The XVth International Festival of Modern Choreography took place since November 28 through December 1. Among participants of the National Competition, which was held within the frameworks of the Festival, were virtually all the professional as well as amateur contemporary dance companies of Belarus. As the number of above companies is still not large, we can share briefly our impression of each performance.

“Gostsitsa” folk-theater, Minsk
Gostsitsa keeps true to the ethnic origins of its dance. As always they performed the work choreographed, staged and designed by art director of the company Larisa Simakovich. The "Prynamsy" one-act ballet (could be translated from belarusian as "probably") leaves a feeling of some double meaning. At the heart of every work of the company seen in Vitebsk was a dramatic effect. The tragedy crushes you. Watching the Gostsitsa's dancing year by year at the festival you might think you see a sequential part of the same work. On the other hand it's obvious that the author is undoubtedly a professional. By the way, Larisa Simakovich is not only choreographer but a composer as well. Vocal parts are performed perfectly, the story is originally narrated. But in the end of the ballet is the Despair as always. The dark hidden motive of the social conflict distinctively dominates over the really precious folk dance material. Of course the theater is free in choice but we'd like to wish them not to isolate themselves in their lonely gloomy prophecy, because there are so few people in Belarus to study the authentic folk dance.

"TAD" contemporary dance group, Grodno
The "TAD" soloist Olga Labovkina and the art-director Dmitry Kurakulov performed the amazing miniature "Cumparcita". All the dancers appeared on stage in the one-act ballet "Little symphony of space". The group won a special prize "For the Mastery", first of all thanks to Olga and Dmitry duet. This slightly ironic and light love story was excellently performed, with humor and, of course, with special Kurakulov's fantasy and dynamic. A cascade of technically complex and original supports was successfully "plaited" into their dance. The ballet was good as well, but despite of considerably risen performing level, the lack of stage experience was easily seen. This is not a kind of reproach. Who is to blame that the dancers have to work as nurses or drivers and that only the nights are left for dancing? Who is to blame that the week of master-classes in Moscow of in Warsaw is absolutely unaffordable for most of them? The Ballet cannot be left until the better times. It is necessary to rehearse everyday, maybe in the morning before the job too. It's worth mentioning that Dmitry Kurakulov is one of the few pioneers of belarusian contemporary dance, who completely devoted himself to the art of Dance. That's why the National competition Jury, critics and the Directorate by common consent granted him the EVGENY PANFILOV'S MEMORIAL PRIZE, which was handed by the Master's daughter Arina during the conclusive concert of the Festival on December 1.

"Parallels" choreographic studio, Vitebsk
The art-director and choreographer of "Parallels" Anastasia Makhova makes fast progress. Both miniatures, submitted for the competition, showed clearly that she lives for "modern". A young choreographer understands the very essence of this style, identifies herself with dance. We were really upset watching her solo "Window", which was absolutely lifeless at the first Round of competition. Just a day before, she danced it in completely different way, ardently and selflessly. The reason of that failure remains unknown. Her second work "Where the day and night switch places" turned a bit too complicated for dancers. Just a faint glimmer of choreographer's idea could be seen.

Dact creative laboratory, Minsk
Art directors-Michael Kaminsky and Elena Plutova. The company is changing and developing. Instead of full domination of pantomime in previous works we saw real synthesis of theater and dance. A miniature "Paper", quite worthy work looked free. Papery thoughts-images, unconnected and candid, crossed out and corrected, left without any sequel. There was no running over visual and choreographic instruments, no far-fetched philosophy, no theatrical pathetic, and no many other things.  It looked like the work owed its inner freedom to contact improvisation.  Michael Kaminsky managed to find the golden mean and to hold the audience's attention until the end. Concerning to the other work "Romeo and Julia", the conceptual theater prevailed totally over dance. Unfortunately, the duration of work is limited to 20 minutes by the rules of competition. Probably that was why the International Jury didn't estimate this work higher. Nevertheless, we saw a very interesting theater.

“The variety show workshop of the Youth Variety Show Theater”, Minsk
Choreographer – Sergey Zmitrovich. The miniature “Rocsana” confirmed the definition of variety show, which was twice written in the title of the company. It was a true piece in variety show style. So in terms of contemporary choreography it was neither good nor poor, just a variety show.

“Quadro” contemporary dance group, Gomel
Art-director and choreographer – Inna Aslamova. A special prize of the Competition “For the best choreography” indicates that one-act ballet “Illusion of development” turned to be the most interesting and inventive work of the National Competition IFMC’2002. The choreographer’s feelings and emotional experience were masterly embodied in dance. 

