Pictured: Auditorium of ROZBARK Theatre. Photo: ROZBARK Threatre.
The ROZBARK Dance and Movement Theatrein Bytomis starting its operations at the second weekend of March (7–9 March) with open days, performances, workshops, showcases, tours of the theatre, and a dance party. Visitors will be treated to Forty, a choreography by Jo Strømgren performed by the Polish Dance Theatre, and Przygody Kaja i Gerdy[The Adventures of Kai and Gerda] by the Buratino Puppet Theatre in Bydgoszcz. Children, teenagers and adults will also have a chance to take part in free dance classes, targeted both at beginners and advanced participants, and offering a wide array of styles to chose from, including eurhythmics, ballet for kids, street dance, solo Latino dance, or contemporary dance. On Saturday (10 am–6pm) the company is holding an audition for its first production, This is not a love song, a choreography by Uri Ivgi and Johan Greben. The piece’s premiere on 28 June 2014 will open the 21st International Contemporary Dance Conference and Festival of Dance Art in Bytom.
The new theatre’s main goal is to produce and promote contemporary dance enriched with other forms of movement art (mime, classical dance, street dance, etc.). ROZBARK’sheadquarters is a revitalised pithead of the Rozbark Mine, closed down exactly a decade ago. The building houses three ballet rooms, an auditorium with about 200 mobile seats, a café, and office spaces. The mine administration’s former building has been turned into a hotel for visiting artists and guests. On 7-9 March all of the spaces will be open to public.
On 7 March (7 pm)ROZBARK will host the Polish Dance Theatre with Forty,a choreography by the excellent Norwegian director Jo Strømgren. The piece is a tale of a woman’s life from her birth in 1973 to her birthday in 2013. The four decades are a time of doubts, hopes, struggle, choices and unpredictable events, guided by heroic virtues – lust for life and will to survive. Travelling across chaotic Europe, the character manages to find compromise between her own ambitions and the circumstances forced upon her. In many aspects, the performance portraits not only an individual’s quest but symbolises the journey made by Poland and the Polish Dance Theatre. In the last 40 years the country has seen radical chances: what will be her future?
On Saturday, 8 March, and Sunday, 9 March (10 am–6 pm), ROZBARK is holding an audition for its first production, This is not a love song, a choreography by Uri Ivgiand Johan Greben. The piece, premiered on 22 May 2010 in Russia, has won a range of prestigious prizes at many international festivals. Its Polish debut on 28 June 2014 will open the 21st International Contemporary Dance Conference and Festival of Dance Art in Bytom.
On 9 March (11 am) the youngest theatre lovers will be treated to Przygody Kaja i Gerdy[The Adventures of Kai and Gerda] by the Buratino Puppet Theatre in Bydgoszcz. The show is based on The Snow Queen, one of the best-known fairytales ever written and revisited over and over again by generations of children who find in it a confirmation of the importance of love, sacrifice, faithfulness or courage. Its popularity also springs from the aura of mystery that arises from the surrealism, magic and extraordinary characters it features. Yet, it is also a funny, dynamic, and, despite the title, heart-warming tale of a boy kidnapped by the Snow Queen and clocked up in her palace, whose only rescue may be his stepsister, Gerda, who refuses to give up on him. The show, featuring puppets and live actors, is set to climatic music.
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Throughout the weekend everyone will have a chance to try their hand, and foot, at dance, choosing from a wide array of classes lead by outstanding teachers. It is a good opportunity to check out ROZBARK’s workshop offer, pick the most interesting option and enrol. Registration will be open for the whole weekend.
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