25th Czech Dance Platform
1. – 4. 4. 2019
After 25 years, we could look back briefly to reflect on the huge and rapid development of professional contemporary dance in the Czech Republic. The Platform supported its first tentative steps and has continued to look after it well into its maturity. Program of the 25th edition convinced us that it is in great shape!
Over less than four days, we looked forward to almost 120 guests from all over the world, together watched 12 of the most interesting domestic productions and participated in a varied accompanying program: expert discussions (Choreographic Forum, Brunch & Discussion – Meet the Artists) and walks led by the artists themselves (Artist trips). The festival culminated with the closing ceremony and the Czech Dance Platform Awards. Compared to previous years, the new award format emphasized reflection on the field over competition. The jury was able to appreciate the individual and the work in their complexity and give a detailed explanation of its decision.
Czech Dance Platform Awards, Special Recognition and Special Mention:
Markéta Stránská – FLY!
Special Recognition by the jury for the “extraordinary energy with which she embodied her role and the redefinition of beauty and excellence in contemporary dance that her work undoubtedly brings.”
Tereza Hradilková – Don’t Stop
Special Recognition. “The result of intense movement research in this case is the performer’s extraordinary stage energy, as well as the intimate and no less fascinating atmosphere.”
tYhle – Medúza
Special Mention for “great teamwork and an inventive creative process that helped to develop a very demanding concept. Our thanks go to the courage to take risks, as well as artistic integrity and a creative approach to scenography.”
Karine Ponties – SAME SAME
Special Recognition by the jury, which was impressed by the “the humour and complexity of the approach, as well as the strong individuality of both performers.”
Tereza Ondrová (SAME SAME)
The Czech Dance Platform Award for Best Dance Performance for “an impressive rendition of the role with all its shades, embodied movement erudition, high quality movement performance and, last but not least, generosity and openness to the audience, both on the part of the performer and the work itself.”
Viktor Černický – PLI
Czech Dance Platform Award for “original choreographic approach and exceptional performance quality of PLI. As a representative of the emerging choreographic and dance generation, Černický was able to build a brilliant movement performance, a scenic metaphor of human obsession, and to reach heavenly heights using only simple everyday objects.”
Dramaturgical Council
- Lucie Hayashi – founder and editor of the Czech dance news magazine Taneční aktuality, secretary of the Dance Department of HAMU, dedicated to the role of dance in society
- Lucia Kašiarová – director of the non-profit organization ALT@RT, founder of the Studio ALTA cultural centre and the HAYBAJ HO festival of Slovak contemporary dance, artist
- Yvona Kreuzmannová – founder and director of Tanec Praha (shares a joint vote with Markéta Perroud in the Programming Council)
- Pierre Nadaud – head of the Physical Theatre Atelier at DIFA JAMU, philosopher, clown, dancer, choreographer-director and teacher
- Markéta Perroud – artistic co-director of Tanec Praha (shares a joint vote with Yvona Kreuzmannová in the Programming Council)
- Nina Vangeli – dance publicist
International Jury
- Roberto Casarotto (IT), Centro per la Scena Contemporanea di Bassano del Grappa (CSC) and Operaestate Festival Veneto, director for dance projects
- Dieter Jaenicke (DE), international tanzmesse nrw, director
- Linda Kapetanea (GR), Kalamata International Dance Festival, artistic director
- Elena Slobodchikova (RU) – Centre of Contemporary Dance Krasnoyarsk, teacher, choreographer, artistic director
- Sven Till (DE), Fabrik Potsdam, artistic co-director
The international festival jury also included all the members of the Programming Council.
