2012-2017 dash arts in the post-soviet world · historian orlando figes. part travelogue, part...

Dash Arts, Unit 22, Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6AB 020 7377 6606 [email protected] www.dasharts.org.uk

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2012-2017

Dash Arts in the Post-Soviet World

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For Dash Arts, our REVOLUTION17 journey began in September 2012. We wanted to understand how it was to live both under the Soviet Union and today, in the long shadow of its history. Our period of intensive research and development took us across almost all 12 former Soviet Republics, running workshops in Georgia, Ukraine and Russia and creating new work with some exceptional artists of many, varied backgrounds. Our intention has always been to share this understanding and experience audiences and artists in the UK while at the same time, to develop links and collaborations that will continue far into Dash's creative future.

We have summarised our five years of discovery, development and delivery on the pages that follow. In London alone, we have curated, produced and chaired over 50 Dash Cafés delving into the rich and diverse world of the former Soviet Space with more than 300 artists; explored some of the great Soviet artists of the 20th century (Vladimir Vysotsky, Joseph Brodsky, Sergei Paradjanov, Viktor Tsoi); examined the legacy of historical events on culture and society (the October Revolution, Yuri Gagarin, Chernobyl, the 1991 Putsch); introduced contemporary art and artists (Georgian film-makers, Central Asian Video and Theatre Artists, Ukrainian poets and songwriters); and launched books on politics, poetry, humour and food.

Our extended period of research and development led to the creation of wonderful Dash Productions and Events including Twistov (directed by Dash Creative Associate Sophie Austin and co-produced with Teatro Vivo) and the Renegade Orchestra (presented at the British Library).

Our time-travelling pop-up Russian summer house, the Dash Arts Dacha, ('Best discovery of Latitude Festival' Guardian) invited 20,000 visitors in for a cup of tea (with jam) and the opportunity to immerse themselves in a theatrical and musical world in residencies around the UK. Through our Dash Gigs programme we have produced concerts, gigs and special musical events presenting almost 200 musicians to more than 15,000 audience members.

None of this activity would have been possible without the support of many colleagues and partners across the Post-Soviet world as well as in the UK and internationally who coordinated our travels and helped to commission and produce our events and productions including: National Theatre, Perth International Festival, Brighton Festival, Belgrade Theatre (Coventry) Lincoln Center Festival (NYC), Ballet Moskva, Batumi Contemporary Art Gallery, Electro-Stanislavsky Theatre, Latitude Festival, Rich Mix, Artsadmin, Leyton Jubilee Festival, Wandsworth Arts Festival, British Library, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Art Night/Unlimited Productions, Nest Collective, Queen Mary University, Goldsmiths' College, King's College London.

Financial partners have included the Austin and Hope Pilkington Foundation, City Bridge Trust, Cockayne Grants for the Arts Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Gazprom, Rooms Hotel, Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, John Ellerman Foundation, Oleg Prokofiev Trust, PRS For Music Foundation, Tower Hamlets, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust, our

Dash Lights supporters and other individual donors, YaD Arts and Arts Council of England.

Josephine Burton, Tim Supple Dash Arts' Co-Artistic Directors December, 2017

2012-2017: Dash Arts in the Post-Soviet World

2012-2013

DASH CAFÉ The New Dash Cafés -- The Opener in collaboration with Pushkin House

5 September 2012 | Rich Mix, London

The first in a new programme of Dash Cafés: an artistic exploration of the countries of the former Soviet Union, with music, films, talks and discussions. We opened the new programme with a lively panel discussion, focusing on the past year’s cultural and political happenings in the countries of the former Soviet Union, and providing a flavour, for new audiences, of the cultures and recent history of the region. The panel included Julian Gallant, Director of Pushkin House, London’s independent centre of Russian culture; Alexander Kan, Arts and Culture Correspondent for the BBC Russian Service; Svetlana Adjoubei, director of Russian cultural organisation Academia Rossica; and independent arts co-ordinator and director Alice Terekhova. The evening also featured music from the Mazaika Duo, who use violin, accordion and voice to create an intoxicating blend of Russian folk songs, jazz, tango, Gypsy fiddle and Balkan beats.

DASH RESEARCH Dash Arts Travels to Moscow

September - October, 2012

Dash Artistic Directors Josephine Burton and Tim Supple travelled to Moscow and St Petersburg for an initial, intensive research and development trip -- immersing themselves in Russia’s cultural world, meeting artists, producers, journalists and curators of all artistic backgrounds and seeing as much work as possible. Visits included the Tretyakov Gallery, the Bolshoi and many other theatres, contemporary art galleries, dance studios, gig venues and both the Moscow and St Petersburg Music Conservatoires.

DASH CAFÉ New Documentary Films from Georgia

3 October 2012 | Rich Mix, London

Continuing the new programme of Cafés exploring the former Soviet Union, we presented an evening of short films from Georgia, in collaboration with international arts charity Firefly International and documentary film producer Elhum Shakerifar. Films included 'When Clocks Stop' by Tiko Nachkebia; 'Debt' by Levan Koguashvili; 'The April Chill' by Tornike Bziava; 'Waiting for Mum' by Nana Ekvtmishvili; and 'Speechless' by Salome Jashi. The screening was followed by followed by a conversation between Elhum and Daniel Gorman (Director of Firefly International) about the documentary film-making scene and the wider picture of modern culture in the region.

DASH CAFÉ Armenian Music with Tigran Aleksanyan and Andrew Cronshaw

7 November 2012 | Rich Mix, London

We presented the enchanting melodies of renowned Armenian duduk player Tigran Aleksanyan. Born in the Ararat Mountains of Armenia, Tigran settled in the UK in 2001. He is a celebrated master of traditional Armenian folk instruments including the duduk, zurna, Armenian folk flute or shepherd's flute with a talent for improvisation is formidable. He has performed with the Armenian State Dance Ensemble's orchestra and with the Akhtamar Dance Group. He has made appearances at the Southbank Centre, WOMAD Festival, and on BBC Radio 3, Channel 4 and Channel 5. With accompaniment by acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Andrew Cronshaw, Tigran gave us a flavour of the magical, soulful, jazz-inflected sounds of modern Armenian folk music.

