Almost 100 participants, 9 countries, 3 continents. Polish dance experts and artists go on their third world tour, which will feature several dozen workshops with young dancers around the globe. The first events will take place online on Saturday, October 9.
Mexico, the USA, Canada, Malaysia, India, China, Georgia, and Croatia. These countries will be host to Polish traditional and contemporary dance workshops for young dancers and choreographers. Participants will also learn how to make the most of their respective local cultures in contemporary dance interpretations. They will also choreograph original pieces inspired by Polish traditional culture.
The Roots of Dance / Korzenie tańca seeks to encourage artists to draw inspiration from local cultures, with Polish traditional culture serving as a stimulus for the workshops. The project was initiated by dr hab. Aleksandra Dziurosz, deputy director at the National Institute of Music and Dance:
– I am delighted the Roots of Dance / Korzenie tańca project has been picked up again, enabling us to share traditional and contemporary Polish culture around the world. I am curious as to how dancers and choreographers from other cultural backgrounds will react to Polish culture, and what we will learn from them in the process. It all promises to be a fascinating artistic adventure that will add to the international dance culture!
October and November will feature 20 online meetings.
– We begin with workshops held by Bartek Mieszczak, Janusz Prusinowski, Ewa Koźlakiewicz and Jacek Łumiński, who will work with young dancers and dance students in Mexico, Canada, Croatia, and Georgia, says Mateusz Czekaj, project coordinator. – In December, we will travel to Mexico, the USA, Canada, Malaysia, India, China, Georgia and Croatia, holding workshops for the participants of both last year’s and this year’s edition. The workshops will be led by Jacek Łumiński, Aleksandra Dziurosz, Angelika Karal, Sebastian Wiertelak and Łukasz Zgórka. Each tour will be streamed online, and each workshop cycle will conclude with a public presentation.
In August, several dancers from each participant country will participate in workshops at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. They will also travel to Podhale and the Żywiec Beskids, where they will meet with local dance communities and learn about their traditions. These shared workshops will conclude with a public presentation in Katowice.
– This time, we place even more emphasis on intercultural exchange: we are after “the roots of dance” and touching points for our cultures, seeking to develop them as part of contemporary dance forms. On the one hand, we will share Polish dance culture internationally, on the other we will meet the respective cultures of all dancers participating in the project, adds Mateusz Czekaj.
The Roots of Dance / Korzenie tańca will finish at the end of 2022. The project will be capped by a documentary film.
The list of project partners spans a number of art schools and dance companies, including the Department of Dance at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Arts Research Institute w Tbilisi (Georgia), Moving Borders w Mérida (Mexico), The Dance Centre in Vancouver (Canada), TRAFIK dance / theatre company and Croatian Institute for Dance and Movement in Zagreb (Croatia), Kofago Dance Ensemble in New York (USA), Sapphire Creations Dance Company in Kolkata (India), Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in Hangzhou (China), ASK Dance Company in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), as well as several diplomatic missions, including the Polish Institute in Tbilisi (Georgia), Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Mexico City (Mexico), Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Vancouver (Canada), Polish Institute in New York (USA), and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).
Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport as part of the “Inspiring Culture” program.
Media contact:
Agata Szymczak (agata.szymczak@nimit.pl, + 48 785 310 000)
