Quake
15. June 2024
Premiéra 25.10. 2024

Po víťazstve (It all started with a winner)

The multidisciplinary project Po víťazstve (It All Started with a Winner) raises questions of understanding and dialogue in an increasingly divided society. Through culture as a tool for reconnection, the project aims to process a difficult past. The project creates a space for conversations about justice, coexistence and the search for a path to peace.

The work explores the phenomenon of insurgency in the context of contemporary society. It consists of three layers: communication, education and performance. Central to the project is choreography that explores the relationship between looping and history through physical symbols and non-traditional visual elements. The work challenges stereotypes and highlights issues of race, gender and social background.

This international collaboration aims to abstract the universal nature of rebellion across cultures and historical contexts. The focus is on the achievement of peace as the ultimate goal of any uprising, presented through an artwork that combines historical and creative interpretations. The result will be a multi-disciplinary, theatrical, educational and communication project integrating dance, voice, text, object work, video installations and soundscapes.

The team consists of Divadlo Štúdio tanca, Cuban choreographer Judith Sánchez Ruíz, Costa Rican artist Gustavo Monge and other Slovak and international collaborators. This partnership offers different cultural perspectives, bringing together past and present to create a work that advocates for peace and understanding. The project aims to promote a culture of peace through the arts and to engage audiences in dialogue and action.

Lenght of the performance: 70 minutes Tour of the museography: approx. 30 minutes Suitable for children 10 and up

The author of the project concept is Zebastián Méndez Marín. The project offers a three-layered structure: performance, museography and communication. 

Performance // Uprising

Invited by Divadlo Štúdio tanca as an independent black artist, Judith Sánchez Ruíz brings to Po víťazstve (It all started with a winner) a powerful interdisciplinary work about the Slovak National Uprising that delves deeply into themes of identity, gender roles, and power dynamics in contemporary society. 

The work challenges entrenched notions of masculinity and patriarchy. It addresses women’s rights and their roles within contemporary gender dynamics. Culture oriented on the winner and the exaltation of male power function here as a critique of social structures and dynamics of competition and domination. Visual and performative elements such as loops and recurring motifs symbolize the cyclical nature of history and its constant impact on both the present and the future.

The characters are brought to life through the high quality interpretation and technical prowess of the international artistic ensemble of Divadlo Štúdio tanca, making the work even stronger on the theme of diversity and tolerance. This exceptional production invites the audience into a dialogue about social norms, religion and dogma.

Museography // Memory

The project opens a dialogue about peace in a world where this topic is more important than ever. It therefore includes a museography created by Gustavo Monge. The exhibition invites visitors to an interactive and meaningful encounter with the main ideas of the work. The concept of the museography was created as a reflection of the Slovak National Uprising, which represents a path to peace, and is the result of an international collaboration of artists. It is a tribute to the resilience of the Slovak nation and invites visitors to reflect on the meaning of peace and justice in the contemporary world.

Communication // Peace

The communication layer of Po víťazstve (It all started with a winner), developed by Veronika Chrienová (Divadlo Štúdio tanca), aims to extend the reach of the project and strengthen the relationship with the audience. We posed questions about justice and peace on social media to encourage reflection and audience engagement. This approach connects thought-provoking themes with concrete actions, creating a space for active discussion about peace, justice and our survival.

The project also includes Classium, an online game developed in collaboration with enthusiasts and professionals from Redlair Studio based on game theory.

Judith Sánchez Ruíz is a Cuban choreographer and performer with extensive experience in New York and Europe. She uses an interdisciplinary approach and improvisation in her work. Her works challenge stereotypes and promote community dialogue through art.

Gustavo Monge, a Costa Rican artist and director, is known for his innovative approach that combines performance art, museum work and communication. His work is socially engaged and linked to cultural dialogues.

David Javorský is a Slovak visual artist and musician. He works in music and scenography, his work combines painting, drawing, graphic techniques and animation. He combines different media to create visual and sound works that bring a new perspective on contemporary art.

Artistic team

Performance

Concept, choreography, direction, scenography / Judith Sánchez Ruíz
Animations, visual arts and music / David Javorský
Assistance and costume making / Barbora Hrmová
Costume making / Martina Kubalová, Michaela Urbanová
Light design / Ján Čief
Performers / Martina Hájková, Ľubomír Kútnik, Lenka Mičincová, Cindy Ng, Jack Strömberg, Jason Yap
Sound / Matej Urban
Construction of the podium / Ľubomír Kútnik

This piece has been created  in collaboration with the entire team of company performers and collaborators.

Museography

Museography and concept / Gustavo Monge
Construction design / Iván Costa
Assistance and construction / Martin Szolnoky
Production / Ema Angušová

Project team

Concept / Zebastián Méndez Marín
Communication strategy / Veronika Chrienová
Project manager / Alexandra Mireková
Graphic design / Tereza Maco

Po víťazstve (It all started with a winner) - trailer

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With support: Goethe Institut, Internationaler Koproduktionsfonds
S finančnou podporou Banskobystrického samosprávneho kraja
Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council

Divadlo Štúdio tanca

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