DASH CAFÉ The Women's Revolution! with Radio Gagarin

5 December 2012 | Rich Mix, London

Radio Gagarin is an occasional, travelling, Eastern-European, supra-socialist club night in London. We invited the audience to ignite their inner babushka and celebrate Radio Gagarin style with our comradeship of live music, digital DJ prowess, performance art, cinema, drama, poetry, puppetry, poverty, posterity, sailors, mutineers, heart throbs, Laika, Belka, Strelka and vodka. Featuring a screening of classic Soviet film work, and VJ


sets from the legendary band of fearless art activists The Gagarin Granddaughters (London's somewhat more tasteful answer to Pussy Riot). Manning the ship was the sweet-voiced Elena Dana, who delighted our ears with an array of feisty gypsy romances and glorious jazz melodies. A dress code was encouraged of notable Soviet women.

DASH CAFÉ Film screening: “How To Re-Establish a Vodka Empire”

With music from Iryna Muha and the Kibbitz Ensemble 31 January 2013 | Rich Mix, London

We presented an exclusive screening of the offbeat autobiographical documentary 'How To Re-Establish a Vodka Empire' -- a distinctive, funny and illuminating film charting director Daniel Edelstyn's journey as he tracks down his lost Jewish Ukrainian heritage and then attempts to relaunch his great grandfather’s once glorious vodka empire. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Daniel Edelstyn and featured music from acclaimed Ukrainian songstress Iryna Muha, playing in dynamic trio, the Kibbitz Ensemble. Kibbitz is a folk ensemble playing Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian, French, and Bulgarian traditional melodies; firing Klezmer tunes and borderless Gypsy music.

DASH CAFÉ Music and Film from Pop-Up Circus

6 February 2013 | Rich Mix, London

Presented with Pop-Up Circus who promote and stage music, art, film, theatre, writing, food and photography in traditional and non-traditional venues throughout London - the Cafe was a mix of contemporary and traditional music and short films from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia, and other former Soviet states; and also featured a new musical ensemble comprising Aisha Orazbayeva on violin, Gregor Riddell on cello, Kit Downes on keyboards and Simon Roth on drums and percussion -- uniting four highly regarded London-based musicians -- two from the contemporary classical idiom and two improvising musicians with music from Russian folk ballads to solo violin.

2013-2014 DASH CAFÉ Oliver Bullough in conversation with Orlando Figes with music from Kibbitz Ensemble

3 April 2013 | Rich Mix, London

This event celebrated the publication of Oliver Bullough’s much-anticipated non-fiction work, 'The Last Man in Russia'. Bullough read extracts from the book, and joined in a panel conversation with celebrated writer and leading Soviet Union historian Orlando Figes. Part travelogue, part political analysis - The Last Man in Russia is a study of a nation in crisis. Oliver Bullough is the acclaimed author of the Orwell Prize-shortlisted Let Our Fame Be Great. Orlando Figes' works on Russia include the prize-winning A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution, 1891-1924. The evening also featured music from the Kibbitz Ensemble, with acclaimed Ukrainian songstress Iryna Muha on vocals.

DASH RESEARCH Dash Arts Travels to Moscow

April, 2013

Josephine and Tim travelled to Moscow for a second intensive research and development trip. Tim was in Moscow during the essential Golden Mask Festival and so was able to see the best of theatre from across Russia. His trip was focused on meeting leading theatre producers, funders and creators and making the contacts towards the more extensive trip of the autumn. Josephine visited Moscow to meet with Elena Tupyseva and the dancers from Ballet Moskva and various composers and musicians for Dash Arts' Renegade Orchestra.

http://uk.myspace.com/elenazmuzika

http://www.myvodkaempire.com/

http://www.muha.co.uk/bios.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Man-Russia-Struggle-Nation/dp/184614373X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360839440&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Man-Russia-Struggle-Nation/dp/184614373X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360839440&sr=1-3


DASH CAFÉ Langham Research Centre, Sasha Ilyukevich/ The Highly Skilled Migrants, Max Reinhardt with Radio Gagarin

1 May 2013 | Rich Mix, London

Our second get-together with Radio Gagarin proved an eclectic evening of post-Soviet sounds featuring music and performance from Langham Research Centre whose performance featured a selection of archived Belarusian electronic music, new material inspired by Radio Moscow, re-mixed versions of Soviet military music and Communist party speeches and new soundscapes which draw on secret Soviet coded messages and space transmissions. Sasha Ilyukevich and his British band The Highly Skilled Migrants created an incomparable brew of post punk electric energy and folk lyricism from Belarus. DJ Max Reinhardt is a regular presenter on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction.

DASH CAFÉ A Literary Evening with Oksana Zabuzhko with English PEN and the PEN Atlas and the British Ukrainian Society

5 June 2013 | Rich Mix, London

The Ukraine's leading contemporary author Oksana Zabuzhko joined us to discuss her latest

novel 'The Museum of Abandoned Secrets'. Spanning sixty tumultuous years of Ukrainian

history, this multigenerational saga weaves a dramatic and intricate web of love, sex, friendship, and death -- from the dim days of World War II to the eve of the Orange Revolution. A panel discussion with Oksana, Igor Pomerantsev and Dr Andrew Wilson explored the historical and political context of modern Ukrainian literature, and the role of fiction writers in determining the country’s contemporary identity. An “epic of enlightening force” that explores the enduring power of the dead over the living."

DASH CAFÉ Film screening of Lucky Village with music from the Maspindzeli Choir with the British Georgian Society

3 July 2013 | Rich Mix, London

We presented this special event in partnership with the British Georgian Society: a rare screening of the fascinating 1993 Georgian film 'Lucky Village', directed by Giorgi Levashov-Tumanishvili and starring Tim Pigott-Smith, Zurab Kipshidze and Shota Kristeshasvil. 'Lucky Village' began filming in Georgia in May 1991 and was completed in extraordinary conditions of counter-revolution and imperial collapse, and civil war. The screening was accompanied by a short Q&A Lucky Village Associate Producer Marina Tsitsishvili. Maspindzeli Choir sang songs from the ancient polyphonic tradition of Georgia.

