Theatre and dance performances, film premiere, concerts, workshops, a fine art exhibition and open discussions with emerging artists of the Visegrad countries: the first Performing V4 – Biennial of VARP-PA Residents taking place in Prague on the 26 – 27-28th of February will provide an exclusive insight into the region’s contemporary art scene by presenting the very best works created in the framework of Visegrad Artist Residency Program — Performing Arts.
The Biennial takes place for the first time since the VARP-PA project was started in 2012, and is designed as a nomadic, mobile platform to be held in different V4 counties every two years. The organizing performing art associations L1 Egyesület (H) (as the main organizer), Nová síť (CZ), Art Stations Foundation (PL) and Truc sphérique-Stanica Zilina (SK), representing all four V4 countries selected an assembly of exquisite and intriguing programs for the Biennial from 22 applications received from previous residency holders of VARP-PA.
Open for all audiences interested in the most original & inspiring artistic endeavors and trends within the Central-Eastern-European region, the Biennial starts on the 26th of February in Prague’s Studio ALTA, with an exclusive “theatre in film, film in theatre” premiere: MAKING OF NEVINA is a documentary directed by Petra Tejnorová (CZ) about creating the performance Sgt. Tejnorová & the Commando: NEVINA / INNOCENCE, based on the play of the same title, written by renowned contemporary German playwright Dea Loher. Next in Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre, Jan Bárta (CZ) will perform STICKER, a theatre piece (with English subtitles) on how changing the rules of seemingly harmless everyday games can turn love into hate in an intimate relationship.
On the 27th, a very special chamber puppet performance for one actress, one musician and few puppets in love, LOVE P AND PASSION B directed by Monika Kováčová (SK) will be presented in Studio ALTA, followed by the dance performance JOSHA – A PORTRAIT choreographed by Márta Ladjánszki (H) in PONEC – the dance venue. The performance provides a unique opportunity to discover a personality – and through this, our own self – by watching a body in movement.
The last day of the Biennial features a lecture workshop PHANTOMIC SENSATION led by Gabriela Karolczak (PL), dealing with body image and body consciousness. The workshop in Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre can be visited free of charge, as well as the following OPEN DISCUSSION with artists of the Biennial. Inspired by Olympic and US-style show wrestling, later on the dance performance JA JA JA NE NE NE – ‚FIGHT, FIGHT — THAT’S ALL WE CAN DO’ by Magdalena Tuka (PL) introduces us to the freedom found in wrestling (with English subtitles) at PONEC – the dance venue. After this, another dance performance, DESIGNED FOR t⋀t∫ created by Zdenka Brungot Svitekova (SK) is researching the language, the qualities and the meanings of touch live, with an international ensemble in Studio ALTA. The closing act of the Biennial is an ‘audiovisual freestyle’ concert by the group Handa Gote Research & Development (CZ), followed by a chill out party with DJ duo Federsel & Mäkelä (CZ/FIN) in the same venue.
Accompanying the Biennial, a fine art exhibition titled CONVEX PROJECT – ICONS OF WAITING AND WASTING created by Eszter Herold & Zsuzsi Palman (H) can be visited from 20th of February until 8th of March in Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre. The project’s 9 stages, including various ‘dance icons’ are representing the 9 months of pregnancy from a very sensitive female point of view.
The Biennial also provides a platform for cultural exchange and to meet the artists in person at the open discussion forum held by members of KÖM by L1 Association (H), the critics’ workshop accompanying the Biennial and producing up-to-date reviews and recommendations of the events for the Biennial blog: http://performingv4biennial.blogspot.hu/ Here you will also find in-depth interviews in English with the participating artists as well as with the curators of partner associations, introducing the concept of the Biennial and the possibilities created by the very unique VARP-PA program of the International Visegrad Fund. You can also find and join the events on Facebook, separately or from the main event site Performing V4 — Biennial of VARP-PA Residents.
PERFORMING V4 — BIENNIAL OF VARP-PA RESIDENTS
full list of programs
26th February (Thursday)
19:00 Sgt. Tejnorova & the Commando_CZ — Dea Loher: NEVINA / INNOCENCE (film premiere) 30’ — Studio ALTA — FREE OF CHARGE
20:00 Jan Bárta_CZ — Sticker (theatre with English subtitles) 55’ — Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre
27th February (Friday)
18:00 Lorca — Kováčová — Turošík_SK — Love P and Passion B (puppet theatre) 60’ — Studio ALTA
20:00 Márta Ladjánszki_HU — JOSHA ‑a portrait- (dance) 50’ — PONEC — the dance venue
28th February (Saturday)
12:00 – 15:00 Gabriela Karolczak_PL — Phantom Sensation (lecture workshop) 180’ — Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre — FREE OF CHARGE
15:00 – 17:00 Open discussion led by critics of KÖM by L1 Association (H) (with the artists and open for the public) 120’ — Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre — FREE OF CHARGE
18:00 Magdalena Tuka_PL — Ja Ja Ja Ne Ne Ne ‚Fight, fight — that’s all we can do’ (dance with English text) 45’ — PONEC — the dance venue
20:00 Zdenka Brungot Svitekova_SK — designed for t⋀t∫ (dance) 50’ — Studio ALTA
21:30 Handa Gote Research & Development_CZ concert (40’) + Federsel & Mäkelä DJs chill out party (120’) — Studio ALTA
20th February – 8th March
Eszter Herold & Zsuzsi Palman_HU — CONVEX PROJECT - Icons of waiting and wasting (exhibition) — Alfred ve Dvoře Theatre
We reserve the right to change the program!