Katarína Zagorski

I am interested in physicality and in any form it can take for its delivery, be it dance, choreography, performance art, sound or a text… I believe in what body communicates and I am curious to explore what channel can be built to stream this communication.

I think of body expression as the most primal, most present and most urgent one

Manifesto 2006, Ireland

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Dark Grotesque (Tear His Head Off) with the legendary Bez ladu a skladu at Pohoda Festival 2025

The pupils of Talentina Primary Art School will perform “Dark Grotesque (Tear His Head Off)” as part of the concert of Bez ladu a skladu band on Saturday the 12th of July at 4:30 pm at Pohoda Festival 2025.

Parsifal's Procession Welcoming Spring

The sunflower’s crossing through the square at the Concert for Ukraine - Koncert pre Ukrajinu 2025

The sunflower’s crossing through the square / Slnečnicový prechod námestím (2025)

Concept and performance: Katarína Zagorski      Performed on the 16th March 2025 at 6:45PM at the Main Square, Bratislava as part of the “Concert for Ukraine” (orig. Koncert pre Ukrajinu) organized by Pohoda Festival      Duration: 15 min

This sunflower would rather grow in the field, but for some reason it is on a journey and will cross the square.

“I appreciate everyone who comes to the Concert for Ukraine, whether they’re on stage or in the crowd. More than ever, it’s important to show that people in Slovakia can distinguish between the victim and the aggressor, and that helping those in need is a fundamental act of humanity. I hope we will see a great turnout at the square,” says Michal Kaščák, Pohoda Festival CEO and the organizer of the event.

Full programme: https://www.pohodafestival.sk/en/news/concert-for-ukraine-with-a-powerful-programme-this-sunday-in-bratislava

Dark Grotesque (Tear His Head Off) + (SKY) Walking in the Clouds at the Concert for those who noticed - Koncert pre všímavých 2024

(SKY) Walking in the Clouds

Film Credits

Concept: Katarína Zagorski      Performers: Martin Kollár, Andrej Šoltés and Kata Zagorski      Music: Pigúra      Film: Liza Nedayvoda      Thanks to the band Pigúra for permission to use the track Intro from their first demo and to the Pohoda Festival visitors 2024      Produced by Katarína Zagorski and Michal Kaščák/Pohoda Festival 2024

news from the island

news from the island / správy z ostrova (2024)

Choreography and performance by Katarína Zagorski      Music by The Jimmy Cake      Produced by Katarína Zagorski and Stoka Theatre      Duration: 40 min

Somewhere between dance and performance art, between the northern and the southern poles, this piece is about what happened on the island. Foggy Dawn   Easy Sunshine   Sudden Storm   Long Rain   Rainbow

The performance news from the island by Katarína Zagorski premiered in 2011 in Limerick, Ireland. Its first part Foggy Dawn was performed as part of a charity event organized by Pohoda Festival and Depaul Slovakia Doma Dobre 2021.

Thanks to

Blaho Uhlár/Divadlo STOKA & Michal Kaščák/Festival Pohoda

Special Thanks to

Dara Thomas Higgins/The Jimmy Cake for permission to use the tracks Red Tony, The Day The Arms That Came Out Of The Wall, Haunted Candle, The Art Of Wrecking and Hugs For Buddy from the album Spectre & Crown

BE A SUNFLOWER

BE A SUNFLOWER / BUĎ SLNEČNICA (2023)

In the area of Pohoda Festival where there used to be real sunflowers we had 7 sunflower costumes. On Friday July 7th from 2pm-3pm and during the Welcoming the Sun on Sunday July 9th from 5am-6am, you could put on these costumes there and make sunflowers live through dance.

Concept by Katarína Zagorski for Pohoda Festival 2023.

T-Shirt and Jeans

Parsifal's Procession as part of Slovenská Tepláreň

The Slovak art scene is reacting to the terrorist act in which Matúš Horváth and Juraj Vankulič were murdered in a hate crime outside the LGBTI+ bar Tepláreň in Bratislava city center in October 2022. Hundreds of performers and bands came together in clubs, theatres and spaces all over Slovakia in the middle of November as part of the Slovenská Tepláreň event. The goal of the joint initiative of the Pohoda Festival, Roman Samotný from Tepláreň bar, and other partners is to express solidarity with the bereaved and show support for the LGBTI+ community through concerts and acts dedicated to Matúš and Juraj.

The statement of the initiative can be found below, as well as at www.slovenskateplaren.sk. Here you can also find additional information: a map of events, a concert calendar, or an updated list of participating clubs and performers.