DASH CAFÉ A Pop-Up Siberian Workers Canteen with Russian Revels


With the main space at Rich Mix transformed into a Soviet Factory Canteen, our audience was treated to a feast for all the senses with an evening hosted by esteemed Factory Director DJ Max Reinhardt and with live music from Elena Dana and Igor Outkine. A night to forget the worker's blues and to celebrate Russian hospitality, our workers dined on the freshest Siberian dishes: home-made pelmeni (dumplings) with free-range pork and juicy beef; Ode to a

Buterbrod (open sandwiches with such toppings as aromatic sprats, potato and caraway bread with roasted garlic, Kamchatka crab and sweet cucumber pickle); Siberian pinenuts, cowberries and condensed milk mess.

DASH CAFÉ The film My Grandmother with the British Georgian Society


As part of the 3rd British Georgian Society Film Festival we presented 'My Grandmother' (1929), a Soviet Georgian silent film by director Kote Mikaberidze, with live accompaniment.. Forgotten for a half-century, the film is a delightful example of the Soviet Eccentric Cinema movement as well as an irreverent satire of the then still-young Soviet State. Noted for its anarchic styles—stop-motion, puppetry, exaggerated camera angles, animation and constructivist sets—the film un- spools the foibles and follies that abound when a Georgian paper pusher, modelled on American silent comic Harold Lloyd, loses his job and goes on the hunt for a Grandmother or an ‘in’ to get another job. The Reso Kiknadze Trio performed their new score for this wonderful film. Reso later joined the Dash Arts Renegade Orchestra in May 2016.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Museum-Abandoned-Secrets-Oksana-Zabuzhko/dp/1611090113/ref=la_B00423WOVO_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361209487&sr=1-1

http://theshrine.uk.com/2011/01/max-reinhardt/

http://theshrine.uk.com/2011/01/max-reinhardt/

https://myspace.com/elenazmuzika

http://www.mazaika-music.com/


DASH RESEARCH Dash Arts Travels at Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre, Georgia

4 - 9 October 2013

Josephine attended this festival in Georgia as research for REVOLUTION17 , meeting potential partners and artists including Tblisi Conservatoire, Rustaveli Theatre, Marjanishvili Theatre, Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, State Drama Theatre and Royal District Theatre.

DASH RESEARCH Dash Arts Travels to WOMEX

25 - 27 October 2013

Josephine participated at WOMEX, the world's leading world music conference which in 2013 was held in Cardiff. She spoke on a panel about Dash Arts and forged a number of artistic and producing contacts for the Post Soviet Orchestra. She also met the leading Russian viola player Lev Zhurbin who participated in events with us in May 2015 and the extraordinary Tuvan throat singer Radyk Tyulush who we brought to London in July 2014.

DASH RESEARCH Dash Arts Travels to Paris

29 October 2013

Josephine met with Paris-based, Russian composer Alexander Raskatov, a potential collaborator for Renegade Orchestra.

DASH RESEARCH Dash Arts Travels in Russia and former Soviet Union Countries

October - November, 2013

With support from our co-commissioners National Theatre, Belgrade Theatre and Lincoln Center Festival, Tim travelled for six weeks to St Petersburg, Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk (Russia); Bishkek (Kirghizstan); Almaty (Kazakhstan); Baku (Azerbaijan); Tblisi (Georgia); Yerevan (Armenia); Kiev and Odessa (Ukraine) and Minsk (Belorussia). The aims of the trip included: seeking key artistic colleagues for REVOLUTION17 and in particular '1917'; connecting with potential co-producing theatres, festivals and individuals; investigating places to rehearse, tech and open REVOLUTION17 events; and establishing a structure in each city to manage workshop auditions-core to our REVOLUTION17 development process.

DASH CAFÉ Russia on the International Stage with Pushkin House


Looking ahead to 2014's much feted UK/Russia Year of Culture, we held a discussion on Russian Culture on the International Stage with music impresario Olga Balakleets, journalist Peter Pomeranzev and London-based Russian artist Alexei Blinov plus London-based troubadour Sasha Ilyukevich and his British band ‘The Highly Skilled Migrants’ created an incomparable brew of post punk electric energy and folk lyricism.

‘Great panel! Very interesting! And thanks for the great job!’Audience Member

DASH CAFÉ Necrorealism with Radio Gagarin


In darkest December we conspired with Radio Gagarin to create, literally, a night to die for exploring all things deathly in an evening inspired by St. Petersburg's underground enfant terrible: Necrorealism. An exquisitely disturbing selection of films was screened followed by a conversation on Death with necro-experts: Ivan Gololobov, University of Warwick; Alexander Kan, BBC World Service; and Inese Strupule, Obskura Cinema Club. Songs of death, decadence and decapitation rung out from the banjolele-wielding bard Nigel Burch and his Flea-Pit Orchestra: Dylan Bates and Richard Lee. DJ Mourrka: London's only Russian gangster cat closed the night playing her finest selection of soul-destroying melodies which made our hearts weep and our feet skip. ‘Fantastic event, thank you! We will be back for more!’ Audience Member


DASH CAFÉ Hammer & Tickle


Inspired by Ben Lewis’ excellent documentary ‘Hammer and Tickle’ we showed choice scenes and jokes from the film and exploring why humour (and art) was so scary for the authorities in the Soviet Union. Ben talked about his research and journeys across the Post Soviet region and Eastern Bloc in pursuit of punchlines and history; writer and comedian David Schneider shared suppressive Soviet insights from his forthcoming play 'Making Stalin Laugh’; and journalist and writer Vitali Vitaliev shared his experiences of life as a writer under the Soviet Regime.

‘A very fascinating evening with varied and interesting subject matter. I would come again.’ Audience Member

DASH CAFÉ Ukraine: A Flight Over the Black Sea

5 March 2014 | Rich Mix, London

The Dash Café, the British Ukrainian Society and English PEN presented the work of Ukrainian poet Ihor Pavlyuk. Ihor’s work paints an extraordinary and complex picture of Ukraine and we used it as inspiration to begin a conversation about the country today. The evening featured the haunting and soulful music of Olesya Zdorovetska and a panel with Journalist Annabelle Chapman, translator Steve Komanyckyj and Ihor himself. This was a celebration of Ukrainian voices that gave us a unique perspective on the current political situation.

