L1danceFest 2021 – 20 years! The LAST CONCERT

Movement-based International Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts

20th annual edition organized by L1 Association in Budapest

September 1 – 5 2021

September 1. 2021 Wednesday

Bakelit Multi Art Center

20.00 Teatr A Part / Marcin Herich (PL): The Rite of Spring

In the frame of the Connecting V4 ART-IN-RES program and part of  Be SpectACTIVE! Project, selected by the ‘active spectators of Bakelit MAC’.

Script/direction: Marcin Herich

Stage moving, choreography: Marcin Herich and Marlena Niestrój

Acting: Marlena Niestrój

Music: fragments of works by Jean-Michel Blais, Gavin Bryars, Group 180, David Lang, Alexandre Lansqui, Daniel Lentz, Merzbow, Phill Niblock, Arvo Pärt, Jochen Vogel

Production: Theatre Association A Part and Paris Foundation in Katowice


Supported by International Visegrad Fund (IVF), Creative Europe Program, Be SpectACTIVE! Project, NKA, EMMI

In ancient Rome, in the periods of danger or deprivation, at the dawn of spring, human fetuses were devoted to the gods in order to propitiate them (ver sacrum).

The echo of cruel  sacrifices of people (women) by the ancient Slavs is today’s “melting Marzanna” – which was once part of the pagan Rite of Jare. By this way it was supposed to be annihilated a female demon symbolizing the winter and death.

The famous ballet of Diaghilev and Stravinsky “The Rite of Spring”, a provocative masterpiece of the avant-garde, which the Paris premiere in 1913 is considered by many to be the beginning of the New Art era (and a perverse announcement of the apocalypse of both Great Wars), refers directly to Slavic sacrificial rituals. The community in an orgiastic madness sacrifices a young woman on the altar of change: regenerating after the winter “death” of nature.

The connection between the figure of the “scapegoat” and spring is the cornerstone of naive culture and almost all religions and myths, including Christian religion, which is drawn from the repertory of the predecessors. The death of the mythical Jesus “for our sins” and his resurrection aimed at giving us a hope for “eternal life” (sic!) takes place in the spring, of course.

The “Rite of Spring” by the Teatr A Part has the most temporal, physical, corporal and human dimension. The spectacle combines personal themes that were at the base of work on the performance, with references and motifs of a universal character. It is a performance about overcoming grief after losing, after many  losses, about moments of solstice and passage, about anger, about the process of rebirth and gaining strength. About the cycle of nature and the nature of the cycle that each of us is or will be a part of. About winters and springs, which we experience in our lives only a few dozen, and which are the most obvious metaphor of human fate.

Main organizer: L1 Association

Artistic director, curator: Márta Ladjánszki (L1-member)

Host: Zsolt Varga (L1-member)

Moderator of discussions: Márta Ladjánszki (L1-member)

Translation: Zsolt Varga (L1-member)

Co-organizers of the programs at the countryside: Márton Bauer (Dörgicse), István Kovács (Monor/Csévharaszt), Mária Nagy/Rózsa Markács (Délegyháza)

Video, photo documentation: István Kovács (L1-member), Balázs Lajti

Design: Anna Korolovszky

Main supporters: L1 Association, Ministry of Human Capacities (EMMI), National Cultural Fund (NKA)

Hosting/cooperation venues/partners:

Bakelit M. A. C., MAMŰ Gallery, ‘Egy Falu – Egy Város’ Association, Naturist Camping Oázis

Further supporters of the projects:

Artemisszió Intercultural Foundation, Be SpectACTive!, Creative Europe Programme, ZéróPlus Dance Studio, SkhyzoKhyno Studio, Fészek Fotó Stúdió, „Köszönjük, Magyarország!” program, International Visegrad Fund, National Cultural Fund of Hungary Imre Zoltán Program Ideiglenes Kollégium, NaVKE, Trans Europe Halles (TEH)

Media partners: CHB – Collegium Hungaricum Berlin, szinhaz.online, Táncművészet

The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the program.

More information: L1danceFest web-site / L1danceFest FB-site / L1 Association FB-site