“We want to express our solidarity with the families and loved ones of Matúš and Juraj, who were murdered in a hate crime in Bratislava’s Tepláreň bar.

We want to express our respect and esteem to those who made Tepláreň a welcoming place where free people can meet. 

We want to express our support for the LGBTI+ community.

We want Slovakia to be a country where everyone can feel safe and where minorities are accepted with respect as a natural part of society.

We want to see legislation changed to ensure a dignified and full-fledged life for all people in Slovakia, including the LGBTI+ community.

We want to walk the path of non-violence, togetherness, and tolerance, and that is why we are organizing the Slovenská Tepláreň festival.”

Parsifal’s Procession / Parsifalova procesia (2022)

Parsifal’s Procession by Katarína Zagorski as part of Slovenská Tepláreň went from Zámocká Street through the streets of Bratislava’s Old Town and back to the Tepláreň Bar at Zámocká Street in Bratislava on Sunday 27th November 2022 from 2pm-3:30pm.

Concept by Katarína Zagorski      Performed by Samuel Kmotorka, Adam Druga, Greta Grega and Katarína Zagorski      Bride’s Dress by Jana Kuzmová      Graphic Design by Tereza Maco/Pohoda Festival      Produced by Katarína Zagorski and Michal Kaščák/Pohoda Festival 2022

Parsifal’s Procession was created in Limerick in 2005 as Part III of the Parsifal Project by Katarína Zagorski commissioned by Framemakers Symposium, and revived in 2022 for Pohoda Festival.

Parsifal's Procession/Kilometre Dance in Parsifal's Dance

Parsifal’s Procession / Kilometre Dance (2022)

Captured in Parsifal’s Dance by Liza Nedayvoda (2022)

Concept by Katarína Zagorski      Performed by Radoslav Piovarči, Tibor Trulik, Samuel Kmotorka, Adam Druga, Greta Grega and Katarína Zagorski      Bride’s Dress by Jana Kuzmová      Graphic Design by Tereza Maco/Festival Pohoda      Cinematography, Editing and Directed by Liza Nedayvoda      Produced by Katarína Zagorski and Michal Kaščák/Pohoda Festival 2022

Cows can’t give milk and the king is paralysed…

You can find out in Parsifal’s Dance how the festival visitors saved the kingdom, and what a bride, a beer, and a grail has to do with it.
Watch this short film, directed by Liza Nedayvoda, which captured the project Parsifal’s Procession/Kilometre Dance by Katarína Zagorski at Pohoda Festival 2022.

The visitors didn’t know whether it was a festival wedding, an experiment, some strange sect, or a performance, and that they are the Parsifals who, based on an ancient story, can save the kingdom by simply asking a question. But they reacted, created a Parsifal’s dance, a few eloquent comments, and saved the kingdom.

Kilometre Dance at Doma Dobre 2020

Kilometre Dance at the Doma Dobre festival is performed by its author Katarína Zagorski. For this occasion she revives a character from Vank, a performance created together with dancer Eva Klimáčková, musician Oskar Rózsa and actor Csongor Kassai in 1999. Costume is by fashion designer Jana Kuzmová. Special thanks to Japanese noise music artist KK Null for permission to use excerpts from his Kosmista Noisea album. Also thanks to Dopravný podnik Bratislava (Bratislava Public Transport Provider) for help.

Caution: porcelain

Caution: porcelain / Pozor, porcelán (2020)

Concept and choreography: Katarína Zagorski      Performed by: Reona Sato & Katarína Zagorski      Music: The Jimmy Cake      Film and photography: Liza Nedayvoda      Bodypainting: Mya Javorková      Stage Manager: Matúš Bielik      Sound: Peter Junior Vrbjar      Lights: Jozef Čabo      Production: Katarína Zagorski      Produced in partnership with: Nová Cvernovka      Supported in 2018 using public funding from the Slovak Arts Council      Performed and recorded at: Nová Cvernovka, Bratislava, 18. 10. 2020      Duration: 50′

Katarína Zagorski’s performance “Caution: porcelain” combines contemporary dance, ballet, film, photography, porcelain and bubble wrap, and sets this to recordings of a cult Dublin band The Jimmy Cake. It is about a precious type of porcelain with specific attributes, lengthy production time and high demands on the environment in which it can fully display its beauty. In the performance the porcelain is Reona Sato, the soloist of the Ballet of the Slovak National Theatre.

