Fluffy, sparkling world full of bubbles and sweetness. Female fairytale that questions romantic conceptions and ideals of happy endings.
The end.
Sparkling?
Flashy?
As long as it is happy, they say.
Aja Zupanec began her dance education at Dance Forum Celje. In 2008 she was accepted at Salzburg Experimental Academy for Dance (SEAD) in Austria. In July 2011, after receiving her degree, she created her first full evening performance Hidden-Revealed, she also conceived the dance project Gathered and collaborated in several performances by other choreographers/artist, such as Milan Tomášik and Mateja Bučar. She teaches at SVŠGUGL, Secondary Preschool Education and Gimnazija Ljubljana – contemporary dance department. She is the recipient of Meta Vidmar Award for special achievements and important contribution to the development of contemporary dance in Slovenia.
Created and performed by: Aja Zupanec
Dramaturgy: Urša Sekirnik
Lighting design: Dani Žorž
Music: Matjaž Predanič
Assistant: Iza Skok
Graphic design: Nadja Škataro Djokić
Co-produced by: Dance Forum Celje, Secondary Preschool Education and Gimnazija Ljubljana
Financial support: Ministry of Culture of RS, City Municipality of Celje
Organised by: Emanat
In collaboration with: Club Gromka, Metelkova City
Photos: David Orešič (Festival Performa & Platforma, Maribor, 2019)
Zupanec is the sensory experience that engulfs us before we even set foot in the theatre hall and takes us straight into the glittering, sugary, and at times kitschy world of women, as constructed through stereotypes. Exactly this over-the-top scenography, bolstered with musical accompaniment of older pop hit wonders and audio inserts of advertisements promising the magical, creates the environment that questions different ideals of fairy tales, miracles and romantic relationships. Aja Zupanec enters the patterns in which we are raised by the society on the basis of social gender and this complete immersion is what creates space for humour and parody. While playing with the patterns, the author corresponds with everyday life when using text examples from applications or newspapers aimed at dating and finding love, and the sincerity with which she does this, prevents her from descending into offensive and hurtful derision.”
- Maša Radi Buh, Neodvisni, 2019