KoresponDance

History

KoresponDance is an international festival of contemporary dance, physical theatre and new circus and the largest site-specific festival of contemporary dance in the Czech Republic.

Every year at the beginning of July, KoresponDance opens the doors of the castle to dozens of artists and thousands of visitors for a fantastic experience of contemporary art of the highest international standard. You can already look forward to the next edition of the festival, which will again feature a selection of artists from around the world.

The festival has been part of the Czech scene since 2009 and based at the castle since 2013.

KoresponDance is the first open air festival of dance in the Czech Republic. It began to take shape in 2009 in the context of the KoresponDance Europe project, which offered opportunities for artistic development to over 100 choreographers from different countries. Since 2013, the festival has existed as we know it today: the largest site-specific festival of contemporary dance in the Czech Republic, the only contemporary dance festival in the Vysočina region and, above all, a festival with a long term commitment to working with the public.

A number of performances are prepared especially for the festival, resulting in a program that regularly includes world premieres.

KoresponDance’s offer is unique, fusing the genus loci of a baroque castle with contemporary art. The concentration of the entire programme on the estate fosters a real festival atmosphere, as opposed to simply a series of performances. The border between artist and spectator disappears, as members of both groups converge in the castle’s first courtyard. Last but not least, each year’s programme includes unrepeatable, site-specific work, created by invited groups in the three weeks preceding the festival.

KoresponDance is also notable for its program, carefully curated each year by founder Marie Kinsky and her collaborators, who attend festivals and performance platforms around the world to select the participants.

Žďár nad Sázavou has already welcomed such stars as Dominique Boivin, Paco Decina, Béatrice Massin, Jordi Galí, Joseph Nadj, Barely Methodical Troup and Foco alAire producciones and committed to memory such unforgettable performances as Něžný bagr (The Gentle Excavator), Contigo, La Cosa and many others.

In 2017 and 2018 the festival received the EFFE designation (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe), as well as the patronage of Dr. Jiří Běhounek, Governor of the Vysočina Region. KoresponDance is ranked among the VIP events of the Vysočina Region and, in 2018, received support from Creative Europe’s Roundabout Europe project.

Jean Vilar, one of the founders of the Festival d’Avignon, built that now cult event on the basis of a certain vision: that a truly good performance speaks to absolutely everyone. Each year at KoresponDance, it’s possible see exactly how that happens.

“The KoresponDance Festival, which takes place partially in Prague, but primarily in Žďár nad Sázavou, connects trends in movement and thought emerging in numerous countries and across three continents. The festival supports community projects and engages local audiences; its poetics express a friendly and open approach to interdisciplinary and transcontinental collaboration. It speaks equally to professional dancers from around the world, devotees of contemporary dance and accidental passersby. The the prestige of the participants converges with an almost home-like atmosphere.” Veronika Hrabalová for tanecnizona.cz

The festival organiser is Centre for Choreographic Development SE.S.TA, www.se-s-ta.cz