On July 11, 2024, a project dedicated to contemporary dance opens at NAMU. Often, when people think of dance, they imagine something quite poetic, with arabesques and pirouettes. But this notion is very different from the powerful form of resistance shown by the Ukrainian dance community today. NAMU continues to exhibit new types and forms of contemporary art in its halls and explores ways to musealize them.

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In this multimedia exhibition, visitors will be able to see modern dance as a powerful artistic medium operating in Ukraine during the war in the most unusual and unexpected way. The project is the culmination of two trips to Ukraine (Lviv and Kyiv) by two photographers from the UK, Maria Falconer and Paul Gil, in collaboration with Viktor Ruban (as co-curator, co-producer and artist), sound artist Grigory Semenchuk and a group of Ukrainian contemporary dance artists Author: Alla Shlyakhova, Kristina Shishkareva, Larisa Venediktova, Lyudmila Mova, Maria Salo, Nikita Kravchenko, Svetlana Oleksiuk, Taisiya Timofeeva and Kristina-Maria Slobodianyuk.

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Contemporary dance artists — project participants were asked to answer the question “How to dance in a war zone?” not words, but body language and movements. Each of the locations involved was chosen by the artists to match their own experience of experiencing the Russian invasion. The soundtrack consists of audio recordings of the invasion, including real sounds from trenches, gunfire, drones, missiles, sirens and tanks. These clear, performative gestures of the artists offer expressive experiences that allow us to form an idea of dance much broader than pirouettes and arabesques, expanding the understanding of dance and taking its meaning and mission to a completely different level.

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The project was implemented by: Maria Falkoner, Professor Paul Gil and Victor Ruban (BO of IBF “Impulse Transformation Platform” and Ruban production ITP).

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In Ukraine, the project will be presented in two locations: July 11 — August 17, 2024 at the National Art Museum of Ukraine (Kyiv), September 7 — October 12, 2024 at the Palace of Culture named after him. Hnata Khotkevych (Lviv).

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The project will be available for viewing in the halls of the National Art Museum of Ukraine at the address: Kyiv, str. M. Hrushevskogo, 6 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 18:00. Cost: full ticket — 150 UAH, preferential (schoolchildren, students, pensioners) — 100 UAH, for military admission is free.

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Multimedia project “Dance in a war zone?” is accompanied by a parallel program of events.

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With the support and cooperation of: National Art Museum of Ukraine, National Museum of Khanenko, Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Center (Kyiv, Ukraine), Palace of Culture named after Gnat Hotkevych, Lesia Ukrainka Lviv Municipal Theatre, Denis Barabanz Sound Archive (Lviv, Ukraine), Royal Photographic Society, Stills Gallery (London, UK), Assembly festival Edinburgh, National Dance Centre of Scotland Dance Base (Edinburgh, UK).

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Opening of the project on July 11 (Thursday) at 18:30, admission is free by prior registration.

The project will run from July 11 to August 17, the exposition is available every Thursday, Friday and every Saturday from 12:00 to 18:00.

Cost: full ticket — 150 UAH, preferential (schoolchildren, students, pensioners) — 100 UAH, for military admission is free.

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