Kilometre Dance

Kilometrový tanec / Kilometre Dance (2017)

Concept: Katarína Zagorski

Kilometre Dance at Bratislava In Movement 2017 & 2018 

Concept: Katarína Zagorski      Supervised by: Miroslava Kovářová      Production: Katarína Zagorski & Asociácia Bratislava v pohybe      Performed by: Jaro Viňarský, Ján Valík, Soňa Ferienčíková, Martina Hajdyla Lacová, Lívia Balážová MM, Radoslav Piovarči, Lukáš Bobalík      Commissioned by: International Contemporary Dance Festival Bratislava In Movement, 2017      Supported by: Slovak Arts Council      Performed and recorded at: the streets of Bratislava, 2017, 2018      Duration: 40 – 75′

“Kilometre Dance is an experimental performance in the streets of Bratislava. It tests if dancers could stretch their dance instead of the limited space of the stage, to the length of one kilometre. The audience can join in for the whole distance or just a part of it. Kilometre Dance is also a reaction to the fact that contemporary dance has no venue in Bratislava and so it moves out into the streets. It begins under the clock on the facade of the TESCO shopping mall on Kamenné námestie and ends on Hlavné námestie, bypassing several cafés, galleries, a church, a massage parlor, the Slovak National Theatre and a Lidl store. Three times it hides itself in an underpass, the pavement of the sidewalks gives way to asphalt and paving stones. Kilometre Dance will vary with each performer – a prominent figure of Slovak contemporary dance and performance. To bring them together in one event is a unique occasion and not just for me. I am really excited and looking forward to its premiere during the Bratislava in Movement festival.”       Katarína Zagorski, author of the concept

Kilometre Dance at Pohoda Festival 2018      

Concept: Katarína Zagorski      Dancers: Martina Hajdyla Lacová, Soňa Ferienčíková & Radoslav Piovarči      Performed and recorded at: Pohoda Festival 2018, Trenčín Airport, 2018      Duration: 30-70′

Kilometre Dance of author Katarína Zagorski is an experimental performance which tests if dancers, instead of working with the limited space on stage, can manage to stretch their dancing to one kilometer in an open space. In the special adaptation for Pohoda 2018, well-known figures from the Slovak contemporary dance scene will give it a try at the festival site: Martina Hajdyla Lacová, Soňa Ferienčíková and Radoslav Piovarči. Each dancer will dance a kilometer solo and then they will merge into a kilometer trio interacting with festival space

Too Close To Return

Too Close To Return / Príliš blízko na návrat (2011)

Choreography, conception and libretto adaptation: Katarína Zagorski 
      Music and original libretto: Karel von Kleist      Set and costume design: Erik Ivančík      Multimedia stage design: Machfeld (Sabine Maier | Michael Mastrototaro)      Performed by: Štúdio Tanca — Denisa Benčaťová, Lenka Rajchmanová, Lucia Horváthová, Miroslava Peterská, Tibor Trulík, Michal Štefkovič      Lighting design: Ján Čief      Sound: Miroslav Palovič      Stage: Ján Ďurica      Realization of the set and costumes: Larisa Gombárová      Photographer: Noro Knap      Graphic design and recorded by: Lukáš Matejka — Akjetam produkt      Commissioned by: Divadlo Štúdio tanca Banská Bystrica, 2011      Supported by: Österreichisches Kulturforum      Performed and recorded at: Divadlo Štúdio tanca Banská Bystrica, 2011      Duration: 53′

Too Close To Return (Príliš blízko na návrat) is based on the music and original libretto of Karel von Kleist, a Dutch composer living in Ireland. The composition is a soundscape that took him seven years to compose. The outcome was a ballet in ten scenes about the search of the soul. In the conception of Katarína Zagorski, while preserving the theme, the original libretto has been adapted for the needs of audio-visual-physical media involved and choreographed as a postmodern ballet. The term here connects the composer’s original intent with the concept of using contemporary, multimedia means and inspirations for its expression. The visual aspect consists of the set and costumes by Slovak set designer Erik Ivančík and the multimedia stage design by Austrian art duo Machfeld. The physical, bodily aspect are the six dancers of Štúdio Tanca – Denisa Benčaťová, Lenka Rajchmanová, Lucia Horváthová, Miroslava Peterská, Tibor Trulík and Michal Štefkovič. At a certain point, each of them embodies a character of a traveller… The state of transition, of being on the journey, when there is a need to decide whether to go on or to return, is the recurring motive of the performance. In the course of this journey, the media concerned mutually invade, help, influence each other. Ten scenes, six stops on a journey. No way back. Too Close To Return.

