Romanian Summer of Dance at Battery Dance Festival

We’re excited to join forces again with Battery Dance Festival, one of our oldest partners in New York, for a true transatlantic pair of shows, masterminded by the l’enfant terrible of Romanian dance, dancer, choreographer, and cultural entrepreneur, Arcadie Rusu. Co-produced by Arcadie’s Bucharest-based Linotip Company, Battery Dance and the Romanian Cultural Institute, the main performance, entitled "Cain" features a Romanian-American ensemble and will premiere at the Battery Dance Festival along with another Linotip Company show, "Diagonal". 

The two shows run on August 14 and 16 from 7 p.m. on the scenic stage of the Battery Dance Festival at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park – Battery Park City.

CAIN

August 14 & 16 at 7 p.m. at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park – Battery Park City

Choreography: Arcadie Rusu

Music: Alexandru Suciu

Scenography: Yasmin Asan

Dancers: Zaki A’Jani, Jill Linkowski, Răzvan Stoian

The piece explores the story of Cain and Abel, the first contradiction of humanity, the primordial antithesis. Right after we had developed the knowledge of good and evil, we learned that there was sacrifice that led to good and there was also the opposit: murder and theft. Cain murders his brother, Abel, jealous and angry of his success. He murders his own ideal. Cain and Abel represent two archetypal types of being, two different patterns of destiny. It’s the line between good and evil that runs down the human heart. And we are all a part of both. Even today we live in a world of wars led in the name of good. Will there ever be an end to this?

DIAGONAL

August 14 & 16 at 7 p.m. at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park – Battery Park City

Production: LINOTIP Independent Choreography Center

Choreography: Arcadie Rusu / Music: Alexandru Suciu / Voice Laura Gabriela Oana / Accordion Elvis Buruiană

Dancers: Teodora Velescu, Attila Bordas

This duet is inspired by the famous Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th-century. The performance captures a moment from his period in the Parisian atelier, where the artist lived, created and loved. The feminine presence hints at his passion for famed Romanian singer Maria Tănase.

ARCADIE RUSU is a choreographer, movement director, dancer and manager at Linotip Independent Choreography Centre in Bucharest, Romania. He holds a Choreography Degree from the "Ion Luca Caragiale" National University of Theater and Film Arts, where his show "Mind Control" won the award for Best Performance Graduation Gala. Arcadie was awarded the danceWEB scholarship at ImPulsTanz, Vienna International Dance Festival. He was also awarded the "Attic Arts" Residency at the Romanian Cultural Institute in London and participated in the Cultural Olympiad with three projects in partnership with the English National Ballet. For 10 years he has danced for the Gigi Căciuleanu Romania Dance Company. He is the author of "Closed-Door Trial", "Promised Land", "Crazy Stories in the City", "Sleeplessness", "Hunted Devotion", "Babel", "BASMa curată", "Burn Out", and "Lecke / Lecția". Arcadie’s shows have been featured at national and international festivals. He works constantly with theater directors, visual artists and musicians, and teaches contemporary dance workshops.