Iztok Kovač, En–Knap Group

Moving Stones

#site-specific

2016

Dancers of En–Knap Group met the Italian dancers of Res Extensa from Bari. On a series of astounding locations, from the wild nature of the Kornati archipelago, former quarries of flat limestone, Roman remains and churches, to shimmering slabs in the markets and on the streets of Zadar, the dancers lent their ears to the wind, and allowed the stone to inspire them. This is how Moving Stones, a movie and a series of dance movements in dialogue with stone, nature, other bodies and time was created. It would not have been possible were it not been RoofOfRock, a compelling project by the Geological Survey of Slovenia, in which a series of experts explored the use of platy limestone from Trieste to Dubrovnik. En–Knap Group was invited to participate as artistic partner in the second phase of the European project Adria Wealth.

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The history of this intriguing project began several years ago, when the Geological Survey of Slovenia successfully led a research project exploring the use of flat limestone, a characteristic building material of the karst landscape stretching from Slovenia to Albania. In addition to floors, fences and walls, this distinctive karst stone was also traditionally used for roofing – hence the name of the project, Roof of Rock (Kamnita streha). In line with European practices of knowledge transfer and the capitalisation of project experience, Roof of Rock was brought together with four other projects in a second phase. The Slovenian partners were then faced with a challenge that their Italian counterparts had already addressed through their Arheo project: how can artistic projects raise awareness of the importance of cultural heritage management? This was precisely the reason why, in the final week of June, the dancers of En–Knap Group met with their Italian colleagues from the contemporary dance company Res Extensa (Bari) in Zadar. Across a series of remarkable locations – from the unspoilt landscapes of the Kornati islands and former quarries (Lavdara), through Roman ruins (Asseria near Benkovac) and churches (Nin, Posedarje, Savar on Dugi Otok), to the gleaming stone paving of Zadar’s squares and streets – karst stone, the experience of the Italian Anima, a performance inspired by the winds of the Adriatic, and the mastery of the international En–Knap Group dancers’ movement vocabulary came together in a shared creative process.

We listened to the winds from the other side of the Adriatic and allowed ourselves to be inspired by stone. This led us to a series of movements conceived as building blocks, with which the dancers construct choreographic structures with their bodies, much as one might build with stone.

Iztok Kovač

bio

Iztok Kovač is a choreographer and founder of En–Knap. Following the international success of his solo How I Caught a Falcon (1991), he became one of the key figures in the development of Slovenian contemporary dance. He founded En–Knap Group, Slovenia's first permanent contemporary dance ensemble, and serves as artistic director of both En–Knap and the Španski borci Cultural Centre. His works have toured internationally for more than three decades. Additionally, his artistic practice includes six dance films, international pedagogical work, guest choreography and the direction of major national events in Slovenia. During the Covid period, he initiated Stage360, developing dance works in virtual reality.