His life is about dance and art, 24/7. Krisztián Gergye is a dancer, a director, a company leader, a choreographer… A genuine artist who brings fresh breeze to B-town’s contemporary art scene. Here at FUNZINE, we were thrilled to hear that over the next few weeks we’ll have the chance to see much-loved previous performances and new, fascinating works by him and his company again. So, we headed to a pretty café to have a cuppa and a chat with Krisztián to find out more about his company, their performances and ‘not-just-dance’…
You returned from an Indonesian scholarship in 1999, where you learnt Javanese dance from masters. What has happened to you since?
After I got back from Indonesia, my life as a dancer started out as an avalanche… I mean, so many opportunities came and I had the honor of working with great artists, the likes of Ágens, the KOMPmánia Group and the Frenák Pál Company… and slowly but surely, I got the chance to form my own company. I met the people I knew I could perfectly work with; by now, we know each other so well that I only need to say a few inspirational instructions and they already feel what we’re going to do…
So, the official name of your formation is Krisztián Gergye Company – Not Just Dance. What is the not-just-dance part about?
Firstly, I didn’t want to constrain the company with some pre-defined genres or even tendencies… and similarly, to dance as the only channel of artistic expression. Even though contemporary dance is the main profile of the group, our performances are often based upon the multi-art concept. Apart from dance, it’s also about acting, music, design… and the list could go on.
What do you think the Krisztián Gergye Company adds to the contemporary art scene?
I don’t like saying that we’re looking for something new, as I don’t think there’s such a thing. But it’s more the combination of many different concepts that could be new… and that’s what we’re experimenting with. Cultural contexts, elements, multi-art combos, the most authentic forms and channels for specific ideas.
I’ve noticed that some of your performances change from time to time, not fundamentally, but could you explain how that works?
When the time for a premiere comes, you’ve reached a certain stage with your work. Then you show it to the audience and there are many reactions and impacts, both from the viewers and from inside, as well. We ask questions from ourselves like: how did we communicate and did we manage to transfer the message we wanted to? You realize things that can only turn out at the very moment of the show. Also, this way we keep the act live and fresh inside us, too. It doesn’t have a feeling of memories and past situations.
Let’s talk a bit about your upcoming performances… There is no place like Paradise will be on again.
Yes, its debut was in 2005, and ever since, it’s been one of the main performaces of the company. My whole dance and theater existence is in there and it lives on and changes in the present, too. The best thing about it is that it’s a really intimate inside communication, a confession to self; but still, it’s also very outward.
And Gaia, your other much-acclaimed, much-loved work, is defined as puppet dance theater… what does that actually mean?
It’s a personal creation tale in a multi-art framework, but in an up-to-date style with contemporary elements, humor and phenomena. We’ll also have Danse Macabre on stage in Gödör. It’s a final dance, a statement about the relationship between death and humans, in which dance and humor appear through the grotesque, a combination that is one of my characteristic expressive forms.
Thank you, Krisztián, and good luck with your future projects, as well! Can’t wait to see them…
WIN TICKETS!! For the performance, Gaia by the Krisztián Gergye Company on November 27th or 28th! Select the Gaia game on the right hand side of our website and send us the correct answer.
Krisztián Gergye Company:
FUNZINE Special Theater Night: The Satyr – March 12 at 8 p.m. at MU Theater
Entry: With FUNZINE Club Card or a copy of this invitation, 1000 HUF
Register here for the FUNZINE Club and get your card at the event!
Also:
The Satyr – March 13 at 8 p.m.
MU Theatre
1117 Budapest, Kőrösy József utca 17.
Tel. +36.1.209.4014
Quartet – March 25, 26 at 8 p.m.
Trafó House of Contemporary Arts
1094 Budapest, Liliom utca 41.
Tel: +36.1.215.1600