Holektiv selected for international project Roundabout Europe

Letkyně. Foto: Dita Havránková.

This year marks the 2^nd edition of Roundabout Europe. The aim of this project is to create a network of residencies and festivals for outdoor art, to transform street art into a highly respected art form, provide access to new audiences and lead creators to economically effective work, without letting them lose their artistic values. To create the initiative, directors of prominent festivals of outdoor art have joined forces, such as the heads of the Spoffin festival (Netherlands), Passage festival (Denmark). Out There festival (Great Britain). KoresponDance (Czech Republic) and the Imaginarius festival (Portugal).

For the selected group of artists, the project will arrange two artist residencies in two different European countries. They will be given the opportunity to present their work, hire an artistic coach and get in touch with the local audiences. The companies will also be allowed to perform at the partner festivals.

The Holektiv company, fusing theatre techniques, contemporary dance and contemporary circus, impressed the jury with their choreography Letkyně (The Aviator). It was inspired by the life of the first Czech female aviator Božena Laglerová. The creators were fascinated by her life story, her shift from unsuccessful opera career to aviation (only to outshine the object of her unrequited love), but also by the period in which she lived and worked, and the fragility of the first aircraft. The three members of Holektiv, Eva Stará, Andrea Vykysalá and Karolína Křížková, will present the results of their work in residencies at the Spoffin and Out There festivals.

Other projects selected by the jury include the Spanish duo Gracie & Cristian with their project Fling, Third Hand Grouep from Slovenia and their The Boat, TwoMuch company with Get Ready (Great Britain), and Etta Ermini Dance Theatre with the performance durde comprenure (Great Britain).

Sources: Roundabout Europe, Holektiv