The title of Cracovia Danza Ballet’s debut performance is a play on words that hints at the artists’ intentions: The protagonist of the show is Europe, portrayed in fifteen dance scenes inspired by the Stations of the Cross. The viewer is guided through the ages, from cosmogonic visions, through antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment and the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, right up to the present day. According to the creators, ‘Europe is a space where the sacred spirit and the profane body coexist - it is a continent of cathedrals, symphonies and the law – which were also used as instruments of oppression.’ They note that it has been reborn many times, but they also claim that each rebirth carries within it the seeds of the next catastrophe. And that is what this play is about. Artur Żymełka is the director, choreographer and creator of the production’s dramatic concept. Europassio is a total theatre experience, blending various art forms with movement, music featuring the live voice of a countertenor, minimalist set design and a polyphony of meanings. The choreography combines contemporary dance, physicality and minimal movement. Following its world premiere in Kraków, this outstanding show is set to be staged at festivals across Poland and Europe.
