‘Monger’ announces 26th DWF
This year’s premier dance performance Monger by choreographer Barak Marshall and produced by Israeli Suzanne Dellal Centre, is presented in Zagreb as the introduction to 26th Dance Week Festival.
For a third year running, the Croatian Institute for Movement and Dance features a guest performance by an internationally acclaimed dance company as an intro to its major project Dance Week Festival. Following on the trail of Ballet Preljocaj’s performance “N” and then
“Shaker” by Inbal Pinto Dance Company, also from Israel, this year’s presentation in Zagreb features “Monger” by choreographer Barak Marshall a production of Israel’s Suzanne Dellal Centre.
Zagreb audiences first encountered Barak Marshall at the start of his international carreer in 1998 the 15th Dance Week Festival which featured his performance “Emma Goldann’s Wedding”, which was in that same year awarded with the prestigious Bonnie Byrd choreographic award and the ADAMI award of Bagnolet’s choreographic competition.
With ‘Monger‘ Barak returns to the international stage, and Zagreb audiences will see this performance on May 18, at 9pm at the Concert Hall Lisinski. The performances is a special commission by Suzanne Dellal Centre, which through his renown highly theatrical, visually stunning and emotionally charged choreographic vocabulary Barak investigates the dynamics of hierarchy, power, freedom of will and the compromises we agree to in order to survive. It’s a story about 10 servants locked up in the basement of the home of a cruel mistress.
The narrative structure of the performance is based on the works of Bruno Shultz, the drama “Maids” by Jean Genet , and Robert Altman’s film “Gosford Park“. The music is composed of gypsy, balkan and indonesian influences mixed with rock and techno sound - the soundtrack composed of works by Taraf de Haidouk, Balkan Beat Box, The Yiddish Radio Project, Margalit Oved, Shye Ben Tzur, Shandor, Handel, Goran Bregović, Verdi, Tommy Dorsey, Terry Hall, Ray Noble…
This guest performance is made possible through the support of the Israeli Embassy in Zagreb and in collaboration with the Israeli Friendship Association – Zagreb and the Croatian Institute for Movement and Dance. The performance is a tribute to the celebration of the 61st Independence Day of the State of Israel as well as announcement of the upcoming 26th Dance Week Festival (May 25 to June 02). Tickets for Monger are available through the box office of Concert Hall Lisinski.
The program of the 26th Dance Week Festival features 14 contemporary dancer works from around the world as well as a selection of local dance productions. The highlight of this year’s festival program is the presentation of renown Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), with choreographies by this year’s Venice Biennale laureat Jiri Kyliana. The Company arrives to Zagreb through the assistance of the Netherlands Embassy in Zagreb and the support of the City of Hague.
At the special request of audiences, returning to Zagreb already in this year is Portuguese choreographer Paulo Ribeiro with two new productions: Masculine and Feminine.
The legend of international contemporary mime, Karina Holla returns with her latest performance award winning Being Hurt Bieng Blessed. Also, one of the forefront figures of the new generation of European choreographers Gilles Jobin returns to Zagreb with his most recent performance Black Swan which premiered barely a month ago.
Lucy Guerin, award winner of a Bessie, arrives to Zagreb from Australia with her performance Love Me. Arriving from Belgium this year is Vanesse Van Durme long time collaborator of Alain Platel with the performance Look Mummy I’m Dancing. Also from Belgium is Michael Lazic with Staging Reality.
Slovenian authors at this year’s Festival are Goran Turnšek, with performance Being Blanka Vlašič,and Snježana Premuš with Silent Body. Pal Frenak from Hungary will present the work Mennono, while Claire Granier will present Lost on the Shoreline an Austrian-Swiss production – both authors are featured under the banner of Beyond Fronta project.
Alongside the announced program, the 26th edition of Dance Week Festival will also present a diverse and rich ancillary program comprising of discussions, workshops, film and video and meet-the-artist opportunities.
Program details and related information are updated daily, and are available through the Festival web-site: www. danceweekfestival.com
Tickets are available as of May 11th, through the festival box-office located in the lobby of Mamut Stage of Theatre Gavella.
