International Conference „DEVISED THEATRE / DANCE THEATRE” in Katowice

Devised Theatre is one of the most interesting and dynamic forms of contemporary performance. Initiated in the 1960s in the United States, Great Britain, and Europe (including Poland), Devised Theater began to develop in other cultural spaces as well and continues to modify its assumptions today. Devised Theatre artists often make artistic and organizational decisions collectively. The Dance Department of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice founded by choreographer and master teacher Jacek Łumiński, works to contribute in similar ways in the rich traditions of Polish dance and experimental theatre.

The goal of the DEVISED THEATRE / DANCE THEATRE conference is to reflect on Devised Theatre in relation to contemporary dance and to create a platform for joint discussion. The first edition, organized in collaboration with the Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences, took place from November 9–12, 2023. Invited guests reflected on different occurrences of devised theater in the USA, Europe, and Asia, both theoretically and practically. This year’s edition, which is returning after a one-year hiatus, will conclude the subject by presenting artistic methods prevalent in dance theater, contemporary music, conceptual choreography, and physical theater. The conference includes a lecture, roundtable discussion, workshops, and labs, all of which will bring participants together around their collective work on “inventing” the idea, process, and final form of the Devised Theatre performances.

Date: September 26–27, 2025

Venue: Dance Department, Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice

Participation in the conference is free. The organizer provides paid passes for workshops and labs. Participants must register by September 20th using the registration application available on the conference’s Facebook page.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

26th September | Friday

10:00 – 12:00
OFFICIAL OPENING
KEYNOTE LECTURE by prof. Allen Kuharski (US) on Devised Theatre

13:15 – 14:45, 15:00– 16:30
WORKSHOPS
Yana Reutova (UA/CZ), Andrés Zará / Rumbos Estudio Vocal (CL)

13:30 – 16:30 LABS
Sarah Sanford (US), Asa Horvitz (US/BE)

19:00 – 19:30
PERFORMANCE – Together Alone – Lost
Yana Reutova & coll. (UA/CZ)

20:00 – 21:00
PERFORMANCE – You can fall and climb up to the top again
Devised Theatre / Dance Theatre Group of The Dance Department, Jacek Łumiński (PL)

27th September | Saturday

10:00 – 12:00
ROUND TABLE
Sarah Sanford (US), Asa Horvitz (US/BE), Andrés Zará (CL), Kathryn Mederos Syssoyeva (US), Duška Radosavljević (UK/SE), Allen Kuharski (US), Yana Reutova (UA/CZ), Yvona Kreuzmannová (CZ), Jacek Łumiński (PL)

13:15 – 14:45, 15:00– 16:30
WORKSHOPS
Yana Reutova (UA/CZ), Andrés Zará / Rumbos Estudio Vocal (CL)

13:30 – 16:30
LABS
Sarah Sanford (US), Asa Horvitz (US/BE)

17:30 – 18:30
LABS SHOWCASE AND SUMMARY

19:30 – 22:00 PERFORMANCE – Withoutlands (with post-show discussion)
Devised Theatre / Dance Theatre Group of The Dance Department, Allen Kuharski (US)

Funded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund – a state-funded special-purpose fund.