theatre 

A world firts night: March 21, 2018, Atrium in Prague /cz/

CONCERT PROGRAMME 

Johann S. Bach: 3 Suita C dur Prelude (3:19)

György Ligeti: Sonata for Cello solo (7:14)

Ondřej Štochl: Tetralog (15:48)

Petr Hejný: Metal sonata (11:48)

A human being as the most complicated and complex creation in the universe. We are cosmic runners, our bodies are created from stardust. Our source is still alive and vibrant, a cosmic lighthouse, the place from which we originally sprang – Pulsar.

Idea,  choreography: Michal Záhora

Creation: Jitka Čechová, Michal Heriban, Sára Koluchová, Tereza Krejčová, Nikola Němcová, Roman Zotov-Mikshin

Dance: Jitka Čechová, Tereza Krejčová, Nikola Němcová, Michal Záhora, Roman Zotov-Mikshin

Artistic cooperation: Kateřina Stupecká

Costumes: Zuzana Kubíčková

Music: Carlo Natoli /It/

Light design: Prokop Vondruška, Robert Štěpánek

Photo: Lucie Konopiská, Vojta Brtnický

Project curator, assistent of the choreographer, production: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

reviews:

„… mostly young dancers were given an exceptional opportunity and they did not waste it. They fulfilled the choreographer’s demands for shape, they were connected when they were on stage, they were artistically well-behaved and understood what the piece wants. They did well both solo and collective work. They danced as if they were half-stupefied. Their looks aimed deep or far into the universe. They actually didn’t dance at all, the dance becomes the power of their lightness, fundamental restlessness of the atoms. The first part of the choreography can be understood as a preparation for an initiation that will be flight to space, into deeper reality than matter. The second part creates an illusion of flying through space. It is convincing and sometimes even intoxicating because dreams of flying, particularly in space, are as old as humanity itself…” Nina Vangeli, 18.4. 2017, Theatre News

"There are works of art which ooze emotion and physicality that is almost palpable. Pulsar by Michal Záhora is different. Metaphysical. It has the character of a meditation,  mesmerizes your mind so that you leave the theatre with a strange feeling of lightness of being." Daniela Machová, 22.3. 2017, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

"White on black has a mysterious symbolism in and of itself. The visual aspect of the scene is processed in costume and light design, supplemented and supported by ambient music created just like in Záhora's past works directly for the choreography. The long creative collaboration of Záhora and Natoli is undoubtedly evaluated in the mutual interconnectedness of music, movement and ideas as a great exchange of the final outcome, whose mission certainly goes beyond the borders of a regular dance production born from the conventions of artistic theatrical production." Zuzana Smugalová, 22.3. 2017, www.operaplus.cz

"The five dancers are on the same wavelength, so their concentration, cooperation and energy create an emotionally powerful impression. No doubt this is also thanks to the excellent synchronization of all the components, whether light design, music or sound." Jana Soprová, 3.4. 2017, www.scena.cz

Coproducers: Tanec Praha association/Ponec-the dance venue, Johan association/Moving Station Theatre, Pilsen

Suported by: City of Prague, Ministry of the Culture of the Czech Republic, Studio ALTA, Duncan Centre Conservatory, BaladaSITE

Thanks to: Sára Koluchová, Romana Lisnerová, Roman Černík, Petra Štěpánová, Petr Beránek, Yvona Kreuzmannová, Markéta Perroud, Alena Brožová, Kateřina Kavalírová, technical and producing team of Ponec Theatre, Lucia Kašiarová, Kateřina Stupecká, Jana Baladová, Jakub Vrbík, Jirka Jiráček, Evženie Brabcová, Hana Součková, David Břinčil, Štefan Bugi Tóth, Karin Militká, Vít Štaif, Vojta Brtnický, Lenka Jíšová, Petr Vacík, Dagmar Chaloupková, Andrea Lamešová, Braňo Bašista, Marek Menšík, Michal Vaniš, Jan Komárek

