A century ago, Brâncuși photographed Lizica Codreanu in his studio – wearing the special costume created for her by the sculptor. Lizica, a dancer and choreographer whose life and artistic career made a significant contribution to the development of a new aesthetics of movement in the first part of the 20th century, is one of the artistic figures from Bucharest whose name is not sufficiently known among today’s generations.

About the project Female Memoirs. Lizica Codreanu

Hearth Association initiates a multidisciplinary cultural project that aims to repair and build, at the same time, a connection between the people of Bucharest and their cultural past, by exploring the link between dance and visual arts, and to (re)discover and pay homage together with the local community to Lizica Codreanu’s contribution to the development of an innovative dance movement, which is part of the avant-garde.

“The project aims to offer a unique experience of the intersection of visual arts and contemporary dance through a set of interactive and participatory activities. By assuming this objective, the project aims to strengthen and develop the local artistic community, to increase awareness and appreciation of contemporary arts, to contribute to the promotion of Romanian culture among the general public and to contribute to the development of a sense of community and belonging to the city, in an innovative way. Through this artistic experience, we aim to offer a new perspective on art and body movement, to inspire the imagination of artists, to arouse the curiosity of the public and to enrich the cultural map of Bucharest with a series of innovative events.” Doina Dogăroiu, Hearth Cultural Projects Manager

Project co-funded by the Municipality of Bucharest through ARCUB in the framework of the Bucharest Home 2023 Programme. For detailed information about the funding programme of the Municipality of Bucharest through ARCUB, please visit www.arcub.ro.

The unique events of the project Female Memories. Lizica Codreanu

“Female Memories. Lizica Codreanu” is a multidisciplinary cultural project built around three components that revisit the link between dance and sculpture initiated by Lizica Codreanu at the beginning of the last century. During the project, Bucharest residents will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities:

• A dance-theatre performance – “Brâncuși’s soul child. Lizica Codreanu” – with three performances; the show aims to present the life story of the dancer and choreographer Lizica Codreanu, performed by an actress; Lizica’s journey will also be illustrated with moments of choreography performed by a dancer and complemented by projections that will bring the image of Lizica Codreanu and important moments of her life before the audience, illustrating the contrast between old and new.
• Three almost spontaneous performative interventions in the workshops of contemporary Romanian artists: choreographer and dancer Alexandra Mihaela Dancs will create a series of almost spontaneous performative interventions in the workshops of three contemporary Romanian artists (sculptors Marian Zidaru and Victoria Zidaru and painter Nicolae Comănescu); these artistic demonstrations will be inspired by the works of art found in the artists’ workshops and will serve as documentation for the dance-theatre performance.
• Three movement workshops with the participation of 30 members of the public, coordinated by choreographer and dancer Alexandra Mihaela Dancs, will explore the relationship between body movement and visual arts.
• A screening of a documentary film made with footage from Alexandra Mihaela Dancs’

“The dancer Lizica Codreanu is one of those cool women in the history of Romania, who can still be considered cool by today’s young people – in search of values and inspiration when it comes to the autochthonous – but also a novel discovery for older generations who certainly have not heard of Brâncuși’s close friend, who was adored by the Dadaists and the Parisian avant-garde.” Natalia Cebanu, Artistic Director of Hearth Association

Calendar of events within the project Female Memories. Lizica Codreanu

27 September 2023
Performative intervention workshop Victoria Zidaru @Combinatul Fondului Plastic
Performative intervention workshop Marian Zidaru @ Combinatul Fondului Plastic

28th September 2023
Performative intervention SAC Gallery Nicolae Comănescu @SAC Gallery

8 October 2023
Movement workshop @Hearth Association (Kerim House)

15 October 2023
Movement workshop @Hearth Association (Casa Kerim)

5 November 2023
Movement workshop @Hearth Association (Kerim House)

28 October 2023
Premiere of the show “Lizica Codreanu, Brâncuși’s soul child” @Hearth Association (Kerim House)

29 October 2023
Performance “Lizica Codreanu, Brâncuși’s soul child” @Hearth Association (Casa Kerim)

3rd November 2023
Performance “Lizica Codreanu, Brâncuși’s soul child” @MNȚRplusC

4 November 2023
Documentary film screening @Hearth Association (Kerim House)

For more details about the events of the project, follow the pages of
Facebook and Instagram pages of Hearth Association and the website https://asociatiahearth.ro/.

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of Bucharest City Hall or ARCUB.
Partners: the National Centre of Dance Bucharest, SAC Gallery, DS Projects Lab, MNȚRplusC, Radio România Cultural, Radio România București FM, LiterNet, BookHub, ArteVezi