Description
This project aims to enhance cultural dialogue and strengthen European identity by highlighting the topic of people in extreme situations and the vulnerability of an individual. The project Sniper’s Lake is a Czech-Norwegian collaboration project, where major performing art organizations from the Czech Republic (Spitfire Compani) and Norway (Baerum Kulturhus, performing arts center & regional center for dance) co-produce a new performance. The cast will include 3 Czech and 2 Norwegian dancers, and the performance will be created during several periods in the Czech Republic and in Norway. The main topic of performance Sniper’s Lake is refugees. Thus, the dominating part of the choreography will be the running. Different modes of running will serve as carriers of the choreography. The dancers will not stop throughout the whole performance. Important chapter is the musical production, which will be created on the rhythmical background of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. However, only the symbolism of the swan, representing vulnerable and uprooted beings similar to refugees will be preserved, the original romantic conception will be completely deconstructed. On their way to the premiere and staging of the performance both in the Czech Republic (a premiere and 13 reprises) and Norway (a premiere and 4 reprises) , the partners went through the 3 workshops, 3 residencies, 2 open rehearsals for local dance community and several additional meetings and a meeting with refugees. The project supports the entire creation of the performance including the dramaturgy, choreography, scenography and the music. The newly created performance will resemble the effect of direct influencing of experience between partners´ organizations.
Summary of project results
The project was aimed at enhancing cultural dialogue and strengthening European identity by highlighting the topic of people in extreme situations and the vulnerability of an individual. The scope of the project was to study and implement new performance of Czech group Spitfire Company called "Sniper's Lake" coinciding with the theme of refugees. The project was based on Czech and Norwegian partnership. In the beginning residencies in Prague, Pilsen, Jihlava and Bærum Kulturhus, meetings and recording conversations with refugees in the Czech Republic and Norway and workshops with Norwegian choreographer took place. The performance Sniper´s Lake was presented at the premiere in Bærum Kulturhus in March 2015. The Norwegian touring included 4 more reprises in Moss and Stavanger. The premiere in Prague took place in April 2015 with 13 more reprises in the Czech Republic. In addition to performances several workshops were realized (People in Extreme Situation/Bærum Kulturhus, People in Extreme Situation/Prague, workshop with refugees in the detention center in Drahonice and work-in-progress). Given that there were 20 public presentation of performances in total (including work-in-progress) not only in the capital city of Prague (whose theater menu is very diverse) but also in regions of the country and in the Norwegian cities (Sandvika, Moss and Stavanger) - Sniper's Lake has become in many places an event that dramatically revived cultural and social activities in the region. The project was chosen by professional jury as one of the most important works on the Czech dance scene in 2015 and was presented at the Czech Dance Platform 2016.
Summary of bilateral results
The project partner from donor state was the Norwegian organization Bærum Kulturhus which is a major art centre situated in Sandvika outside of Oslo. The partner participated in the project implementation from the very beginning. Kulturhus organized the final residency for Czech artists that took place in March 2015 and was followed by the premiere of the Sniper´s lake performance on 25th March 2015. Within the residency in Baerum Kulturhus, meetings with refugees, Baerum workshop with the Norwegien choreographer and People in Extreme Situations workshop were realized. Partner has also participated in production preparations for the Norwegian touring in Moss and Stavanger in September and October 2015. As part of the planned project activities 1 meeting of partners in Prague was held and 1 meeting of partners in Norway. Bærum Kulturhus also helped with cash flow of the project and publicity in Norway. Further cooperation is planned after the project's completion in years 2018 and 2019.