Director-choreographer: Éva Duda Space, set & visual design: Éva Duda Performers: Beáta Egyed, Jenna Jalonen, Beatrix Simkó, Gábor Bora, Zoltán Grecsó, Márton Csuzi, Milán Újvári, Ábrahám Kecskés Circus artists: Zsófia Zoletnik, András Mező (Firebirds) Live music performed by: Edina Mókus Szirtes, Balázs Cserta, Gábor Földes, Ferenc Öcsi Kovács Choreographer assistant: Beatrix Csák Circus trainers: Linda Sander, Gergely Kiss, Tamás Kovács, György Kecskés, Rolland André Music: Edina Mókus Szirtes, Péter Kunert Lighting designer: Ferenc Payer Photo by: Dániel Dömölky Production assistant: Barbara Czveiber Thanks to: Tibor Makovínyi, Miklós Kicska, Tamás Vladár
Project supported by: Ministry of Human Resources, Budapest Főváros XI. Kerület Újbuda Önkormányzata, Trafó House of Contemporary Arts, Táncélet.hu, Workshop Foundation
Blending contemporary dance, circus, and live music creatively, VIRTUS is based on inter-arts collaboration. It is the Company’s first adventure into the world of the underground circus. The Company’s dancers set foot on unknown ground: using many dimensions of theatrical space, extraordinary instruments, and new ways of expression, the performers explore the potentials of aerial maneuvers in daring heights. Playing with the whole spectrum of space, Zsófia Zoletnik and András Mező, the two key figures of the Firebirds Juggling Group also mobilise new qualities as dancers and acrobats. The collaboration between Edina Mókus Szirtes and Péter Kunert introduces a unique musical synergy, mixing live Hungarian and Balkan folk music with darker electronic tunes. These creative artists do not lack in humor as they portray the typical Hungarian scenes and tensions in human encounters. This show is a real Eastern European escapade with grandiose emotions, lofty rhythms, sad laments, heated conflicts, and a glorious circus.
The Eva Duda Dance Company developed into an independent ensemble during the theatrical season of 2009/2010 on the initiative of the choreographer, who earned her reputation as a freelance creative artist in various theatrical genres, including spectacular musical performances and smaller progressive dance pieces. The company made its debut with Lunatika, winner of the Rudolf Lábán Prize and various festival awards. With the intention to send a message from the stage, the company has developed its unique style using expressive and powerful elements of physical dance, in which individual moves are inspired by the dancers’ personalities, and approaching dance not just aesthetically, but as a form of theatrical language. The company's repertoire includes perfomances that are distinctly visual and meaningful (Faun, overDose, After), or they reflect current issues in cultural policy (Stop’n’Go, Virtus). As one of Budapest’s key independent dance collectives and creative communities, the company frequently performs at national and international events and festivals, and collaborates with international artists. It also organizes workshops and professional events and remains dedicated to co-productions and international collaborations.
