People of Slava

Monika Kiwak, born in 1982, Poland

Through dance and movement I keep on finding my place in life. My drama and theatre knowledge (I’m about to graduate drama at Jagiellonian University in Krakow), master diploma in polish philology and extensive theatre and dance workshops experience with children and teenagers (I was drama teacher in Youth Center in Krakow and led mix dance and theater workshops for youth) make me a versatile and informed artist. After 3 years of training modern and contemporary dance, discovering contact improvisation gave me access to richness of new qualities. They are produced by this exceptional situation, when two dancers with their solos meet, stay open to each other, and influence each other. When it’s not about speaking anymore, but having conversation. While studying in Performers House’s dance department in Denmark I could develop this idea with people with different skill sets and culture backgrounds. Not only dancers but other artists as well.

Slava Cacofonia is the continuation of this interdisciplinary, multinational dialogue. Slava gives me a space for researching, exploring, for being in progress.