‘Thank you for organising this! He is a very good poet. Enjoyed it very much.’ Audience Member

DASH RESEARCH Renegade Orchestra Research Trip to Moscow, St Petersburg and Kiev

20 - 28th March 2014

Josephine visited Russia and Ukraine to meet potential musicians and composers for Dash's Post Soviet Orchestra project. She spent eight days in workshops and conversations with over 20 musicians in three cities, developing the concept for the production and working with possible collaborators. She also held meetings with potential co-producing partners in all cities including the Dakh Festival in Kiev and Alexandrinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Her visit to Kiev came only several weeks after the departure of President Viktor Yanukovych, and she spent time in the Maidan with its participants and activists.

2014-2015

DASH CAFÉ The Dash Arts Cosmonaut's Party


On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin made the first human flight in space. In April, Dash Arts, Russian Revels, Obskura Films and Radio Gagarin celebrated his achievements by presenting an evening inspired by the Soviet Space Programme. We dined on Leica Hot Dogs and watched some classic and unusual Soviet space cinema and then danced to extra terrestrial tunes as DJ Mourrka took to the decks. Theatrical chefs Katrina and Karina from Russian Revels will provided a cosmic menu and we enjoyed our Hot Dog or Hot Cat (veggie version) whilst watching Obskura's selection of fascinating films. Lyda Kavina then performed an astonishing set on her Theremin.

'It was an out of this world party. Very interesting evening, especially theremin playing. Thank you!’ Audience Member


DASH RESEARCH Renegade Orchestra Research Trip to Moscow, Tashkent, Almaty and Baku

24 April - 2 May 2014

Josephine continued research and development for Renegade Orchestra in the regions, spending time in Central Asia with possible musicians and members of the creative team for the project. This included time spent with Galina Pyanova, director of Artishock Theatre in Almaty, Kazahstan and composer Alexander Manotskov in Moscow who both joined the creative team of the project. She met classical and folk musicians in the conservatoires, concert halls and theatres across the major cities of the former Soviet Union.

DASH CAFÉ Brodsky Night: A celebration of the work of Joseph Brodsky

7 May 2014 | Rich Mix London

Dash Arts served up a first rate evening of poetry, prose, music, discussion and film that explored the remarkable work and life of Russian poet, Soviet dissident and Nobel Prize winner Joseph Brodsky. This was an evening for both those who knew nothing of Brodsky and those who knew everything. The evening kicked off with a rabble rousing set from Nigel Burch and the Flea Pit Orchestra and progressed to a fascinating debate with Glyn Maxwell and Valentina Polukhina with readings from Michael Pennington. Throughout the evening we raised money for the Stephen Spender/Joseph Brodsky prize for translation.

‘My first connection with Russian Poetry/Brodsky. I found it informative, funny and touching.’ Audience Member

DASH RESEARCH Theatre Project: 1917 Development

May, 2014

Tim travelled to Moscow, Tblisi and Kiev to continue work on 1917. He spent considerable time in script development in Moscow with his co-writer Maksym Kurochkin and a revelatory few days in Kiev during the Ukrainian elections.

DASH CAFÉ The Colour of Pomegranates


In collaboration with the British Georgian Society we screened 'The Colour of Pomegranates': a biography of the Armenian troubadour Sayat Nova (King of Song). One of the great masterpieces of the 20th century, Sergei Parajanov's film depicts the poet's life: his coming of age, discovery of the female form, falling in love, entering a monastery and dying, all framed through Sergei Parajanov's imagination and Sayat Nova's poems. The film was illicitly smuggled out of the Soviet Union in 70s for its UK premiere at the ICA. As part of a pre-show chat, we explored this story with Bill McAllister and Donald Rayfield. As an opener to this amazing film, alternative singer and multi-instrumentalist THéKO transported us into an intimate poetic and musical landscape.

‘Awesome evening! Thank you very much - a film I would never have seen otherwise’ Audience member.

DASH RESEARCH TWISTOV Workshops in London (supported by City Bridge Trust)

24 June - 1 July 2014 | Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith 9, 16 September 2014 | The Albany, Deptford 10, 17 July 2014 | Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn 4, 6 November 2014 | Rich Mix, Shoreditch 12 November 2014 | Culmination-Sharing |Shoreditch Town Hall, London

Dash Arts Creative Associate Sophie Austin launched the creative process for the future Dash Arts' production Twistov - a creative re-imagining of Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' created with and about the migrant communities of London. These eight workshops invited participants from post-Soviet migrant communities to explore the story of Oliver Twist whilst also exploring their own arrival to London and their personal experiences of the city. Through drama games and exercises participants were encouraged to tell stories, develop scenes for performance and generate their own material for discussion. In this first workshop we explored the themes of 'Leaving' their home countries and 'Arrival' in London.


DASH GIG Lilith Guegamian


In July we launched our Dash Blaze series of events by presenting Armenian singer-songwriter Lilith Guegamian live in concert in association with Music of Armenia. Guegamian is an accomplished Armenian folk singer with a fairy–tale voice, full of delicacy and imagination.

‘Wonderful performance! Thank you for giving us this opportunity. I hope you do more in the future!’ Audience Member

DASH GIG Radik Tyulyush

10 July 2014 | European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London

Direct from Tuva, Tyulyush is one of the world's leading throat singers and multi-instrumentalists. For this exclusive London appearance he was joined by collaborator Lu Edmonds, former punk guitarist with The Damned in conversation and performance.

DASH GIG Trans-Siberian Marching Band and Friends with DJ Penny Metal Extraordinaire


A night on board the Trans-Siberian Express with live music, films and food between stations featuring the brilliant Trans-Siberian March Band and Mazaika Duo, DJ Penny Metal, and food samples from the station stops along the way from theatrical culinary wizards, Russian Revels.

DASH ARTS DACHA Dash Arts Dacha

17 - 20 July 2014 | Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Suffolk

Situated in the Faraway Forest at Latitude Festival, this was the first outing for the Dash Arts Dacha, an escape to a rural Russian idyll and time-travelling immersive performance space laced with enticing intrigue and dangerous secrets. Guests lost themselves in films, dressing up, live music, theatre, hot tea, fevered discussion and late night DJ sets drawing on a century of Russian music.

