TALK THROUGH YOUR BODY

The basic building block in training is to understand the body through imagination. In this way we are able to reveal in the body many various movement qualities and principles, to find a specific dynamic, coordination and chiefly inside logic. My work strives to achieve the maximum kinetic possibilities in a person’s body without needless muscle tension and stres, develops plasticity, musicality, the ability to react to initiatives and impulses, we learn to listen to our own intuition, perceive the space around us and listen to the others. 

An integral part of the workshop is partnering, where use of the mentioned principles, the perception of the partner and absolute trust lead to perfect coordination.Thanks to an understanding of physical patterns partnering can become a logical and powerful tool of communication. Limits of balance, manipulation, reactions and listening form parts of partnering  and move dance on to a magical level. During workshops we enrich a person’s own kinetic possibilities and the borders of physical and mental conception of dance. We ask the question what dance means to us and what attracts us to it, what purpose training serves, where a performer’s own interpretation of dance begins. What role does a physical action and dance play when communicating an idea or creating a theatrical situation.  

We will work individually, in partnering, we try to touch theatrical situations through physical action, ... We will "talk through our bodies". 

The workshop is made possible thru a collaboration between Dansalliansen and Danscentrum Syd.

LENKA VAGNEROVÁ is founder and director of the Lenka Vagnerová & Company dance theatre (2012), for which she has choreographed and directed a number of internationally acclaimed performances.  

Every year, the ensemble creates new progressive authors' productions that carry elements of dance, physical, puppet and dramatic theatre. Through its activity it participates in the systematic development of the genre of dance theatre on domestic and world stages.  

Existential questions, the urgency of human relationships to other beings and surroundings, play with reality and fantasy are characteristic for the production of the ensemble. Lenka puts emphasis on the precision of theatre situations, movement qualities, supports the individuality of performers, uses the strength and dynamics of the group, looks for physical possibilities and movement limits of one's own body. Emotions, physical action, passion, risk, conflict, harmony and intuition are and have always been part of Lenka's original dance and theatrical language.  

The company brings together outstanding artists such as: dancers, actors, musicians, visual artists, offers professional educational background, provides residences and internships, gives space to new theatrical forms and connects outstanding artists and creators.  
The ensemble with its performances gathered during its existence a number of significant awards and nominations both in the Czech Republic and abroad, e.g.: Herald Angel Award, Total Theatre Award Nomination  / The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Best Dance Performance / The Singapore Fringe Festival, The City of Pilsen Award / Skupova Pilsen International Festival, Dance Performance of the Year, Audience Award, Dancer of the Year / Czech Dance Platform Festival, several Thalia Awards, etc.  

Lenka studied pedagogy of modern dance at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under the supervision of Doc. Ivanka Kubicová.  
As a choreographer and director, Lenka created a series of author's performances for Lenka Vagnerová & Company: Panoptikum, Amazones, María de Buenos Aires, The Lešany Crib, Gossip, Sorcerer, La Loba, Riders, Mah Hunt.  
As a guest choreographer and director, she has created performances for companies such as:  National Theatre Prague, Staatstheater Kassel, Norrdans, City Theatre Prague, 2 Faced Dance Company UK, Minor Theatre Prague, VERVE NSDC Leeds, Viirus Theater, Accademia Nazional Di Danza Rome, etc. 
 Lenka also cooperates in drama, opera, or new circus projects. 

Lenka is actively involved in pedagogical activates. "Her method Talk Through Your Body" simultaneously specifies the movement qualities and principles contained in Lenka's work. Lenka regularly leads workshops and teaches in theatres, schools and dance companies. She teaches for ex.: Göteborgs Operans Danskompani, Skanes Dance Theater, Ballet de Marseille, Norrdans, b12, tanz OFFensive Hannover, Danish Dance Theatre, VERVE Leeds, 2Faced Dance Company, Stopgap Dance Company, Viirus Theatre Helsinki, Accademia Nazional Di Danza Rome, Cirk Cirkör. Naional Theatre Prague, Academy of Performing Arts, Dance Conservatory Prague, Etc. 

In 2011 and 2014/2015/2016/2017 she worked as a Rehearsal Director in the Swedish Norrdans dance company.  

As a dancer she worked with choreographers and companies: 
Claude Brumachon-Benjamin Lamarche CCNN in Nantes, Akram Khan Company - London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony 2012, Cirk La Putyka, DOT504, Bratislava Dance Theatre, Torzo Ballet etc.  
As a dancer she was nominated for the Thalia Award (2003, 2005 and 2010) three times, in 2003 she was awarded for the Nokia Dance Award/ Dance Personality Of The Year and in 2005 she was awarded the Dancer of the Year (Czech Dance Platform).