How´s it going?
Art for Rainy Days with Performance "How a Spiral Works"
in Sansusi Festival
May-June 2024
In May and June of 2024, the group "Art for rainy days", consisting of dancer Alise Bokaldere from Latvia, circus artist Izabele Kuzelyte from Lithuania, and dramaturg Jason Dupree from the United Kingdom, worked on their new show at the "Sansusī" arts residency center in Susēja. The show recieved mentoring from Jacob Jacobson (Sweden) to further develop their show.
Their collaborative work "How A spiral works" is a contemporary circus performance exploring the interaction between rope artistry and dance, focusing on the themes of falling, flying, and catching oneself, while striving to find common ground without losing individuality. Both parts are combined into one, where each individual tries to push their boundaries to connect with others.
This research aims to present a new way of portraying contemporary circus, offering a broader perspective on what we understand as contemporary circus and how it interacts with other art genres.
Here are a few glimpses of how the residency and the following public showcase went.
Make sure to follow the artists on their social media: @rainydays_collective
Kanta Company with Performance "Dear Pressure"
in Dynamo Workspace
June 2024
In June of 2024, Kanta Company had an opportunity to spend two lovely weeks in Dynamo Workspace´s facilities, further developing their show Dear Pressure. Additional dramaturgical mentoring was provided by Jason Dupree (UK). On top of that both Kanta Company artists : Aino Mäkipää (FI) and Kestas Matusevicius (LT) were offered a residency to work on their solo projects "Gandras" and "Prelude"
In their performance Dear Pressure, Kanta Company use pair acrobatics, and the circus discipline of Chinese Pole to take on inherited gender roles, preconceived social norms, and present-day society’s shortcomings when it comes to handling modern pressures.
Dear Pressure tells a universal tale of facing struggles and coming out on top, inspired by the artists’ experience, and set to stage with humour and relatable storytelling.
Here are a few glimpses of how their performance went. Make sure to follow the artists on their social media: @kantacompanycircus
Big Wolf Company with Performance "NOT TO BE MENTIONED"
in Salo Circus Festival
July 2024
In July of 2024, Big Wolf Company was welcomed into the warm hands of Salo Circus Festival. The group spent a week in residency to further develop their show and push the dramaturgical lines even further. Lizeth Wolk (EE) and Alexey Smolov (LV) had the opportunity to spend time and work with renowned circus and dance videographer Philip Jacobson (PL/GR) with who a new promotional material was made.
NOT TO BE MENTIONED is a performance exploring the topic of single parenthood through self-analysis, accessing our own memories of childhood and finding the ways to embody, transpose and communicate findings through our artistic practices and points of interaction.
The deeply touching performance let the audience peek into the world of intimate feelings, dark corners and caring qualities.
After the show the audience had a chance to meet the artists, ask questions and reflect their own experiences with the creators.
Here are a few glimpses of how their performance went.
Make sure to follow the artists on their social media: @bigwolfcompany
Art for Rainy Days with Performance "How a Spiral Works"
in Menu Spaustuve "Helium"
September 2024
In September of 2024, Art for Rainy Days was invited to share their work with the Lithuanian audiences in the lovely space of Menu Spaustuve/ Arts Printing House, during Helium Festival.
How a Spiral Works is a contemporary circus performance where dance and acrobatics meet on a rope. While in today’s world, everything is happening so fast, in this piece one can find a great contrast – the performance is filled with care, fragile power and minimalism. . The strong bond
between all the team members was reflected during the performance and really helped to
enrich the story being told.
After the show the audience had a chance to meet the artists, ask questions and reflect their perspectives with the creators. The group is implementing "slow creation" methods into their work, so the coveresations about their way of creating and thinking was especially facinating.
Here are a few glimpses of how their performance went.
Make sure to follow the artists on their social media: @rainydays_collective
Art for Rainy Days with Performance "How a Spiral Works"
in Jackson´s Lane
January 2025
In September of 2024, Art for Rainy Days had the honor of officially closing the EPICIRQ on Tour with a bang! Their show "How a Spiral Works" was recieved with immense positive feeback by the United Kingdom´s audience, in the facilities of Jackson´s Lane.
"How A Spiral Works" is a unique, meditative and hypnotic experience where the circus disciplines of hair hanging and rope are woven together with Baltic folk music. Dedication meets coexistence and movement meets stillness in this interplayed duet between two strong women.
The show was a 100% sell out and also had visits from the Lithuanian and Estonian embassies as well as venues from around the UK and many circus artists.
"Beautiful, hypnotic, engaging. A fabulous exploration of possibilities. So well devised. Both
performers quite excellent.
The piece and the performance were incredible and even more than we expected.
Absolutely spellbinding, mesmerising, deeply moving and hypnotic. Probably the best thing I've
seen in ages."
Make sure to follow the artists on their social media: @rainydays_collective
