DRVEĆE PLEŠE is an outdoor dance-theatre performance, which deals with the importance of preserving trees. Realized in cooperation with the Institute for Artistic Dance from Belgrade, it includes 6 performers and composed music and aims to sensitize the audience and encourage initiatives in defense against excessive cutting of trees. In addition to the performance in the parks, the project foresees conversations, a digital platform, a webinar, a film and other activities that connect art and ecology.
PERFORMANCE
Initially inspired by Peter Volleban's book - "The Secret Life of Trees", the play talks about 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 necessary for the human community.
We are witnessing the excessive cutting of trees in our city in order to build shopping centers, 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 the complete disruption of ecosystems on Earth.
Trees allow us not only oxygen, but also have a whole series of properties important for our spiritual and physical health. 60% of medicines come from trees and the latest research shows even more. Because of their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, trees are important in the fight against rising temperatures. The authors say that it is currently the most effective solution to climate change in the world. Researchers claim that if the world wants to limit the rise in temperature by one and a half degrees by 2050, it is necessary to plant another billion hectares of forests.
Will we realize their importance for the survival of humanity in time? How to raise awareness of this importance? This play is one way.
THE PROJECT
DRVEĆE PLEŠE is one of the five international projects awarded by the program FIXING THE FUTURE 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 Kadenze platform.
The project DANCING TREES – Art and citizens for the protection of the natural environment, aims to sensitize the public and encourage citizen initiatives in defense against excessive cutting of trees. He wants to influence the change of attitudes and habits in relation to the cutting of trees, as well as inspire creative ways of resistance to this situation and motivate citizens to connect and become active in the defense of trees and forests.
As part of the project, two films of the same name directed by Strahinja Savić were realized -
documentary about the project as well as a short film inspired by the play.
Performance and project The trees are dancing. is the inspiration for the European cooperation project - TREES which aims to transfer to the European level methods of raising environmental awareness through the use of theater and art.
PREMIERE: OCTOBER 28 and 29, 2021, STUDENSKI PARK, BELGRADE 20.00 p.m.
In cooperation with the Institute for Artistic Dance 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Goethe Institute and other partners: www.goethe.de/relieffund, the City of Belgrade - the Secretariat for Culture.
We would like to thank the Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade, UK Parobrod, Ivana Abramović.
Special thanks to composer Ivana Stefanovic.
Playing supported by