A world first night: March 19, 2017, PONEC-the dance venue

At the beginning, there were real people – workshop participants – and their letters to their acquaintances. In the letters, they shared what burdened their hearts or expressed important things they didn’t have a chance to tell their dearest. Individual voices of the writers are intertwined, layered, mingled. This polyphony of authentic confessions that are processed by the verbatim method into one text invite the dancer to enter the dialogue. The dancer acknowledges weakness and by expressing it creates a momentum in which he balances between rejection and reconciliation. He tries to understand what gives us direction in our lives, he discovers internal space of a man…

nomination for Opera Plus Award 2016: the Best Choreography and the Best Interpretation

Idea, choreography, dance: Michal Záhora

Artistic colaboration: Tereza Krčálová

Music: Carlo Natoli /It/

Music and sound editing: Philippe Leforestier /Fr-Cz/

Voice: Honza Malík (Czech version) or Howie Lotker /Ca-Cz/ (English version)

Light design: Robert Štěpánek

Production and assistent: Honza Malík & Pulsar association

Project volunteer: Adéla Kaderová

International manager of the realization: Lenka Flory /It-Cz/

reviews: 

100% !  Lucie Kocourková, 18.9. 2015, www.operaplus.cz

„...a very intimate solo interpreted and performed with great precision. (…) As far as the rhythm and information distribution in ever changing fiction are concerned, DEVOID is a great dramaturgical experiment. In the performance, not only the narrative structure and acting actions are bridged but also intensity of emotions.“ Martin Macháček, October 2015, Dance Zone Magazine 

„…DEVOID will certainly surprise - in a good way. It is human, comprehensible and it touches the viewers.“ Daniela Machová, 13.10. 2015, www.tanecniaktuality.cz

Co-producer: Tanec Praha/PONEC-the dance venue 

Supported by: NANOHACH association, Ministry of the Culture of Czech Republic, Duncan Centre Conservatory, Balada SITE

The project was realized in the frame of Be SpectACTive! - CapoTrave/Kilowatt Sansepolcro (It), Bakelit Multi Art Center Budapest (Hu), B-51 Ljubljana (Sl), Domino Zagreb (Hr), LIFT London (Uk), Tanec Praha (Cz), Teatrul National Radu Stanca Sibiu (Ro), York Theatre Royal (Uk).

With the support of Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

Zpecial thanks to all workshop participants, in Sibiu: Cristina Gogârlă, Lucian Bădulescu, Emanuel Antonescu, Bogdan Tălmaciu, George Ciucă, Ștefania Denisa Lupu, Sergiu Argeșanu, Daiana Mădăras, Ștefania Marola, Denisa Caian Pintiuță, Geraldina Basarab, Rodica Mărgărit, Renate Nica, Gabriela Neagu, Dana Lăzărescu, Dana Taloș; in Sansepolcro: Gilda Foni, Barbara Carracini, Samuel Webster, Silvia Bastianelli, Andreina Santaterra, Chicco Beni, Nicoletta Chiasserini, Silvia Palmi, Rosalia Karlino, Anna Martinelli, Roberta Bini, Stefania Tacconi, Martina Corsini, Francesca Rosini

Thanks to: Hana Součková, Francesco Montagner, Duta Dan Mircea, Vicentiu Rahau, Costin Chesnoiu,  Michele Rossi Flenghi, Nicola Mancini, Luca del Pia, Luca Ricci, Lenka Flory, Prokop Souček, David Mencl, Adéla Kaderová, Yvona Kreuzmannová, Markéta Perroud, Jitka Hradilková, Ponec-the dance venue/Tanec Praha association, Zuzana Sýkorová, Mirek Klimeš and Duncan Centre Conservatoire, Vojtěch Brtnický, Jana Baladová, Petra Kubíčková, Michaela Raisová, Lukáš Houdek, Petr Krpal, Jirka Jiráček.

A world first night: 19.7. 2015, Kilowatt Festival, Sansepolcro /It/

A Czech premiere: 16.9. 2015, PONEC-the dance venue, Prague

Sloupec 2