DanceHouse and The Cultch present the North American premiere of Recirquel’s Paradisum, January 21 to 24
Hungarian dance-circus company invites audiences to witness a visceral, mesmerizing spectacle set in the aftermath of a destroyed world
SPONSORED POST BY DanceHouse and The Cultch
Eszter Seguí-Fábián in Recirquel’s Paradisum in 2024. Photo by Bálint Hirling
DanceHouse and The Cultch present the North American premiere of Recirquel’s otherworldly Paradisum, onstage January 21 to 24 at the Vancouver Playhouse.
Directed and choreographed by Recirquel’s artistic director Bence Vági, this daring, full-length work fuses circus, contemporary dance, and physical theatre, using the common language of movement to explore themes of renewal and connection in the face of an uncertain future.
Accompanied by a striking soundscape of strings, electronica, and percussion composed by Edina Szirtes, six performers take the stage, embodying the overwhelming effort of existence in a post-apocalyptic world. Elements of stagecraft—a rippling black drape, a ladder, rings, a hoop—transform the stage into a living being, creating haunting vistas as the artists engage in breathtaking aerial work and choreography.
Paradisum premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2024. It unfolds as a physically impressive work of poetic beauty—performers balance extraordinary feats of strength and agility with moments of profound stillness and grace, moving through scenes of purification, birth, awakening, and ritual as they encounter the natural forces of their newly fallen world.
“In this turbulent geopolitical moment, work from Hungary offers a rare window into the resilience and imagination of artists creating amidst complex social and political currents,” shared Jim Smith, artistic and executive director of DanceHouse, in a release.
“We are excited to be partnering with DanceHouse once again to bring another extraordinary show to the Vancouver Playhouse,” added The Cultch’s executive director Heather Redfern and associate executive director Nicole McLuckie. “Recirquel’s Paradisum is a beautiful, mythological work which is epic on a scale that will wow Vancouver audiences.”
Recirquel’s Paradisum. Photo by Bálint Hirling
Recirquel’s Paradisum. Photo by Bálint Hirling
Founded in Budapest, Hungary in 2012 by director and choreographer Vági, Recirquel has become one of the leading contemporary circus companies in the world. It represents a unique style of circus that combines dance and theatre, building upon the flair of mid-eastern European classical theatre culture. This pioneering company bewitches audiences worldwide with the immersive quality of the magical universes it creates in its productions.
DanceHouse connects Vancouver audiences, and the local arts community, to the international world of dance by presenting exceptional companies that are recognized for their excellence, innovation, and international reputation. Since 2008, DanceHouse has hosted vibrant and inspiring companies from Canada and around the world. In addition to onstage performances, DanceHouse offers a suite of engagement opportunities and a chance for the general public and local artistic community to engage with the presented artists and their work.
Since 1973, The Cultch has been one of the city’s most diverse and innovative arts and cultural hubs. The organization operates three theatrical venues, a gallery, and various ancillary spaces in the heart of East Vancouver, presenting cutting-edge national and international works and electrifying digital productions through The Cultch Online.
Following the upcoming North American premiere of Paradisum in Vancouver, Recirquel will continue touring the work across Canada, with performances in Quebec City, Montreal, and Toronto.
This production contains strobe lights and is recommended for patrons aged 12 and older. For tickets and further information, visit dancehouse.ca.
Post sponsored by DanceHouse and The Cultch.
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