The Rite of Spring, Limerick

The Rite of Spring, Limerick / Svätenie jari v Limericku (2007)

Concept and choreography: Katarína Zagorski      Performance: Roisín Kelly-Byrne, Alanna MacNamee, Katarína Zagorski & Pascal Holper      Music: Igor Stravinsky (Le Sacre du Printemps, recording of L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet), Pascal Holper      Audio design and sound operation: Robin Parmar      Sound equipment: Jack Liddane      Drumkit transport: Damian Deegan      Camera, sound & editing: Laura Gahan, Bernardine Carroll, Laura O’Connor, Kate Moylan, Jessica Timlin & Elva Carri      Coordinator: Nigel Oxley      Graphic design: Boris Meluš      Commissioned by: Limerick City Council & The Arts Council Ireland      Supported by: Daghdha Dance Company      Performed and recorded at: The Parkway Shopping Centre, Limerick, 2007      Edited at: Limerick School of Art and Design, 2007      Duration: 35′

The Rite of Spring, Limerick is based on the original libretto and music of Le Sacre du Printemps by Igor Stravinsky that speaks of an old pagan rite in which “…the wise elders are seated in a circle and are observing the dance before death of the girl whom they are offering as a sacrifice to the god of Spring in order to gain his benevolence”. (quot.I.Stravinsky) In Katarína Zagorski’s version, the ancient rite is transformed for today and performed among the shoppers of The Parkway Shopping Centre in Limerick on the vernal equinox, the 21st of March 2007.

The Auction

The Auction / Aukcia (2005)

Concept, performance, choreography: Katarína Zagorski      Sound support: Joel Cahen      Commissioned by: Excursions Performance Art Festival 2005, Limerick, Ireland      Performed and recorded: 3.12. 2006, Nu Dance Fest, A4, Bratislava      Duration: 33′

The Auction combines dance, choreography and performance art and explores the identity of the artwork and the artist within their commercial value.

The Auction F.A.Q.:

XY: Will you now come to dance for me the extract I bought whenever I want? K.Z.: I don’t think so.                                                                                                                     XY: But I bought it!                                                                                                                         K.Z.: You didn’t buy me though.                                                                                               XY: Then how can I see it again?                                                                                          K.Z.: You cannot. But it is yours anyway.

Parsifal Project

Parsifal Project (2005)

Created by Katarína Zagorski.      Commissioned for Framemakers Symposium 2005.      Performed / installed at Daghdha Dance Company and Limerick City, 2005.

This project is named after a character from a story who is feeling restricted to ask, which, consequently, causes an extinction to the whole country. Project contains of several parts. All of them are meant to encourage a form of a curious attention through their playful character. Interaction which is hoped to follow is so an explanation, gift, an answer to a question, saviour to the extinction.

GLASSES (Parsifal Project Part I)      enigmatic installation      Idea & developed by Katarína Zagorski

FUTURE GARDEN (Parsifal Project Part II)      botanical installation      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Developed by Angie Smalis (Daghdha Dance Company)      Many thanks to Larry McCarthy & Bric-a-Brac at The Market Place, Limerick City for his kind support

PARSIFAL’S PROCESSION (Parsifal Project Part III)      procession      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Developed by Miriam Lohan, Ella Daly and Katarína Zagorski

CHOREOPOINT (Parsifal Project Part IV)      choreographic machine      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Devepoled by Brighdin Farren (Limerick School of Art & Design)

TRUE HISTORY OF YES (Parsifal Project Part V)      book creating      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Developed by Patrick Keaveney (Limerick School of Art & Design)

JOKE (Parsifal Project Part VI)      installation & relaxation      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Developed by Aine O’Dwyer (Limerick School of Art & Design)

STORY LANE (Parsifal Project Part VII)      mysterious fairy-tale trip for children and adults      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Developed by Ella Daly and Aisling Conlon (Limerick Youth  Theatre)

CHURCH MARKET (Parsifal Project Part VIII) spiritual-commercial station      Idea by Katarína Zagorski      Developed by Rebecca Egeling

Dragon

Dragon / Drak (2005)

Choreography and performance: Katarína Zagorski     Sound composition: Padraig “Pedro The Fox” Dennison      Supervision: Michael Klien & Davide Terlingo      Lighting design: Dave Guy      Sound composition includes excerpts from: Nina Simone, Freeform Foundation & Marx Brothers’ “Day At The Races”      The performance includes text excerpts from: Revelations 12 : 9, Daniel 7 : 3 – 4, Madonna “Like A Virgin” & Michael Jackson “Thriller”      Created as a final project for: Daghdha Mentoring Programme on Dance and Choreography      Supported by: Daghdha Dance Company       Performed and recorded at: Daghdha Space, Limerick, 2005      Duration: 50′

With Paolo Ucello’s painting as a starting point and inspired by the definition of vaudville, this piece unfolds the performer’s relationship with the Dragon.

