Katarína Zagorski

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 Dance

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.

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.

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.

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