Sunday, June 15. 19.00/ Zirgu pasts

Olga Zhitluhina (Latvia)

 “Outside” (80’)

Choreography: Olga Zhitluhina

Music: Juris Kaukulis un Kaspars Tobis („Dzelzs vilks”)

Performers: Ruta Puce, Anna Novikova, Agate Bankava, Girts Bisenieks, Taisija Frolova, Sandra Lapina, Eva Kronberga, Rudolfs Gedins, Ivars Bronics, Karina Lapsina, Agate Cukura, Maija Tjurjapina, Janis Putnins, Anete Tambaka, Alise Putnina, Martins Spruds, Anastasija Lonsakova, Anne – Birthe Nord

Dramaturgy: Inta Balode

Scenography: Gints Gabrans

Costumes: Seila

Supported by: Ibsen Scholarships, Valsts Kulturkapitala fonds, Rigas dome

„ARA” studies the modern man’s ability to go beyond the usual comfort zone in the name of a higher purpose.

In the process of generating ideas as the literary source of the performance was taken Henrik Ibsen’s “Brand”–a masterpiece of classic drama. The performance does not follow the storyline of the drama closely, yet in the process of creating the performance, the chrestomathic Brand’s motto, “Be forgiven –if you were not able, but never –if you did not want,”has become the key driving force. Isn’t it so that nowadays  at some stage of life each of us has to win the battle with the darkness, climb the mountain and fall in pits, out of which each one has to climb out again? Will the performance participants get out of the familiar mental and physical comfort zone in the name of art? And is such a sacrifice necessary at all?

The idea of the performance was recognized by the Jury of the International Ibsen Scholarships 2013 as one of the 4 winners in the competition among 99 rival projects. The Jury stated: “The project shows an impressive and inventive insight into the relationship between text, theatre and dance”.

Olga Zitluhina–a choreographer with dance education of St. Petersburg Cultural Institute and Latvian Academy of Music. She teaches contemporary and character dance at the Latvian State Ballet School and is the Head of contemporary dance choreography program at the Latvian Academy of Culture. Olga Zitluhina is the author of choreographies for her own dance company and also for performances in Latvian drama theatres. She is also a great dancer and solo performer. Olga Zitluhina’s performances are dynamic stories, full of rhythm and mood. Every dance invites the spectator to a journey which varies between sadness and playfulness, peace and sparkling laughter. Olga Zitluhina Dance Company (1996 –2012) was the first contemporary dance company in Latvia. In 2014 the idea of a new company was born. Dance Company “ARA”starts uniting contemporary dance professionals to do something new.

Photo by: Liga Vilks