The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative goes Russian in 2013

As part of FATC’s (The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative) 2013 Artists in Residence programme, the beloved South African dance company, which is funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), is excited to welcome Russian Choreographers and Dance Theatre Makers Ivan Estegneev and Evgeny Kuligan, to South Africa. Both the Russians are directors of the Dialogue Dance Company and School in Kostroma Russia, as well as founders of the annual Diversia International Festival of Dance Duets.

These talented men will be working with the FATC dancers to produce a brand new full length theatrical dance piece in a collaborative relationship which has been a long time coming.

It all started back in 2008 when FATC Choreographer PJ Sabbagha was invited to present Back, a duet he had created for FATC’s gifted dancers Dada Masilo and Lulu Mlangeni for the Diversia Festival.

Then during 2009 Sabbagha invited Estegneev and fellow Russia dancers to collaborate with FATC dancers Ivan Teme, Songezo Mcilizeli and Daniel Mashita on the massively successful production of Zebra – it was commissioned for the 2009 FNB Dance Umbrella and later staged on both the National Arts Festival Main programme and the National Schools Festival in GHT, as well as touring in Russian countries Moscow, Yraslav and Kostroma.

From these experiences a relationship between the Russians and South Africans was forged. So, in 2010, it was set in stone when Sabbagha was yet again invited to participate as Artist in Residence in Russia , where a duet was created when Estegneev collaborated with Tracey Human for the 2010 Diversia Festival, as well as working on a 20 minute piece for Dialogue Dance.

Now, Estegneev and fellow choreographer Kulagin will produce the exciting work Immunity for FATC which will premiere on 1st and 2nd March. In addition to this, Sabbagha has been invited to present a reworked version of Back, from 14th to 17th March, for the major Spring Celebration of Highlights taken from the Diversia Festival in Moscow. Back will be recreated for two stunning male dancers from the FATC team to showcase the company’s exciting celebration of contemporary dance in Russia.

About the visiting Russians

Ivan Estegneev

Born in Novorossiysk, Russia, Estegneev has been studying dance since he was 14. In 2000 he entered Saint-Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences, choreography department. He studies contemporary dance at master classes and workshops regularly, including TSEKH Summer School.

He founded Dialogue Dance School and Company in Kostroma in 2002 together with Evgeny Kulagin. He is the company’s artistic director and participates as a stage director and a performer in many of the pieces produced by Dialogue. He also holds contemporary dance classes and participates in educational workshops in Russia and abroad.

Together with Kulagin, he founded Diversia, the International Contemporary Dance Duets Festival in Kostroma. They have participated in various international projects including FATC’s Zebra (South Africa, Russia).

Estegneev has also been a participant of Punto di Fuga and Mirliflor, both winners of the National Theatre Award, The Golden Mask, for the Best Contemporary Dance Production.

This master of dance theatre took part in the Theatre + Society project, choreographing People, a piece created by the Dialogue Dance Company together with the Kostroma branch of the Russian National Deaf Society.

Estegneev is a graduate of the School of Theatre Leader at the Meyerhold Centre/ Moscow Art Theater School in Moscow.

Currently he is performing a co-authored (with Anna Abalikhina) piece titled Living Room, which was created during residence at both Stantsia art-venue and Atelier de Paris, in Paris, France with the support of the French Institute in Moscow.

Evgeny Kulagin

Born in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia, Kulagin has been studying dance since he was seven. He graduated from Chelyabinsk State Academy of Culture and Arts with a degree in drama theatre and cinema acting. He has been working as an actor in Kostroma at the Ostrovsky Drama Theatre since 2003.

Evgeny was awarded a diploma for the Russian National Theatre Award Crystal Rose of Viktor Orzo. He has received other awards for his roles in theatre.

Kulagin has been studying contemporary dance and performance at master classes and workshops since 2001. He founded Dialogue Dance School and Company in Kostroma in 2002 together with Ivan Estegneev. He is a director and choreographer at the company and also participates in a number of the theatrical pieces as a stage director and performer at Dialogue.

Together with his fellow producer and choreographer, he founded the Diversia International Contemporary Dance Duets Festival in Kostroma. He gave award winning performances in both Punto di Fuga and Mirliflor, receiving the National Theatre Award The Golden Mask for the Best Contemporary Dance Production.

Along with his dance theatre partner, Kulagin participated in the Theatre + Society project, where he staged People, a piece created by the Dialogue Dance Company together with the Kostroma branch of the Russian National Deaf Society.

For more FATC details visit www.forgottenangle.co.za or find them on face book; or visit http://www.dialogue-dance.ru/english.html for more about the Russian contingent.