DASH MIGRANT ARTISTS PROGRAMME/INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE LAB Dash International Theatre Workshop

23 - 25 July 2014 | Toynbee Studios, London

Dash Arts co-artistic director Tim Supple led our first Dash International Theatre Workshop for performers from London’s exceptionally diverse immigrant communities including those from Post Soviet States. This FREE workshop was open to performers not born in the UK and for whom English is not their first language. With thanks to Artsadmin.

DASH GIG DakhaBrakha

26 July 2014 | Rich Mix, London 27 July 2014 | WOMAD, Charlton Park

Award winning theatrical quartet from Ukraine whose folk melodies and rhythms create unforgettable music that is at once sacred and modern. We presented their only London appearance and took them to WOMAD where they stole the audience's hearts and were watched by over 7000 people. Presented in association with British Ukrainian Society.

'This was a classic WOMAD, and the most


unexpectedly successful, emotional performance came from a band of three women in furry stovepipe hats. Dakha Brakha are from Ukraine and matched edgy, eerie harmony vocals with concertina, cello and percussion work, in an exhilarating set that seemed to sum up their country’s chaos and hope. They veered from moody and atmospheric

passages to a furious, exuberant percussive finale in which they waved Ukrainian flags, looking bemused at the delighted reaction they had caused.' Robin Denselow, Guardian

DASH GIG Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants


The great Belarusian troubadour Sasha Ilyukevich and his British band The Highly Skilled Migrants create an incomparable brew of post punk electric energy and folk lyricism.

DASH CAFÉ Dzhamilya: A Film Screening and Post-Film Discussion


We kicked off Dash Arts’ Central Asian Season with 'Dzhamilya', a romantic fable based on the great Kyrghiz writer, Chingiz Aitmatov. The story, filmed and set on the harsh steppes of Kyrghizstan, reflects the wistful memories of Seit, a New York based painter as he reminisces about his youthful, innocent love affair with Jamilia during the 1940's. Jamilia was beautiful, the best horseback rider in town and unfortunately, married to his older brother in an arranged ceremony. A discussion took place after with Rahima Abduvalieva from the Aitmatov Academy.

‘Dash Arts is great. Always refreshing and inspirational’ – Audience Member

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS

After Khlebnikov in Batumi 8-12 September 2014 | Batumi Contemporary Art Space, Georgia

Josephine ran a three-day symposium exploring Dash Arts’ After Khlebnikov project with artists and curators from across the Post Soviet States, supported by the Batumi Contemporary Art Space.

DASH CAFÉ Film: To Get to Heaven First You have to DIe (directed Djamshed Usmonov)


Dash Arts’ Central Asian Season continued with the striking and poetic film 'To Get to Heaven First You Have To Die'. Sparer, bleaker and much more unsettling than the director's previous films, it stars Khurched Golibekov as the sullen, wide-eyed Kamal. An accidental meeting takes him on a far more troubling and darker journey than he was counting on. As part of the event we hosted a pre-show conversation with Dr. Shirin Akiner which helped to set the scene and put the film in context.

DASH CAFÉ Aisha Orazbayeva and a Night of Kazakh Music


Acclaimed violinist Aisha Orazbayeva presented an evening of Kazakh culture, through the prism of her own experiences, coming of age in a predominantly Russian speaking family in early 90s Almaty. Aisha created a video collage and performed a unique improvisation with her violin, especially for this evening, reflecting on the eclectic culture of the country with its Russian, Soviet and Western influences. The evening was opened by Kazakh actor and film-star Gulnara Dusmatova, performing work by the Soviet poet and activist Oljas Suleimenov.

'Thanks for your multicultural programme'


DASH RESEARCH Renegade Orchestra Workshop

8 - 12 November 2014 | Cove Park, Scotland

Josephine ran a three-day workshop at Cove Park near Glasgow, gathering together the core creative team for Dash's

Renegade Orchestra to create the framework for the score and libretto for the new production.

DASH CAFÉ The Dash Café and Calvert 22 present HAPPYSTAN - Chronicles of Life and Migration


Between Heaven and Earth was a ground-breaking and timely exhibition at gallery Calvert 22 which brought UK audiences a sense of the overlooked, yet exceptionally vibrant, contemporary art of the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as in Afghanistan and Mongolia. As part of our Central Asian Season, we invited Calvert 22 and curator David Elliot to share insights into his curatorial decisions and the scene in general. With music spun by DJ Mourrka - a lively and fascinating evening.

‘Wonderful informative and entertaining event as always. Thank you!’

DASH CAFÉ HERITAGE - Visual Art & Live Performance from Georgia with cArtveli

7 January 2015 | Rich Mix, London

We were proud to partner with cARTveli to host the opening of HERITAGE: Contemporary Art from Georgia - a collaboration between Georgian artists Levan Mindiashvili, Tato Akhalkatsishvili, Uta Bekaia, Irakli Bugiani and Argentinian Cristian Tonhaiser. Longtime collaborators, the artists embarked on an investigation into historical, social and cultural constructions and how these make up integral parts of the biological, mental and physical heritage of an individual. The evening included an opportunity to tour the exhibition, sample delicious Georgian wines and watch live performance from some of the featured artists. A discussion followed with the curator, Levan Mindiashvilli and some of the artists concluding with and the beautiful music of Paris-based THéKO.

‘Excellent idea, most interesting events delivered in a family-like friendly atmosphere!'

DASH CAFÉ Nothing is True and Everything is Possible with Peter Pomerantsev


We launched Peter Pomerantsev’s acclaimed and controversial new book 'Nothing is True and Everything is Possible' which takes the reader deep into the heart of modern Russia - a world transformed by money and power. joined in conversation Observer Journalist Nick Cohen joined the conversation which was followed by a raucous live set from London-based troubadour Sasha Ilyukevich and his British band The Highly Skilled Migrants - an incomparable brew of post punk energy and folk lyricism – the perfect complement to this ‘electrifying and terrifying’ book.

