Acting Out
Acting Out
a performance by Mihai Lukács
Based on interviews and articles with Esther Magyar-Gonda and Katia Pascariu
With Katia Pascariu
Scenography / costume / video: Miklósi Dénes and Miklós Szilárd
Choreography: Sinkó Ferenc
Music: Oana Hodade
Light design: Török Ákos
Producers: Dialectic Centre and Tranzit House
Language: Romanian with Hungarian surtitles
"Acting Out” revolves around the relationship between the artist and his body on stage, inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Esther Magyar-Gonda, a reference name in Romanian dance.
Esther's life, characterized by political activism, passion for art and dedication to education, portrays a complex artist whose existence was closely linked to important historical events and personal challenges.
Arrested for anti-fascist activities and deported to Transnistria because of her Jewish origin, after these experiences she gave up her career as a dancer and dedicated herself to developing and coordinating the official choreographic scene in Romania.
Recognized for her innovative contributions to modern and contemporary dance in Romania, Esther Magyar-Gonda has developed a deep and original appreciation for gesture and expressive movement.
Her personal struggle is mirrored in actress Katia Pascariu's relationship to her own history and her contestation of a certain style of theatricality and typical corporeality. The performance highlights the artist's resilience in the face of difficulties and her connection to performance art and education.
"Acting Out" proposes an in-depth exploration of the connection between dance, the body, local histories and the sense of alienation, where dance is perceived as an expression of labour and materialism that questions traditional transcendent and visceral concepts of the body.
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The "Acting Out" is based on archival research. The materials from the Bucharest National Dance Center's archive were crucial for the artistic team in developing the performance.
Performance presented as part of the cultural project “Acting Out National”, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.