In May 2017, the Krakow Choreographic Centre – Nowa Huta Cultural Centre joined the pilot edition of the Polish Dance Network, which was inaugurated in Lublin during the 21st International Dance Theatre Meetings festival.
The Polish Dance Network was a formalized framework for cooperation between centers supporting the art of dance in Poland. The network fostered the circulation of domestic productions and artistic exchange across the country. Its openness to both institutional theatres and independent artists created opportunities to present Polish dance art in all its rich diversity.
The first, pilot year of the Polish Dance Network was formed by: the Centre for Culture in Lublin and the Lublin Dance Theatre; the Andrzej Meżerycki Centre for Culture and Art in Siedlce and the Caro Dance Theatre; Art Stations Foundation by Stary Browar – New Dance in Poznań; the Kielce Dance Theatre; ROZBARK Theatre in Bytom; the Regional Centre of Borderland Cultures in Krosno; the Institute of Music and Dance in Warsaw; and the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre – Krakow Choreographic Centre.
Goals of the Network:
- to create conditions for the nationwide presentation of performances created by institutional ensembles and independent artists
- to consolidate the dance community through exchange between centers representing diverse artistic aesthetics
- to establish the “Polish Dance Network” brand and promote productions presented within its framework
- to enable more efficient use of financial resources allocated to dance
For the Krakow Choreographic Centre – Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, joining the network involved the regular presentation of performances proposed by partner institutions within the spaces of the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, as well as the opportunity to present its own productions. Cooperation between centres promoting and organizing contemporary dance in Poland had the potential to grow stronger, to have a tangible impact on increasing the number of performances presented, to support the process of building dance audiences, and to diversify the repertoire on offer.
The establishment of the Polish Dance Network was one of the ten postulates formulated after the Dance Congress in 2011. By including the creation of a network of choreographic centres among these postulates, the dance community indicated that it was one of the most important and urgent steps that dance organizers should address in the near future. After six years, it became possible to initiate such an initiative from the ground up, following numerous discussions with potential partners. The initiator and organizer of the network was Maciej Kuźmiński—a choreographer, dancer, and Artistic Director of the Caro Dance Theatre.
On our stage during PST 2018, the following performances were presented:
- Poza Horyzont and Stymulacja Ciała – Kielecki Teatr Tańca;
- TOTAL by Paweł Sakowicz;
- Śmierć. Ćwiczenia i wariacje by Renata Piotrowska;
- Historie, których nigdy nie opowiedzieliśmy – Lubelski Teatr Tańca;
- Fast Food Foot – Teatr Tańca i Ruchu ROZBARK.
As part of the PST 2018, the Krakow Choreographic Centre presented the performance Płaczki by Grupa Wokół Centrum on several stages.
Performances presented at the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre – Krakow Choreographic Centre as part of PST 2019:
- We_selle – Wojciech Mochniej;
- fascynat odśrodkowy_dwatrzycztery – Anna Piotrowska;
- Mute – Janusz Orlik;
- Rozkosz – Teatr ROZBARK;
- ONE – Durski, Kania, Stanek, Ustowska.
In 2019, the Krakow Choreographic Centre submitted the performance Dobre Wychowanie, choreographed by Agata Moląg, to the network’s programme.
Performances presented at the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre as part of the Polish Dance Network in 2020–2021:
- If/Then – Lubelski Teatr Tańca;
- Manhattan – Daniela Komędera-Miśkiewicz, Dominika Wiak;
- Fabula Rasa – Polski Teatr Tańca;
- Fearless – Małgorzata Mielech;
- Real Love, choreographed by Daniela Abreau, – Teatr Tańca Zawirowania;
- Lullaby for the Restless – Aleksandra Krajewska – Teatr Tańca Zawirowania;
- Intercepted/Przechwycone, choreographed by Wojciech Mochniej, and Carme(n)love, choreographed by Małgorzata Ziółkowska – Kielecki Teatr Tańca.
The performance submitted to the Network by the Krakow Choreographic Centre was Trans_Miss(i)on, choreographed by Iwona Olszowska and Ferenc Fehér.
Performances presented at the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre as part of the Polish Dance Network in 2020–2021:
- W moim początku jest mój kres, directed by Joanna Lewicka – Lubelski Teatr Tańca;
- Empty bodies, choreographed by Karolina Kroczak – Teatr Tańca Zawirowania;
- Mój ogon i ja, choreographed by Aleksandra Bożek-Muszyńska and Hanna Bylka-Kanecka – Holobiont Collective;
- GEMINI Triptych, choreographed by Anna Piotrowska – Teatr ROZBARK;
- Unbody, choreographed by Magdalena Kowala, Natalia Murawska, Joanna Woźna, and Anna Zglenicka.
The performances submitted to the Network by the Krakow Choreographic Centre were Tens by Marta Wołowiec and THE VESSEL by Karolina Kraczkowska.