DASH CAFÉ Armenia and the Genocide with the Armenian Institute

4 March 2015 | Rich Mix, London

The survival and flourishing of Armenian culture celebrated with film, music and dance in a Café curated with the Armenian Institute. 2015 marked the centenary of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Turkish Government and we explored the legacy of this event and its diverse influences within Armenian culture. A perfect introduction to this fascinating culture with a Parajanov film, songs inspired by Komitas, music, dance, Armenian refreshments and tasty morsels. ‘Excellent event with an interesting mix of different arts. Good to see such an event put on, attracting non- Armenians as well as Armenians. Thank you so much for hosting it’


2015-2016

DASH CAFÉ The Spirit of Victor Tsoi with Obskura Cinema Club


Legendary rock singer Viktor Tsoi was a Soviet musician, film actor, songwriter and leader of the 80’s rock group Kino. Despite his untimely death, his spirit lives on in his music which remains hugely popular. With Obskura Soviet Cinema Club we screened Tsoi’s last film 'The Needle' (which features his music as well as his starring performance) and with a pre-film discussion featuring Alexander Titov, bassist from Tsoi's legendary band Kino and cultural historian Alexander Kan, we explored Tsoi’s work and his continuing influence

‘Always enjoy your free events, since when you were doing the Arabic series. Always looking forward to the next one!’

DASH ARTS DACHA 2 – 4 May 2015 |12pm – 12am| Rich Mix, London

An escape to rural Russia over the May Bank Holiday. After a smash-hit residency at Latitude Festival in 2014, the Dacha returned for summer 2015 launching at Rich Mix - welcoming audiences into an experience of 20th Century Russia, from Tsarist opulence, through Soviet socialism, to post Soviet anarchy - all in one day. Films, dressing up, board games and cards, fevered political discussion with guest experts, live music, impromptu theatre performances and late night DJ’s were all on offer with an endless supply of comforting drinks and snacks.

'Loved the experience of delving in, loved learning about Russia'

'What a truly delightful space, great hospitality and entertainment - A real treat. Thank you.'

DASH CAFÉ Family Affair with City of London Sinfonia

6 May 2015 | Rich Mix, London

Dash Arts and the City of London Sinfonia presented an evening of live music and conversation as we discussed the complex legacy of growing up in an artistic family. Composer Russian-American viola-player Ljova, son of rock opera composer Alexander Zhurbin, Gabriel Prokofiev composer and grandson of Sergei Prokofiev and Elena Langer shared their experiences and fascinating insights. Throughout the conversation we were treated to live performances of their work by musicians from the City of London Sinfonia and guest soprano Anna Dennis.

DASH CAFÉ

Poles in the USSR with Katy Carr 3 June 2015 | Rich Mix, London

In June we explored Polish culture and the Soviet Union with renowned folk musician Katy Carr. Aided by some fantastic speakers and experts including author of 'Two Years in a Gulag' - Frank Pleszak, academic and author of 'Finding Poland: from Tavistock to Hruzdowa and Back Again' -Dr Matthew Kelly and Siberia survivor and veteran - Danuta Gradosielska, Katy Carr took us on a journey through the Siberian Gulag, forced relocation, Poland’s role within World War II into contemporary Polish relations with Russia, illustrated and intercut by her own beautiful live performance.

‘It was absolutely wonderful. Magic evening full of emotions & memories’


DASH ARTS DACHA Midsummer Kupala Festival

21 June 2015 | Leyton Jubilee Park

A second 2015 outing for the Dash Arts Dacha -- welcoming audiences into an experience of 20th Century Russia all in one afternoon at Leyton's Midsummer Kupala featuring live music from Sasha Ilyukevich, discussions about food and sampling with our brilliant friends and comrades Russian Revels, a singing workshop with the wonderful Elena Dana, were all on offer. Plus mainstage performances from the Highly Skilled Migrants, Georgian Choir Aralali, Katy Carr and the Aviators, Mazaika Duo and DJ Penny Metal.

“Inspiring, fun, intellectually, stimulating and challenging

DASH CAFÉ Anton Maskeliade - Electro Magic and Musical Wizardry


Russian musician-producer Anton Maskeliade came direct from Glastonbury to demonstrate his innovative approach to audio-visual music-making Highly talented musical genius and creative geek, he is one of the first to create live electronica with gesture-control technology developing a unique technique of using his body, movements and gestures to stimulate different devices to create intoxicating music and eye-popping visuals. These audio-video effects synchronize into stunning sound scapes as he samples genres from electronica to contemporary pop.

‘Awesome! Wicked venue too’

DASH ARTS DACHA Latitude Festival

17 – 19 July 2015 | 11am – 2am |Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk

The final 2015 residency of the Dash Arts Dacha featured a triumphant return to Latitude Festival. Welcoming audiences to escape to rural Russia, our enchanted country house pulsated as a 12-hour ever changing performance venue with theatre, music, films, DJs and surprise treats. Creating a journey through 100 years of Russian history, guests were invited to watch films, dress up, play board games and cards, engage with fevered political discussions, enjoy live music, pick up a script and perform in impromptu theatre performances and dance late into the night with our DJ sets.

'I just stopped by - this made Latitude for me. Thank you!'

'We enjoyed it so much last year we returned again!'

'The warmest most engaging spot in all of the Republic of Latitude'

'Fabulously welcoming, a warm highlight of the festival for me!'

'You were the best thing at Latitude - hospitable, entertaining and off the wall. Thanks, great memories'

'The best area at Latitude! Thank you for tea, vodka, lovely people and a gorgeous space'


DASH GIG Yat Kha


In collaboration with Rich Mix, we presented Russian band Yat Kha, supported by DJ extraordinaire Penny Metal. Founded in Moscow in 1991 as a collaborative project between Albert Kuvezin formerly of Huun-Huur-Tu and Russian avant-garde, electronic composer Ivan Sokolovsky, Yat Kha blends traditional Tuvan folk music with post-modern rhythms and electronics. Yat Kha is named after the giant zither that lead singer Albert Kuvezin often plucks at on stage.

DASH CAFÉ Like Mama Used to Make It


We welcomed Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules and Food Anthropologist Katrina Kollegaeva to the kitchen table to share their favourite family recipes and, along with artist Yuldosh Juraboev to discuss how family recipes have evolved since the fall of the Soviet Union. With cooking demonstrations from Olia and Katrina and rousing and nostalgic tunes from DJ Sasha, this Café transported us with smells, tastes and sounds to a very different time and place.

