Val and the Citadel of Souls

Info

“Val and the Citadel of Souls” is based on the book with the same name, by Anca Alfianu and published in 2017 by Humanitas Publishing House. It is the story of the coming of age journey of children of any age, of those who leave to seek the Citatel of Souls. 

The book is told via two mediums, the viewers being greeted by a contemporary art installation, as a map for their journey, which they cross before entering the dance hall.

“It is a journey-show, built on the same course as for the main heroes from the book so each viewer can make this journey: one first passes through the installation and then takes part in the show. We tried to integrate the public, without making them do anything in particular, but (small spoiler ahead) there is a moment in which sandwiches are served. The spectator is invited to play and to discover the various worlds that, after all, we all pass through.” (Vava Ștefănescu)

An installation-show, “Val and the Citadel of Souls” brings together, under the supervision of Vava Ștefănescu, a team of professional dancers alongside seven young dancers from  National Center for Dance Bucharest’s Performance School for Children.

“The relation between the big dancers and the small dancers is simply ravishing. On many occasions, when less expected, the children are more intuitive and more self-acknowledged in the story compared to the big children, as I call them.” (Vava Ștefănescu)

Just as the journey from the story is initiatory, the meeting of the artistic team transformed into a process with plenty of challenges. Preparing the show, which turned out to be a full-fledged creation lab, brings together artists from various fields, for whom the book was a genuine red thread in the process of reaching a common language.

We invite you to join their journey and, who know, maybe you will find facing yourselves along the way.

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“Val and the Citadel of Souls” is based on the book with the same name, by Anca Alfianu and published in 2017 by Humanitas Publishing House. It is the story of the coming of age journey of children of any age, of those who leave to seek the Citatel of Souls. 

The book is told via two mediums, the viewers being greeted by a contemporary art installation, as a map for their journey, which they cross before entering the dance hall.

“It is a journey-show, built on the same course as for the main heroes from the book so each viewer can make this journey: one first passes through the installation and then takes part in the show. We tried to integrate the public, without making them do anything in particular, but (small spoiler ahead) there is a moment in which sandwiches are served. The spectator is invited to play and to discover the various worlds that, after all, we all pass through.” (Vava Ștefănescu)

An installation-show, “Val and the Citadel of Souls” brings together, under the supervision of Vava Ștefănescu, a team of professional dancers alongside seven young dancers from  National Center for Dance Bucharest’s Performance School for Children.

“The relation between the big dancers and the small dancers is simply ravishing. On many occasions, when less expected, the children are more intuitive and more self-acknowledged in the story compared to the big children, as I call them.” (Vava Ștefănescu)

Just as the journey from the story is initiatory, the meeting of the artistic team transformed into a process with plenty of challenges. Preparing the show, which turned out to be a full-fledged creation lab, brings together artists from various fields, for whom the book was a genuine red thread in the process of reaching a common language.

We invite you to join their journey and, who know, maybe you will find facing yourselves along the way.

//

“The Performance School for Children” is an integrated contemporary dance program, involving body practices and artistic education, a unique opportunity within the creative area in Romania, which currently lacks from the educational offer of vocational schools and public or private institutions.