24th Dance Week Festival
24th Dance Week Festival occurs as the turning point in between two seasons whose colours, the possibilities they announce and the expectations they evoke can be seen as resonating in the very pieces we bring to you this year; be it through the atmosphere of a work, the awakening of conscientiousness, the efforts of bodies in climax as well as the climax of intellectual engagement and comment….or, simply soulful and playful…It is the time that we are prepared to give into new experiences and alongside this effort to also share the joys of experiencing one of the most demanding of arts disciplines – dance…
This year we present 27 choreographers, 21 titles through a total of 32 events from 11 countries. Returning to Zagreb are: Vera Mantero, one of the most significant European choreographers of the XXth century; also, Yasmeen Gooder always provocative Israeli artist always welcome to venues dedicated to risk-taking, engaging works such as New York’s The Kitchen…This year we will welcome great contemporary ballets such as the Italian ensemble Aterballeto…the icon among contemporary dance performers as is Louise Lecavallier…and Rami Be’er who has woven his magical into a new work for the Croatian National Theatre’s Ballet Ensemble in Split in addition to his own Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Theatre also featured in the Festival…We bring forth smaller, equally exceptional works of authors like Julie Dossavi, and the surreal choreographic duo of Cie Drift just proclaimed the best dance production in Switzerland this year.; Christopher Garcia is yet another emerging star who has in the past two years generated numerous choreographic awards and who work premiers with the Scapino Ballet in Rotterdam just as his company performs his awarded works in Zagreb…This is one more opportunity to welcome back our very own Jasna Vinovrski who is building a solid career abroad…And, we continue the dialogue within the region through the works of Dalija Acin…
Finally, but not the least, and with pride we present the Croatian Choreographic Platform through which we continue our quarter century efforts in promoting and supporting Croatian dance talent…This platform, although presenting only a select portion of currently available productions, will showcase the diversity or the dance scene….
Our collaboration and expansion of programming into Rijeka continues for the second year and is testament to the growing interest for dance but also the quality of our programming…The bridge between two cities is represented by the production Welcome to Rijeka…The glimpse into the potential of future professional dancers is offered through a special project with the School for Contemporary Dance Ana Maletic in Zagreb a result of our ongoing collaboration…
There is, indeed, something for everyone! The Festival indicates the vitality of the scene and the many ways to polarize other disciplines since dance continues to make an ever-growing and privileged position of being a melting pot for a variety of theatrical experiences and approaches and continues to bring forth exciting, thought-provoking results…
The Festival is testament to how today’s dance productions are a result of not only the relationships between dancer and choreographer but equally a partnership with the dramaturge, the composer, the musician, the videographer, visual artist who all claim an authorship in the creative processes…The start and the ultimate goal being dance…the journey is also what matters as both a quest and a play and juxtaposition of ideas…
The Festival is also an opportunity to celebrate the vitality and development of the Zagreb dance scene which will soon be crowned with the opening of a Dance Centre, managed by the Croatian Institute for Movement and Dance, and positioning it as choreographic and a production centre. This will result with increase in production values, higher mobility within the region, enhanced opportunities for collaboration and continuing opportunity for professional development through workshops, research, labs, discussions, seminars, exhibitions…and continuing to develop the necessary discourse around and about dance, in addition to the inevitable necessity to grow interest for dance among the public at large…In a nutshell, all that makes up and is a reflection of a healthy, multi-talented and vital dance community.
On this occasion we wish to thank all our supporters and collaborators as well as the numerous volunteers who have through their efforts contributed significantly to our ability to bring to you, once again a feast of dance…A special Thank you to you, the audience, whose presence makes this a truly exceptional event.
Thank you All and Welcome to the Festival.
Mirna Zagar
Artistic Founding Producer