‘Very enjoyable event - lovely inclusive atmosphere.’

DASH GIG THE ELEVENTH YEAR film with live music from Anton Baibakov and Sofia Turk

17 September 2015 | The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London

Dash Blaze and the EBRD Cultural Programme co-hosted an evening of classic silent film and live modern music featuring Ukrainian musician Anton Baibakov's new score to 'The Eleventh Year' - Ukrainian cinematographer Dziga Vertov’s homage to the Bolshevik revolution. Filmed in 1928 - eleven years after the revolution, the film made cinematic history with its innovative stylistic devices and complex experimental editing. Anton Baibakov performed his score live with pianist Sofia Turk.

DASH CAFÉ Georgia on Film with the London Georgian Film Festival


As part of Life Through Cinema - the 4th London Georgian Film Festival, celebrated Georgian film directors Tinatin Kajrashvili ('Brides') and Zaza Urashadze ('Tangerines') discussed making films in Georgia. We also screened 'Ferris Wheel', a new film by Uta Beria and heard beautiful Georgian music by Tamta Turmandize and friends.

DASH RESEARCH Research & Workshops with Hofesh Shechter Company

23 – 29 October 2015 | Budapest & Moscow

Josephine attended the WOMEX music showcase in Budapest and then joined two dancers from the Hofesh Shechter Company and producer Niamh O’Flaherty in Moscow to a series of dance workshops with Balet Moskva including an open call with dancers from across the city. Meetings followed with festivals and producers to explore a possible REVOLUTION17 Dance project as well as progressing conversations on REVOLUTION17 music and visual art productions.

DASH RESEARCH Tbilisi Research Trip

1 – 4 November 2015 | Tbilisi, Georgia

In November Tim returned to Tbilisi, Georgia to advance discussions with the world famous Rustaveli Theatre; a co-producing partner for 1917 the possible epic theatre work in Dash Arts’ REVOLUTION17 season.


DASH CAFÉ The Tatars of Crimea with the British Ukrainian Society


Presented in collaboration with the British Ukrainian Society, we screened 'Haytarma', a film that tells the story of Crimean Tatar test pilot and hero of the Soviet Union Amet-khan Sultan who witnesses the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars. The film was followed by a moving and thought provoking discussion about the film and the current plight of the Tatars with writer Lily Hyde and Melek Maksudoglu.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Platforma Festival and Conference

4 November 2015 | Curve Theatre, Leicester

Josephine and Creative Associate Sophie Austin were invited to speak about their co-production Twistov at the Platforma International Conference in Leicester. It welcomed artists, organisations, academics and others (including policy makers and funders) working in the arts relating to refugees and migrations, with the aim to share practice of those working entirely or in part outside England (whether based in England or elsewhere) and to explore the potential for new collaborations and networking.

DASH CAFÉ Vysotsky


An evening celebrating the life and work of Russian poet, actor and singer-songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky. We hosted live music from Igor Outkine, films curated by Obskura Film Club, conversation with Vysotsky experts Alex Kan and Polly McMichael and a headline set from Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants. With over 250 people in the audience this was a night to remember.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Ukrainian Cinema Days in London

10-13 December 2015 | Rich Mix, London

Dash Arts produced the Ukrainian Cinema Days, presented by the world-renowned Kyiv Molodist International Film Festival in association with the Igor Iankovskyi Charity Foundation and the Ukrainian State Film Agency. An opportunity to discover Ukraine beyond the headlines and despite war and the resulting political turmoil, there are other stories emerging from this extraordinary country. Bold, inspiring and unexpected, Ukrainian cinema has been enchanting audiences at the most prestigious film festivals and cinemas around the world. London was able to celebrate the emerging cinematic talents and discover some of the masterpieces of Ukrainian contemporary and classical cinema.

The Living Fire (Zhyva Vatra) 10 December 2015

A staggeringly beautiful four-year-long project documenting three generations of Ukrainian Car-pathian shepherds in their struggle to keep the age-old tradition alive in the face of contemporary changes.

White Bird with a Black Mark (Bilyy ptakh z chornoyu oznakoyu) 11 December 2015

This epic (winner grand prize, 1971 Moscow Film Festival) chronicles a family's struggle for survival in an area that was claimed as part of Romania, Poland and Ukraine in a short span of

time.

Trumpeter (Trubach) 12 December 2015

Young trumpeter Mykola Shevchenko who plays in a pop brass band attracts the attention of world famous musician Eugene Gaisin with his compositions. A story of rivalry between two children's orchestras and, just like adults, there is love, intrigue, jealousy and, of course, a happy ending!

Toloka 12 December 2015

Toloka is a creative adaptation of chainless poet's liberal poem. Based on the poem by the most famous

Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, some of the unpublished writings of Yuriy Illienko and Ivan Mykolaychuk. This is a work in progress showing followed by a discussion with the director.


The Guide (Povodyr) 12 December 2015

Ukraine, 1930s. An American engineer arrives in Kharkiv with his ten-year old son to help "build socialism". Under tragic circum-stances, his son is saved from his pursuers by a blind "Kobzar' (Stanislav Boklan). With no other chance to survive in a foreign land, the boy becomes his guide.

Ukrainian Short Films

13 December 2015

A selection of the best SHORT FILMS

from the 45th Molodist festival (2015) including: Away (KaterynaGornostai); animated films Big Man (Tetyana Kabaieva) and I Bought a Bicycle (Mykyta Lyskov); documentary Six Floors (Oleksandr Navrotsky); Trash (Tetyana Symon); and Once Upon a Mine (Vofka Solovéy).

Firecrosser (ToyKhto Proyshov Kriz Vohon) 13 December 2015

When the Soviet troops free Ivan from prison, he is charged with high treason and faces a long sentence in a Siberian camp. Not wanting to die behind barbed wire or wait for an amnesty, Ivan escapes.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS TWISTOV Workshops (Co-production with Dash Arts and Teatro Vivo)

11 and 13 January 2016 | The Albany, London 27 January 2016 | Pushkin House

These workshops (supported by Arts Council England) were a follow-up to our initial Twistov workshops in 2014 allowing the creative team to test material they had developed based on the initial workshops by once again inviting community participants into the process. Through this devising process we were able to learn a great deal: discovering the adaptations needed to the language, improvements to the characters and refinement of the narrative.

