Woman and Wolf
Dance performance about cultural differences, encounters between generations, and understanding one another.
Everyone is different, but some are even more different. How then do we understand each other?
Two generations, two cameras. Bush and Kaja spent a week in the middle of an Estonian forest at Jõepere farm. How do they bring this experience to the stage?
Woman looks down, further down, places her hand on the floor, pulls her leg after and slowly begins to rise, moving in a spiral…
Wolf moves with quick steps, head hanging, hands dangling at sides. Stops, lifts chin up, listens, shakes herself all over…
Woman speaks Estonian. Wolf speaks English.
Premiere: February 26, 2006, Kanuti Gildi SAAL
Additional performances:
- February 27, 2006, 19:30, Kanuti Gildi SAAL
- February 28, 2006, 19:30, Kanuti Gildi SAAL
- March 2, 2006, 21:00, University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy (black hall)
Creative Team
- Concept: Tiina Mölder, Kaja Kann, Bush Hartshorn
- Choreography and Video Direction: Tiina Mölder
- Stage and Light Design: Kalle Tikas
- Original Music: Kalle Tikas (based on Estonian folk dance “Targa rehealune”)
- Editing: Taavi Varm
Performers
- Kaja Kann - Woman
- Bush Hartshorn - Wolf (guest performer from England)
Performance Concept
Multimedia performance exploring relationships between two different cultures and generations. “Pildikesed Jõeperest” (Images from Jõepere) - video and stage work intertwine throughout the performance.
Bush Hartshorn graduated from Darlington College of Arts, worked as a project-based artist and guest performer with Natural Theatre Company, British Events, Meeting Ground Theatre. Co-founded site-specific theatre company Industrial and Domestic Theatre Contractors. Since 1990, Bush Hartshorn has worked as director at Geen Room theatre in Manchester, as dramaturg and festival curator at De Beweeging theatre in Antwerp, and as project curator at Rotterdam Festival. In 2006, he was director of Yorkshire Dance centre in Leeds.
Awards
2007 Tantsuauhind (Estonian Theatre Union)
Zuga united dancers – concept, choreography and video direction for “Naine ja Hunt”.
Philip Morris Estonian Dance Awards 2006 (awarded May 31, 2007)
Creator of the Year 2006 – Zuga united dancers, production combining movement, word and video art “Naine ja hunt”
Estonian Theatre Annual Award (Spring 2007)
Contemporary Dance category – “Naine ja hunt”
Reviews and Coverage
- Zuga “Naine ja Hunt” received another award, Eesti Päevaleht, Tiiu Laks, June 4, 2007
- Zuga “Naine ja Hunt” explores cultural differences, Eesti Päevaleht, Tiiu Laks, February 26, 2006
- Zuga united dancers’ “Naine ja Hunt” premieres, Estonian Theatre Union, February 26, 2006
- Tour de danse (Episode 75), ERR, March 9, 2006
- Päevakaja, ERR, February 26, 2006
Critics’ Words
“Clear choreographic line, pure, thoughtful. Creates enough connections, but not too many, so nothing becomes completely rigid. Contrasts work as if always cast – one moves quickly, the other slowly, etc., character differences are clear, but similarities also exist.” - Tiiu Laks, Eesti Päevaleht
“Zuga always leaves the viewer’s imagination and understanding plenty of room, the opportunity to interpret things as they themselves like best or as their own experience determines – to draw their own parallels.” - Tiiu Laks, Eesti Päevaleht