Jarmila Jeřábková Choreography Awards 2005 - Jana Návratová

The sixth annual Jarmila Jeřábková Choreographic Competition took place in November 2005. The contest is geared towards young choreographers from Central and Eastern Europe younger than thirty-five years of age. Its aim is to awaken the consciousness of bilateral cultural ties, the common roots of the different cultures, and the historical experience of the young contemporary dance artists and contribute to the beginning careers of the young artists. The basis of the contest is fixed on the work of a contemporary music composer. This year´s contestants had to base their dance creations on the composition of Sylvia Bodorová.

The international jury observed fourteen choreographic works. First place was awarded to Lenka Bartůňková of the Czech Republic, who presented two solo pieces. Both creations proclaimed that Barůňková is a mature artist with clear and precise articulated intentions and achievements. She has the ability to create a piece that confines the universe within her.

The choreography Libera me (photo above), based on an oratorium by Bodorová, was worked as an oppressive dramatic solo, inspiring the gestures of the historic emperors and commanders. Yet at the same time, the young artist was able to embody the theme of the destructive influence of blind faith through the gestures. The second, free choreography, Café (photo right), was performed to a melody of French chansons and very stylishly different from the required composition.

A light playfulness and inventiveness, together with a strong stage presence and charisma, are other qualities of this young hopeful Czech choreographer. Lenka Batůňková is a graduate of the Duncan Centre Conservatory in Prague and recently graduated from the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen, Germany.