How Do You Dance in a War Zone? (2023)
Extract from the video How Do You Dance in a War Zone?
Stills + Texts from How Do You Dance in a War Zone?
Introduction
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 Maria posed a question to Ukrainian dancer and choreographer Viktor Ruban. After a brief attempt at an explanation he neatly batted it back with an invitation for Maria to visit Ukraine and see for herself.
In March 2023 Maria travelled to Ukraine with British photographer Paul Hill. They met up with Viktor, Ukrainian sound artist Grigory Semenchuk and nine Ukrainian dance artists.
Together, using a combination of still and moving images they asked the question How Do You Dance in a War Zone?
When people think of dance, they often imagine something rather poetic involving arabesques and pirouettes. But this notion couldn’t be more at odds to the stark form of resistance presented by the Ukrainian dance community, where dancers prepare volunteer soldiers for combat and the military teach dancers how to fight.
Installation
How Do You Dance in a War Zone? is an installation comprising;
A video – duration 13 mins.
A series of 20 large photographs (36 x 24 ins), interspersed with small printed texts (7 x 5 ins) .
The video sound track by Grigory Semenchuck is devised from live recordings of the invasion, including sounds from the trenches, shootings, shakhed-drones, missiles, sirens and tanks.
The Collaboration
Director & Editor: Maria Falconer
Co-Producers: Paul Hill, Viktor Ruban
Camera: Maria Falconer, Paul Hill
Sound Artist: Grigory Semenchuk
Dance Artists: Alla Shliakhova, Khrystyna Slobodianiuk, Kristina Shyshkariava, Larysa Venedyktova, Liudmyla Mova, Mariya Salo, Mykyta Kravchenko, Svitlana Oleksiuk, Taisiia Tymofieieva, Viktor Ruban.