A project of Olga Skvortsova & Roman Podoliako, Minsk
A duet of two graduates of Belarusian Academy of Arts won a Special Prize “The year 2003”. This prize entitles them to take part in the International Competition IFMC’2002 without passing selecting video-round. At least they’ll have an opportunity to try themselves in competition with professionals from different countries, to attend master-classes and what is the most important, to communicate with like-minded people. The miniatures “Apple tree” and “The story of a suit-case” won thanks to good staging work.  Concerning to choreography itself, they have to make a great progress within the year if they pretend to be among winners. 

“Gallery” dance-theater, “Foliush-ballet” choreographic studio, Grodno
The impressions of these two competitors are united for a simple reason: the art-director and choreographer of both companies is Alexander Tebenkov. We’re not sure whether mass media in the festival noticed an appearance of a new company. In fact this is a new phase in the process of development of Belarusian contemporary dance, a second wave, disciples of the pioneers. It gives hope to see in 4-5 years first belarusian dancers brought up in “contemporary”. They will have a completely new perception of the world. It’s difficult to judge by a fragment of spectacle, but this fragment (a work “I will…”) was performed by young dancers with full awareness of subject, choreographic vocabulary, in harmony with musical idea.  It’s clear that every year of training will bring great changes, new level of artistry, experience, and real successes. 
There’s no need to describe the style of dance-theater “Gallery”. The unfinished play “By no means” was awarded with a Special Prize “For the best idea”. Of course it wouldn’t be enough just to create a good idea. The names of the performers – Alexander Tebenkov, Victoria Baltser, and Petr Rak are from the short list of Belarusian contemporary dance “elite”. The high performing level helps to “catch” an idea of the work. How to reconcile an external melancholy with the huge inner tension, to convey distrust and jealousy, to make spectators reflect on absurdity of people’s relationships? See an unfinished play “By no means”. 

The ensemble of the sub-faculty of choreography of Belarusian State University of Culture, Minsk
The art-director of the ensemble Svetlana Gutkovskaya deliberately submitted for the competition two miniatures choreographed by students. It is necessary to try oneself, not just watch. Both works “Creator”(Olga Ermalkovich, Andrey Velichko) and “Masks off” (Olga Guzeva) were evidently pared-down. The authors’ keenness on ultimate aim was too obvious. They probably just lacked time to complete the work and then think it through afresh. Nevertheless we have to say Belarusian University of Culture teaches students to explore new language and new forms of dance, so sooner or later, we’ll see their success.

Small choreographic studio of the Big Festival, Vitebsk
Choreographer - Diana Yurchenko. A choreographic project launched by Diana is cheerful news for the organizers of the Festival. First, it's another attempt to create a contemporary dance company in Vitebsk. Second, this attempt showed that the young choreographer has her own style and taste to the dance. It's obvious she didn't adjust her choreography neither to the beginner's level of her young girls-dancers, nor to some old patterns and methods. She just did what she wanted to do, she told about a teenager's inward world in movement language. Sometimes we find impossible to express our feelings in words. There are very few people who can see the world through the dance. We hope that the title of Diana’s miniature “Don’t be afraid” will become a kind of motto for her.

 About the IFMC’2002 performance program

After two years of preparations and talks we managed to get to our festival "High Frequency Wavelengths" Dance Company from USA. The company's art-director and choreographer is Marilynn Danitz. Their ballet "Flowing Light" was a true success; the dancers sparkled with perfect performing technique, the audience revelled in strange combinations of surreal images on the background (photos by Jerry Uelsmann) and even more surreal choreographic tunes.  Marilynn took part in the Festival as a Jury member, carried out a conference with belarusian choreographers. The "HWF" dancers taught a series of master-classes. We cherish hope that our acquaintance with Marilynn Danitz, a president of American Dance Guild will turn out fruitful. 

Despite of tragic death of our long-standing friend, an excellent Russian choreographer Evgeny Panfilov, his theater “Evgeny Panfilov’s Ballet” appeared on the festival stage as in every of ten previous years. Vitebsk saw his brilliant “Eight Russian Songs”, the last premiere “BlokAda”, a spectacle “Men’s Rhapsody”. A recent project of theater “Fighters’ Club” presented “Turiaga” (Prison). At the final evening the overcrowded Big Hall of Vitebsk Culture Center rose in applause at the end of the famous ballet “River”. Grateful audience paid his tribute to the memory of Evgeny Panfilov, the first star of Russian contemporary dance. 

 We’d like to express our gratitude to the supporters of our festival the Vitebsk-based joint stock companies “BELWEST” and “BELSOFT”. We wholeheartedly wish all the Festival participants to stay true artists, for long. 
Poster IFMC'2002

The Directorate of the Festival
Eduard Chernivchan, executive director