Monika Kiwak (1982) holds and MA in Polish philology and theatre studies (drama studies) at the Jagiellonian University, she graduated from the dance department at Performers House (2009, Denmark), she is a certified contemporary dance instructor (National Centre for Culture Poland NCC). She participated in the certification course of Body-Mind Centering (Slovakia, Poland 2014 2015). Between 2008 and 2015 she danced in the Experimental Dance Studio led by Iwona Olszowska in Cracow, where she practised improvisation with BMC.
In the years 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, she was granted a scholarship to participate in the Alternative Dance Academy organised by Art Stations Foundation by Grażyna Kulczyk. She was a resident of the Dance Move Cities project (Cracow, Riga 2013 2014, where she worked with Vera Mantero and Mrten Spngberg, among others). In 2017, thanks to the support of the Art Stations Foundation by Grażyna Kulczyk, she participated in a study visit and a pedagogical course in Rome, which was led by Segni Mossi and interlinked movement with graphic signs.
She has been repeatedly chosen by Andrew Morrish to teach solo improvisation as performance for advanced dancers. In 2019, thanks to the support of the Institute of Music and Dance (International Mobility Support Programme), she held a scholarship in Sweden, training with Andrew Morrish and Peter Trotman.
She cooperated with the following institutions, festivals and performative programmes: Old Brewery New Dance in Poznań, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw, Mazovian Centre for Contemporary Art Elektrownia in Radom, Labyrinth Gallery in Lublin, Contemporary Art Gallery in Opole, BWA Gallery of Contemporary Art in Katowice, Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Art Fraction Foundation in Poznań, The Childrens University Foundation, INSPIRO Culture House Foundation in Podłęż, Dziecięcy Warsztat Tańca (Childrens Dance Workshop) in Cracow, Opole Puppet and Actor Theatre of Alojzy Smolka, The Puppet and Actor Theatre of Walbrzych, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz STUDIO Theatre in Warsaw, Adam Mickiewicz Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute in Warsaw, Łaźnia Nowa Theatre in Cracow, Barakah Theatre in Cracow, Małopolska Garden of Arts (MGA), Centre for the Documentation of the Art of Tadeusz Kantor Cricoteka in Cracow, Kraków Theatre Reminiscences Festival, Jalla! Reclaim the body! , Meyerhold Theater and Cultural Center in Moscow, FRATZ International Festival in Berlin, ricca ricca festa in Japan.
She features in performances dedicated for the youngest audience and adults. She practices solo improvisation as performance, exploring the poetic expression of imagination. In 2020, thanks to the scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, she realises the performance Czując (Feeling).
Selected performances:
1. Baby Space, dir. Dalija Acin Theander, Old Brewery New Dance, Poznań 2013.
2. Star Fish, dir. Monika Kiwak, Iwona Olszowska, Barakah Theatre, Cracow 2014.
3. LABirynt, dir. Alicja Morawska-Rubczak, Opole Puppet and Actor Theatre of Alojzy Smolka, Opole 2015.
4. Digital Garden, International Contemporary Dance Festival KRoki, Małopolska Garden of Arts, Cracow 2016.
5. Kuuki, dir. Alicja Morawska-Rubczak, Scena Wspólna, Poznań 2017, Tokio 2017.
