When I, a few months ago - actually in April - heard of the theme for Århus culture festival - 'Neighbourhood', from a dance colleague of mine, I immediately thought that that would have to mean that we should dance in some livingrooms around the city and that people should invite their neighbours.
Little had I known that this was an idea that everyone would want to be a part of - and my amazement was huge, when as soon as the program came out for the culture festival - people started calling in. People from various parts of Århus - admins, students, stay home moms, politicians and journalists - everyone did they think that this they wouldn't miss. Even Copenhagen called in and asked when we would come one tour.
So today I am here at my office spot at Danseværket, in the heart of Århus - sitting next to my faboulous intern Ane and thinking - 1. how grateful I am. 2. We defenetly succeeded in this mission - the mission being that we wanted to reach an audience that don't normally go to the theater to see modern dance and the other mission - that we wanted people to connect. and 3. that we will continue selling this performance also after this festival stops on sunday.
We still have four days left and during these four days we have another 12 performances before we can sit back on sunday, with a cold brooklyn lager, and relax.
I am thankful and amazed at how wonderful people have been - the hospitality has been overwhelming. We have been invited for dessert and asti on our late performances - and brunch and coffee on early once. Our audience has been ranging from the age of 4 months to 87 years - and they have all been amazing.
One of the arrangements with this perform was to give audience a chance to talk with the dancers i a comfortable invironment - their livingrooms - and let them ask all the questions they wanted - without the"having to sound smart" lable that i sometimes find at artist/audience discussions in theaters. - And people have opened their mouth and asked about all sorts of things - children have asked - what step was the hartest - adults have asked in regards to "how to make a feeling to a step- like how can happy be a grand battement? - (a grand battement is a leg which is thrown into the air - so it almost touches the head of the dancer.) - or is it possible to live like a pro dancer in Aarhus.? - In Denmark? ( and I am just quickly gonna answer that one - No, at the moment we survive - live is a totally other thing- but we love what we do - and couldn't imagine ourselves during anything else - or live without dancing or choreographing so thats why we keep doing so.) - for more on this check out our sponsor page.
I can't help but smile - thinking that one of my concerns when we first started this project was that people wouldn't reach out to it. And both me and the dancers are happy and overwhelmed.
Think they deserve a huge dinner party next week when we finish this round of performances.
Also the press have been mighty good to us:
"Thought provoking and humouristic".
- Århus Stiftidende
"New and intense experience for both audience and dancers"
- DR News
They have folloved us around, joined in, in different homes that invited to it - and they have filmed us - taped us, interviewed us and well... you name it - thay have been mighty sweet and mighty considered of the neighbours we visited:)
Back at the office it has been busy as well - I danced in the duet the first 4 days with Helene Brøndsted - as Joy was on tour in Holland with Granhøj dans.
and when not dancing the deadlines for grants has made me glued to my office chair - writing and editing from 8 am to 12am - and now there is only left to cross our fingers cause I have honestly had it - with not being able to pay my dancers -when they put in a great deal of work working for me.!!!
I will get back to the application sending - more grant deadlines coming up - plus applications for children dance and theater festival and the connections festival.
take care all of you - and we will see you soon - either in your home or in here:)
Julie Brøgger
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