𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁
a performance by Mihai Lukács
Based on interviews and articles with Esther Magyar-Gonda and Katia Pascariu
𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐾𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑎 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑢
𝑆𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑦 / 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑚𝑒 / 𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑜: 𝑀𝑖𝑘𝑙𝑜́𝑠𝑖 𝐷𝑒́𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑖𝑘𝑙𝑜́𝑠 𝑆𝑧𝑖𝑙𝑎́𝑟𝑑
𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑦: 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑜́ 𝐹𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐
𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑐: 𝑂𝑎𝑛𝑎 𝐻𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑑𝑒
𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛: 𝑇𝑜̈𝑟𝑜̈𝑘 𝐴́𝑘𝑜𝑠
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑒ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑛: 𝐶𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖 𝐼𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑠: 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑧𝑖𝑡 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒
"Acting Out” revolves around the relationship between the artist and his body on stage,
inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Esther Magyar-Gonda, a reference name in Romanian
dance. Esther's life, characterized by political activism, passion for art and dedication to
education, portrays a complex artist whose existence was closely linked to important
historical events and personal challenges. Arrested for anti-fascist activities and deported to
Transnistria because of her Jewish origin, after these experiences she gave up her career
as a dancer and dedicated herself to developing and coordinating the official choreographic
scene in Romania. Recognized for her innovative contributions to modern and
contemporary dance in Romania, Esther Magyar-Gonda has developed a deep and original
appreciation for gesture and expressive movement.
Her personal struggle is mirrored in actress Katia Pascariu's relationship to her own history
and her contestation of a certain style of theatricality and typical corporeality. The
performance highlights the artist's resilience in the face of difficulties and her connection to
performance art and education.
"Acting Out" proposes an in-depth exploration of the connection between dance, the body,
local histories and the sense of alienation, where dance is perceived as an expression of
labour and materialism that questions traditional transcendent and visceral concepts of the
body.
_________
The "Acting Out" is based on archival research. The materials from the Bucharest National
Dance Center's archive were crucial for the artistic team in developing the performance.
/// We look forward to seeing you at 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐗𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈, 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
This edition starts from the concept of 𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚 – understood as a real space (not
utopian, meaning “without place”), yet layered with symbolic meanings and potentialities
that reflect the society it belongs to.
We're celebrating 28 years of Casa Tranzit through music, performances, round tables,
book launches, and exhibitions!
/// Project co-financed by AFCN – Administration of the National Cultural Fund and the
Department for Interethnic Relations (DRI). The project does not necessarily represent the
position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the
content of the project or for how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely
the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.