The new project by VerTeDance (Veronika Kotlíkova and Tereza Ondrová) called Emigrantes was introduced to the general public before Christmas but the official premiere was celebrated in the first week in January – on 7th and 8th January 2010 in the Archa Theatre. The audience in the sold-out hall caught their breath for one hour and they floated in some kind of universe interspace.
Emigrantes begin with the entrance of little boy Eduard Manukyan who tells stories about leaving Armenia, his native land. They have relaxed and happy-sad atmosphere right from the beginning. Things little Eda says are sometimes very funny – especially when he uses original grimaces, he is able to switch roles and he tells his stories very clearly with pantomime – but viewers have goose bumps from the context behind. Atmosphere of Emigrantes swings in ponderous unfinished utterances and it forces viewers to focus on the message that is synchronic in an interesting and original way.
Children dominate the performance; their spontaneity, courage, dreaming and playfulness provide space to fun and dance. Children's scattered memories, desire to create home and getting back to their friends permeate the whole story. They are dragged through the life instead of enjoying carelessness and they bear guidance and prohibition by their parents to think about the life in their native country for their flippancy and truth. But they have the opportunity of other realization. They cross shadows of the past through their own and their parents' stories and they awake in a happier morning... We are accompanied by views on the Universe, Moon and planets during their journey.
A surprising connection of two art disciplines rises on the surface with the first tones of musicians from the Dva company – Honza and Bára Kratochvílovi. Then Emigrantes swing on the waves of space melodies and they are heading somewhere behind our sight. Music is composed for this staging and it intuitively blows in the whole space and encourages dancers to move.
Four adults and five children created a group that has a very natural effect. Everyone respects the space and the need of communication of the others and s/he reacts with pleasure to the invitation to cooperate.
Emigrantes are not only about children's stories but also about needs and feelings of their parents. Lucia Kašiarová, Andrea Opavská, Petr Opavský and Ondřej Nosálek dance important sentences from their and VerTeDance's manuscripts. They are interconnected with desire and passion as well as with playfulness and spontaneity of their performances.
Fifteen-year-old Adam Chaloupka presented the biggest dance talent this evening. He showed that he has not only significant dance dispositions but also mental maturity for creating more demanding and rhythmically tricky combinations.
VerTeDance has brought interesting processes and ideas. We can see lightness, naturalness and harmony of both choreographers they work with and they used to create their new piece. The interpreters do not overplay but they create a real world with a trustworthy message.
Little Eda who wanted to become an astronaut (this is the reason for space shots on his way to search for new home) eventually takes off and fulfils his great dream...
Translation: Eliška Hulcová
Josef Bartos
Thank you for your thoughts. One got stuck in my mind – that passion makes us different from AI. Just yesterday I read…I am a dance critic. I am a member of an endangered species