DANCING TREES is an open-air dance-theatre performance that addresses the importance of preserving trees. Realized in collaboration with the Institute for Art in Belgrade, it includes 6 performers and composed music and aims to sensitize
the audience and encourage initiatives to defend against excessive logging. In addition to the performance in parks, the project envisages discussions, a digital platform, a webinar, a film and other activities that connect art and ecology.
PERFORMANCE
Initially inspired by Peter Wohlleben's book - "The Secret Life of Trees", the play speaks of the importance of trees and conveys the magical world of trees that have their own life, interwoven with memory, communication, care for the young and breathing that releases
oxygen, so essential for the human community.
We are witnessing immoderate logging in our city to build shopping malls, garages, gondolas and other tourist attractions. Global deforestation continues at an alarming rate: 7-8 million hectares of forest are destroyed every year,
which is approximately the size of Portugal! Experts warn that the consequences are far-reaching – from air pollution to floods, fires and complete disruption of the ecosystem on Earth.
Trees provide us not only with oxygen, but also have a whole range of properties important for our spiritual and physical health. 60% of medicines come from trees and the latest research shows even more. Due to its ability to absorb carbon dioxide, trees
are important in the fight against ever higher temperatures. The authors say that it is currently the most effective solution for climate change in the world. Researchers claim that if the world wants to limit the temperature increase by one and a half degrees by 2050,
it is necessary to plant another billion hectares of forests.
Will we become aware of their importance for the survival of mankind in time? How to raise awareness of that importance? This performance is one way.
PROJECT
DANCING TREES is also one of the five international projects awarded by the program
FIXING THE FUTURE of the Austrian radio Ö1/ORF. The Directorate for International Cultural Affairs in Austria invited us to present the project at the Innovation Festival "Market of the Future" in Graz, from October 1 to 3, 2021.
The project is also included as a case study in the online course
The Teaching Artistry for Social Impact Online Course on the international platform Kadenze.
The project
DANCING TREES – Art and citizens for environmental protection, aims to sensitize the audience and encourage civic initiatives in defense against excessive logging. It wants to influence the change of attitudes and habits
in relation to logging, as well as to inspire creative ways of resisting this situation and motivate citizens to connect and activate in the defense of trees and forests.
As part of the project, two films of the same name were realized, directed by Strahinja Savić –
a documentary film about the project as well as a short film inspired by the play.
The performance and project Dancing Trees is the inspiration for a European collaboration project –
TREES, which aims to transfer the method of raising ecological awareness through the use of theater and art to the European level.
PREMIERE: OCTOBER 28 and 29, 2021, STUDENT PARK, BELGRADE 8:00 PM
In cooperation with the Institute for Art in Belgrade [IUI]
The project was supported by: ITAC – Climate Impact, the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, the International Relief Fund of the German Federal Foreign Office and the Goethe Institute and other partners: www.goethe.de/relieffund,
City of Belgrade - Secretariat for Culture.
We thank the Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade, UK Parobrod, Ivana Abramović.
Special thanks to composer Ivana Stefanovic.
Performance supported by
