It is called A Platform of American Dance but SPOTLIGHT: USA is so much more. Shortly 9 of the best U.S. choreographers and their dance companies will arrive in Plovdiv where the Old and the New worlds will meet. Here is the full program:
March 24, SATURDAY
20:00 – 21:00 Film showing CHECK YOUR BODY AT THE DOOR, ONE DANCE WEEK office, Kapana
March 25, SUNDAY
11:00 – 13:00 Improvisation workshop, led by Tahni Holt, Dance Station, Boris Hristov House of Culture, fl.4 (free entrance, register by contacting hello@onedanceweek.com)
13:00 – 14:30 Dance Church by Kate Wallich, Dance Station, Boris Hristov House of Culture, fl.4 (free entrance, register by contacting hello@onedanceweek.com)
16:00 OTHER MYTHS, Jonah Bokaer Choreography, Boris Hristov House of Culture (free entrance)
The other myths are from Eastern Europe and are “other” because they can rarely be seen on the contemporary scene. Choreographer Jonah Bokaer and his dancers resurrect mythical creatures from the Carpathians under the sounds of radio frequencies from the Black Sea coastline in order to draw attention to the prejudices and economic difficulties facing the region.
17:00 Film showing NEVER STAND STILL, ONE DANCE WEEK office, Kapana
March 26, MONDAY
13:00 OTHER MYTHS, Jonah Bokaer Choreography, Boris Hristov House of Culture (free entrance)
15:30 THE BACKYARD, <fidget>, Plovdiv Drama Theater, Black box
The objectifying women, the cliches on weight and curves, the expectations of grace and sex appeal of the bodies on the spotlight – all of this stops at the doors of the hall, as the six ladies from the dance company of Tahni Holt – aged from 15 to 60 – will show you something you’ve never seen before.
17:00 SENSATION/DISORIENTATION, Tahni Holt Dance, Plovdiv Drama Theater
The objectifying women, the cliches on weight and curves, the expectations of grace and sex appeal of the bodies on the spotlight – all of this stops at the doors of the hall, as the six ladies from the dance company of Tahni Holt – aged from 15 to 60 – will show you something you’ve never seen before.
20:00 Оfficial Opening AGUA FURIOSA, CONTRA-TIEMPO, Boris Hristov House of Culture
Salsa as a protest, water as a human right, violence as a natural disaster – and that’s not all in CONTRA-TIEMPO urban latino dance company’s show. The company is from LA and consists of dance activists. With waves of sound, weapons of umbrellas, live vocals and flamboyant scenography, they will send powerful messages from the stage and draw attention to world problems.
March 27, TUESDAY
15:30 SKELETON FLOWER, Degenerate Art Ensemble, Plovdiv Drama Theater, Black Box
Does art save lives? Can fairy-tales come true? Dance theater, video art and live music, each aspect of SKELETON FLOWER is elaborate as it is a personal confession, a well-narrated story, where elements from the classics of the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Andersen can be spotted.
17:00 CUSTODIANS OF BEAUTY, Palissimo Company, Plovdiv Drama Theater
If you think that beauty loses its value, watch the elegant moves of the three dancers. They may be manifesting beauty, maybe they are looking for its current definition through their bodies, or maybe they want you to do that. This dance follows no rules but urges us to see beauty where we least expect it.
20:00 INDUSTRIAL BALLET, Kate Wallich + The YC, Boris Hristov House of Culture
The choreographer Kate Wallich, the rock star of the contemporary Seattle scene, and the musicians of Johnny Goss team up for this massive production – a dance show and a live concert in one. INDUSTRIAL BALLET is charged with the rebellious spirit of Seattle from the 80s and 90s of the past century, with the grace of ballet and the dynamic of the underground clubs and the uncontrollable urge to be free.
March 28, WEDNESDAY
13:00 OTHER MYTHS, Jonah Bokaer Choreography, Boris Hristov House of Culture (free entrance)
17:00 ONLYHUMAN, Christine Bonansea Company, Plovdiv Drama Theater
Multimedia and Nietsche’s postulates are the vehicles of this kinetic solo performance dedicated to the discrepancies of human nature. Born in France, Christine Bonansea draws inspiration from philosophers and collaborates with innovative artists from the theater, music and visual arts.
20:00 PRINCIPLES OF UNCERTAINTY, Dance Heginbotham, Boris Hristov House of Culture
The PRINCIPLES OF UNCERTAINTY are drawn from the vicissitudes of history, the absurdities of life and the surprises of death, but mostly from the witty works of Maira Kalman and her book by the same name. An illustrator for The New Yorker, a columnist for the New York Times and a writer, the colorful Maira Kalman created the scenography and has a part in the show – a dance journey through history and down memory lane brilliantly recreated by the choreographer John Heginbotham.
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Tickets for all shows can be bought online at epaygo.bg or at the EasyPay offices. The price is BGN 12 on presale and BGN 15 at the door. We highly recommend purchasing your ticket in advance as seating is limited.
SPOTLIGHT: USA A Platform of American Dance is organized by American Dance Abroad and ONE DANCE WEEK in partnership with Plovdiv Municipality and is conducted in support of Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019. The biggest supporter of the project is America for Bulgaria Foundation. The organizers would also like to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria, the U.S. Embassy Sofia, the Trust for Mutual Understanding and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
