To mark the centenary of The Rite of Spring on Sunday, 9 June, the festivals of Ballet Spring and Spring Festival in Poznań will feature the premiere of Sacre by Krzysztof Raczkowski. In his interpretation of The Rite of Spring, Krzysztof Raczkowski keeps to the original libretto but gives it an individual dimension – the ritual is unfolding in isolation from the community and the circle dances and processions which constitute it. In the solo choreography based on contemporary dance techniques, the dancer, Małgorzata Mielech showcases the self-destructing power of an ancient rite which is born out of loneliness and is a private obsession of the Chosen One, a recurring nightmare, triggering personality disorders in her. The music is played live, with subsequent parts of the Stravinsky’s ballet being given a new jazz arrangement.
The project embraces:
Augurs of Spring
Dance of the Earth
Mystic Circle
Glorification of the Chosen One
Evocation of the Ancestors
Sacrificial Dance
Credits:
Music – arrangement and performance: Jerzy Mazzoll with assistant
Stage design, artistic projections: Vahan Bego with assistant
Dancer: Małgorzata Mielech
Conception, choreography and costumes: Krzysztof Raczkowski.
Vahan Bego has been artistically bound in Poland since 1993, authoring works such as: WAZE — the monumental relief called Wizerunek Artystyczny Zjednoczonej Europy [Artistic Image of United Europe] in Zgorzelec (1998); steel sculpture Kursk in Warsaw; ART AND BUSINESS award (nr 5/2001); stage design for Sweet Noise’s concert at Przystanek Woodstock Festival in Żary (2002); Grand Prix of the Minister of Culture at the 2nd International Biennial Pastel Exhibition Nowy Sącz 2004.
Krzysztof Raczkowski: 1980–1983 Szczecin Music Theatre;1983–1997 Polish Dance Theatre; 1997–2002 Johann Kresnik’s choreographic theatre Volksbühne in Berlin; 2002–2003 guest artist with Essen’s dramatic theatre (Jedermann, directed by Kresnik), Basel’s opera (Semele, directed by K. Beier), Hannover’s dramatic theatre at the Salzburg festival (Peer Gynt, directed by Kresnik). Ballet film for ARTE and WDR in Cologne (Karneval, Karneval, choreography by J. Ulrich); 2003–2005 J. Kresnik’s choreographic theatre in Bonn; 2004 – guest artist at Oldenburg’s dance theatre (Memotrip, choreography by Stiffermann); 2006 – choreographic project Beethoven No.9 directed by Rysler; 2007 – choreographic cooperation and performing with Hans-Otto-Theater in Potsdam in F.U.C.K directed by Serge Weber; 2008 – performing on a Babylon Works production (Baterby, directed by Mathias Schönsee); Schwetzingen Festspiele – the opera Niobe; Polish Dance Theatre in Poznań: Śmierć jest najpiękniejszym celem [Death is the Most Beautiful Goal], own choreography and performance; 2009 – Polish Dance Theatre in Poznań: choreographic cooperation on Mykwa directed by Dobrowlańska; participation in the Hildesheim festival – Border in choreography by Stiffermann; Staatsoper Berlin: Fledermaus also in Stiffermann’s choreography; 2010 – Warsaw National Opera: Between, directed by Maja Kleczewska, choreography by M. Mikołajczyk; Schauspiel Köln: Das Werk/Im Bus/Ein Sturz directed by Karin Beier. Cooperation with the following choreographers and directors: Ivan Batai, Karin Beier, Brigitte Culberg, Conrad Drzewiecki, David Earle, Johann Kresnik, Jerzy Makarowski, Juliane Rysler, Mathias Schönsee, Thomas Stache, Martin Stiffermann, Jochen Ulrich, Grey Veredon, Serge Weber, Waldemar Wołk-Karaczewski, Ewa Wycichowska.
Małgorzata Mielech is a dancer and choreographer. She has worked with a range of choreographers in Poland and other European countries. For many years she worked with Poznań’s Stanisław Moniuszko Teatr Wielki. In 2007-2012 she worked with the Polish Dance Theatre.