FESTIVAL » ABOUT

Performing Revolution
in Central and Eastern Europe

November 6, 2009 – March 31, 2010 | New York City

Performing Revolution in Central and Eastern Europe explores the contributions of the performing arts to the 1989 revolutions and resulting fall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe. Presented by The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in association with leading cultural organizations and academic institutions, the five-month festival features more than 25 events, including theater, music, and dance performances, exhibitions, film screenings, readings, and symposia.

With a focus on the performing arts in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, the festival considers “revolution” not only within the framework of the era’s profound social and political changes, but also in terms of ongoing experiments within a particular genre. From revivals of significant works from the period to new projects that reflect upon the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain and beyond, Performing Revolution is a celebration of the transformative power of the arts and their potential to reshape political and cultural systems.

“The festival grew out of an idea from Ms. Burke [Assistant Chief, Music Division] to organize an exhibition on the role of musical performances during the Velvet Revolution. I loved the idea but said that wouldn’t be enough, that we should look at the arts in that part of the world and the way that ideas about democratic ideals were expressed through culture, often subversively, leading up to the events of 1989.”

— Jacqueline Z. Davis
Executive Director of the Library for the Performing Arts
(as quoted in The New York Times)
Read full article (PDF) »

General Inquiries: info@performingrevolution.org

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Photo credits:

Home page and site background image: 'Rehearsal for Dancing with the Berlin Wall' by NY2Dance.

Postgravity Art, courtesy Zavod Delak; Kontroll Csoport, courtesy of the artist; Detail of poster designed for November 1987 Orange Alternative happening, entitled "The Eve of the Great Revolution." Courtesy Orange Alternative Archives. Jacek Jankowski, artist.