Inspired by the Arab Spring and the World Recession, Ballet of Revolt by Leja Jurišić and Petra Veber uses the Anti-Workers Manifesto and the music of George Antheil in order to interrogate the possibility of uprising in today's Western societies. Ballet of Revolt premiered to a critical acclaim at the Tanzquartier Wien in Austria.
© Nada Žgank
Jurišić is the first of her dance generation, who is weaving the theme of revolution into choreography, and she does this in a provocatively modernistic manner for our late postmodern times. — Helmut Ploebst, Der Standard, Austria 2012
A terrific Slovenian piece ... a frenetic dance coupled with a critical discourse on the very idea of a single Europe. — Rodolfo Obregón, Teatromexicano.com.mx, Mexico 2015
Like a mechanic doll Leja Jurišic moves to the jarring music of the legendary Ballet Mécanique by George Antheil, dancing her way across a map of Europe made out of banknotes.
Simultaneously praising and ironizing the strength and possibility of revolt by re-reading Jonas Mekas’ radical Anti-Workers Manifesto, this not-mere-choreography emanates the power that is a reflection on the potentiality of activating more than just one’s aesthetic receptors when attending a choreographic performance.
This piece contains an intensity which convincingly brings to the point the growing anger of the young generation, whose future is being gambled with at the stockmarket casinos of financial speculation.
“You worker’s don’t care about what you do as long as you’re paid!” screams Leja Jurišić at the top of her lungs, while German chancellor, Merkel, rides the black bull into the sunset.
CREDITS
Created by Leja Jurišić & Petra Veber
Performed by Leja Jurišić
Scenography, Light Design & Costumes by Petra Veber
Music: George Antheil’s Ballet Mécanique (1924): Recreated and Conducted by
Maurice Peress, Nimbus Records (1992)
Producer: Žiga Predan
Produced by Pekinpah
Coproduced by Tanzquartier Wien, Hellerau Dresden, Dansens Hus Stockholm & Kino Šiška Ljubljana
Premiere: 1 June 2012, Tanzquartier Wien, Vienna, Austria
SELECTED DATES
1 June 2012 Tanzquartier Wien, Austra
2 June 2012 Tanzquartier Wien, Austria
20 November 2012 Kino Šiška, Ljubljana, Slovenija
23 May 2014 FCTAI Festival, Zacatecas, Mexico
