Laikmetīgā deja: jēdziena definēšanas problēma Latvijā

Abstract

1996, when dancer and choreographer Olga Žitluhina established her own “Olga Zitluhina Dance Company”, is considered to be the beginning of contemporary dance movement in Latvia. In 1999, upon Olga Žitluhina’s initiative, a Modern Dance Choreography study program was established at the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC). In 2004, the first full-time dance performance “When the Owl’s Tail Will Blossom...” was staged. Nevertheless, only in 2007, professionals of the dance industry came to a decision that this new genre could be defined as contemporary dance. Development of contemporary dance has been a significant part of wider processes in Latvian contemporary art since the 1990s, as Ieva Astahovska stated, “with languages and strategies, paradigmatically different from the previous ones in the local context, entering it consistently and in a highly principled way” (Astahovska 2010: 14). Since that, contemporary dance has developed from a small group of enthusiasts into a dynamic and diverse professional community. Professionals of the field have studied in LAC, while some of them have also developed their activities within an international context by studying or working abroad, participating in international projects, etc. The common school, of course, helps to define the boundaries of Latvian contemporary dance more clearly. At the same time, contemporary art, and contemporary dance as a part of it, is a synthesis of global and local processes, aesthetics and means of expression of different arts. It is open to different artistic, political, and social processes. Therefore, the concept of contemporary dance is often extended also to amateur art and popular culture. This, in turn, makes professional artists look for alternative concepts and definitions for their research and artistic activities (such as the art of movement, etc.).