Body Control

Body Control (2004)

Concept and performance: Katarína Zagorski & Daniel Aschwanden      Created as part of the project: Borders — a duty free fiction, organized by Bratislava In Movement Association and Tanzquartier Wien      Performed and recorded at: Medium Gallery Bratislava, 2004      Duration: 10′

Prayer of a Shaman Girl

Prayer of a Shaman Girl / Modlitba šamanského divčaťa (2004)

Choreography and performance: Katarína Zagorski      Music: Sam Alty
      Lighting design and sound: Anton Kuttner
      Created as a study for the future project of The Rite of Spring.      Supported by: Stoka Theatre, Bratislava       Performed and recorded at: International Contemporary Dance Festival Bratislava In Movement, Stoka Theatre, Bratislava, 2004       Duration: 12′

Really I began the day
                                                                                                                     Not with a man’s wish: „May this day be different,”                                                         But the bird’s wish: „May this day
                                                                                             Be the same day, the day of my life.”
                                                                                                                                                                      Randall Jarrell

Mirákulos

Mirákulos (2004)

Choreography: Katarína Zagorski      Music: Sam Alty      Set and costume design: Eva Rácová
      Lighting design: Ján Čief      Performed by: Štúdio tanca – Zdenka Svíteková, Veronika Koprnová, Lenka Vokurková, Ondřej Vidlář
, Tomáš Nepšinský      Commissioned by: Štúdio tanca Banská Bystrica, 2004      Supported by: The British Council Slovakia      Performed and recorded at: Bratislava In Movement International Contemporary Dance Festival, Aréna Theatre, Bratislava, 2004      Duration: 35′

Fate is bored. She wants to have some fun and therefore she sends the Boy on a Journey. She then sends Temptation to meet him on his path. The Boy gives in to Temptation, and wanders off his path. Then the Judge appears daring the Boy to a game. But the Boy loses the game and his path. However, victory ruins the Judge and Temptation. The Boy gains his path back, which leads him to Fate.

Kryk

Kryk (2002)

Choreography and dance: Katarína Zagorski 
      Music: She’s Gonna Blow Your House Down & She’s a Mistery To Me (unofficial recording of U2)        Costume design: Jana Kuzmová      Lighting design: Anton Kuttner
      Sound: Anita Meislingerová      Supported by: Community Foundation Bratislava, Stoka Theatre     Performed and recorded at: Bratislava In Movement International Contemporary Dance Festival, Stoka Theatre, Bratislava, 2002      Duration: 17′

„Two creatures of the unknown go on a pilgrimage with their guide and protector to find a human being — the man of the masses. ” Vank

That was before another step into the same river.

Zluftu

Vank

Vank (1999)

Choreography: Katarína Zagorski, Eva Klimáčková
      Music: Oskar Rózsa Kostýmy      Costume design: Jana Kuzmová      Realization of the set and props: Igor Majkút      Performance: Eva Klimáčková, Katarína Zagorski, Oskar Rózsa, Csongor Kassai      Supported by: Soros Centre of Contemporary Art Bratislava & Open Society Fund Bratislava, Pro Helvetia      Performed and recorded at: Aréna Theatre, Stoka Theatre, Bratislava, 1999, 2000      Duration: 55′

„Two creatures of the unknown go on a pilgrimage with their guide and protector to find a human being — the man of the masses.” Vank

Vank is sometimes unbearable.

Jeren

Jeren (1999)

Choreography: Katarína Zagorski      Music collage includes: Jimmi Hendrix, Seal, Passengers, Frank Sinatra, George Michael, Ali Ibn Rachid, U2 & TV Markíza      Sound: Anita Meisligerová      Audio mixing: Ján Ravasz      Lighting design: Juraj Lech      Set and costume design: Lucia Simonyiová, Oľga Dlouhá, Katarína Zagorski      Dance: Jana Mrázová, Eva Klimáčková, Katarína Zagorski, Juraj Korec & Trot-tel      Supported by: Ateliér Dvorana, Bratislava, Slovakia      Performed and recorded at: Dvorana HTF VŠMU, Bratislava, 1999      Duration: 37‘

„Feifei, called also bear-man, lives in mountainous part of West Šu (nowadays part of province S’-čchuan). He also lives on the mountain Ji in the district of Ša. He measures one čang (3,1 m). The folks also call him šan-daven (a man as big as a mountain), jeren or šan-sio. When he encounters a man, first he gives a laugh, then he kills. Subsequently, he eats him.“                                                      Li Š‘- čen