Mladi levi | Maja Delak: DECLARATIONS

performance
(Slovenia)

The irrevocable loss of loved ones confronts us with absolute certainty – or, as Jordan Tannahill puts it, “This is the thing.” Declarations is a performance of statements and memories, a blend of choreography and direction, movement and text. There is nothing redundant on stage – not in the words, the delivery, or the movement. Even the set design is pushed to the edge of the stage, serving merely as a backdrop. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one knows that grief takes up a lot of space. Maja Delak, one of Slovenia’s finest choreographers, addresses this by bringing actors and dancers together on stage. Behind their every movement, shift across the floor, or spoken word, one can sense an elusive, complex sentiment – an intertwining of regret, love, and the beauty of transience – and perhaps, ultimately, a sentiment of what remains.
The performance received the Golden Lightning Award at last year’s Mladi levi festival, and this year it is featured in the festival programme at its home venue – Ljubljana’s Old Power Station.

70 minutes
The performance is in Slovene with English surtitles.

Written by: Jordan Tannahill
Translated by: Pino Pograjc
Choreography and direction: Maja Delak
Performed by: Nataša Živković, Mark Jacob Cavazza, Staša Popovič, Leon Marič, Loup Abramovici
Programing, sound design and music: Luka Prinčič
Set design: Urša Vidic
Dramaturgy: Benjamin Zajc
Text editing: Tjaša Pirnar
Lighting design: Janko Oven
Costume design: Andrej Vrhovnik
Graphic design: Mauricio Ferlin
Programing Raspbery Pi: Jurij Podgoršek
Executive production and organisation: Maja Delak, Tamara Pepelnik
Produced by: Emanat
Co-produced by: Stara mestna elektrarna – Elektro Ljubljana
Partner: Srednja vzgojiteljska šola, gimnazija in umetniška gimnazija Ljubljana
Supported by: Mestna občina Ljubljana, Ministrstvo za kulturo RS

Photo: Nada Žgank