Pictured: Tango with Lady M. Photo: Archive of Polish Dance Theatre.
In a week, on 13 September at 8 pm (Poznań International Fair, Hall No. 2, ul. Głogowska 14) the Polish Dance Theatre (PTT) will present Episode 6 of its anniversary series, XL. Polski Teatr Tańca wczoraj i dziś [XL. Polish Dance Theatre Yesterday and Today], celebrating the ensemble’s 40 years of existence. Titled (Nie)bezpieczne związki, or Dangerous Liaisons, the production features fragments of PTT’s legendary pieces: Carmenchoreographed by Jerzy Makarowski,Romeo i Julia[Romeo and Juliet] choreographed by Birgit Cullberg,Niebezpiecznie związki[Dangerous Liaisons] choreographed by Ewa Wycichowska and Święto wiosny[The Rite of Spring] also by Ewa Wycichowska. On stage we will see present and former PTT dancers: Krzysztof Raczkowski, Anna Gruszka, Bartłomiej Raźnikiewicz. On the very same evening the audience will get a preview of Episode 7 – a revival of Tango z Lady M. [Tango with Lady M.]. Dancers will be accompanied on stage by a pair of excellent musicians: Wiesław Prządka (bandoneon) and Piotr Kałużny (piano). The episode will celebrate a double anniversary: 45 years of Professor Ewa Wycichowska’s artistic work and 20 years of the artistic career of Karina Adamczak-Kasprzak, PTT’s principal dancer.
About Tango z Lady M.
The inspiration for the piece comes not only from Shakespearian motifs, among which Lady Macbeth holds the central role, but also draws on the ancient myth of Medea and contemporary occurrences. However, we are not interested in the history and apotheosis of a crime. The tragedy and irony of human fate becomes a starting point for a reflection on the essence of good and evil, individual vs. collective, responsibility for one’s actions and forgiveness of wrongdoings, also in the present day. Dance becomes not only a means of expression but a means of communication for the characters in the piece. The key motif is the tango, a dance infused with passion and expression, a theatre of our souls, a powerful fusion of the sacred and profane. Tango z Lady M.[Tango with Lady M.] is also an invitation to start a conversation on the fact that the end of the millennium does not have to mean the end of our shared and individual world.
The production received the Buława Hetmańska award at the 25th Theatre Summer festival in Zamość, Poland.
idea and choreography: Ewa Wycichowska
music: Leszek Możdżer, Astor Piazzolla
stage design and costumes: Maria Balcerek
duration: 60 minutes
premiere: 28 January 2000
original cast: Andrzej Adamczak, Karina Adamczak-Kasprzak, Agnieszka Błacha, Piotr Chudzicki, Adriana Cygankiewicz, Anna Gruszka-Kopeć, Anna Marek, Iwona Pasińska, Elwira Piorun, Bartłomiej Raźnikiewicz, Adrian Rzetelski, Daniel Stryjecki, Ewa Sobiak, Konrad Stefański, Shuji Waseda, Paulina Wycichowska