DASH CAFÉ Londongrad

20 January 2016 | Rich Mix, London

An exploration of the contemporary Russian ex-patriot experience in London with writer Owen Matthews, writer and journalist Michael Idov and novelist Vesna Goldsworthy'; and featuring a special screening of the first episode of a popular Russian comedy-drama 'Londongrad'. The conversation discussed the specifics of conceiving and making the show (on location in London) as well as the wider themes of storytelling and the different perceptions of London as seen through the eyes of migrant tellers.

“Very interesting evening - good panel, very good moderator/host and interesting questions and comments from the audience”

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Twistov Sharing and Post Show Discussion with Teatro Vivo

8 February 2016 | Somerset House, London The final stage of the Twistov script development allowed the actors to rehearse the draft text at Somerset House over a two-week period and to then perform the work in promenade style in the grounds of Somerset House. As a 'work-in-progress', the Creative Team was able to test the material and the style of performance with both performers and an audience.


DASH CAFÉ

‘There is No Sex in the Soviet Union...' 17 February 2016 |Rich Mix, London

This unintentionally intriguing comment by a Russian guest on a live US TV link provided a playful starting point for a conversation on sex and what kind of role it played in Soviet times and continues to play today. The result was a revealing film presentation by Obskura Cinema Club, a rousing debate with Olga Andreyeskikh, Irina Brown, Susan Larsen, and Peter Pomerantsev, followed by a steamy set by DJ Mourrka - the perfect alternative Valentine's event. “This was my first experience of Dash Arts and I feel so inspired”

DASH RESEARCH Berlin Research Trip

1 - 4 March 2016 | Berlin

In March Tim travelled to Berlin to research the 1917 production. The trip was spent meeting a number of leading theatres; notably Schaubuhne, Maksym Gorki and Volksbuhne and seeing work in their spaces. Discussions were held with each regarding collaboration in the 1917 project.

DASH CAFÉ Ali & Nino in Baku

16 March 2016 |Rich Mix, London

An evening inspired by Kurban Said’s novel set at the crossroads between Europe and Asia in Baku, at the start of the twentieth century. The love story of Ali Khan, a Muslim prince, with Nino Kipiani, a Georgian princess, is the subject of the forthcoming feature film, adapted from the novel by Christopher Hampton and directed by oscar-nominated director Asif Kapadia. Teresa Cherfas’s film Baku: the city of Ali and Nino, made as a companion piece to the feature, tells the story of the real-life historical events that form the backdrop to the novel: the oil boom years followed by war and revolution that toppled dynasties and changed the whole world order. This screening of the documentary was followed by a discussion with Teresa Cherfas and Caucasus expert Thomas de Waal.

2016-2017

DASH CAFÉ The Bear Next Door: Living with Russia as your Neighbour

20 April 2016| Rich Mix, London Twenty-five years after the end of the Soviet Union, how does Russia look from over the garden fence? Another probing Dash Café asked the hard and human questions about post-Soviet regional politics. Artists from Ukraine, Belarus, the Caucusus and Central Asia discussed the good, the bad and the ugly in their homeland's relationship with

Russia. The evening began with a set by London-based Belarusian troubadour Sasha Ilyukevich followed by a discussion with guests alongside Sasha, Romany dancer Saeeda Kasym from Kyrgyzstan, actor/director David Papava from Georgia, director/performer Yuldosh Juraboev from Uzbekistan, and Lubov Mikhailova, founder of the Ukrainian arts space IZOLYATSIA in Donetsk.

DASH RESEARCH Renegade Orchestra Development

8 - 18 May 2016 | Kazbegi, Georgia

Josephine Burton led a workshop in Kazbegi, Georgia for artists from across the Post Soviet States as part of the development for the Renegade Orchestra project. The 11 extraordinary musicians were joined by a creative team of composer Alexander Manotskov, playwright Natalia Vorozhbyt and director Galina Pyanova. Over eight days the group explored, listened and learnt from each other; playing, talking, jamming, walking towards the creation of a new piece of music for the newly formed ensemble.


DASH ARTS DACHA Wandsworth Arts Fringe

20 - 22 May 2016| The Bedford, Balham, London After successful runs in 2014 and 2015, The Dash Arts Dacha -- modelled on the iconic Russian country house -- returned in 2016 as the headline installation of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe. For 2016, The Dacha welcomed audiences through the prism of a Ukrainian family and their friends across the Soviet century - from the turbulence at the end of Tsarist imperialist rule, through Soviet socialism, to the contemporary challenges of independence. Films, dressing up, board games and cards, fevered political discussion with guest experts, live music, impromptu theatre performances and late night djs were all on offer with an endless supply of comforting drinks and snacks. Performers and speakers included Muha, Abraham Brody, Peter Pomeranzev, Theatre Borscht, Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants, Mazaika Duo and DJ Penny Metal.

“The most fabulous evocoative creative space with astoundingly good music. Thank you!”

DASH RESEARCH REVOLUTION17 Development (1917/Titus Andronicus)

5 - 13 June 2016 | Electrotheatre Stanislavski | Moscow, Russia

Tim Supple worked with a large group of students and young artists alongside a select group of well-established actors on Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus - research into the possibility of a project that would potentially bring together actors from across the former Soviet Union. These Russian actors brought an exceptional depth and rigour to the process of investigation. The workshops were organized in collaboration with the radical and important new Electrotheatre Stanislavski - a strong connection for Dash Arts in Moscow. The 60 students were part of the theatre’s training programme and the eight more established actors were part of the theatre’s wider professional network.

DASH GIGS Leyton Midsummer Festival

19 June 2016 | Leyton Jubilee Park, London We celebrated Midsummer's Eve at Leyton's second annual Kupala Festival. Dash Arts programmed a full afternoon of mainstage entertainment including headliners Don Kipper and Yiddish Twist Orchestra alongside a variety of family friendly activities, arts, and entertainment through A Midsummer Night's Dream-inspired Faery Den provided by Teatro Vivo.

DASH CAFÉ ‘A Beautiful Game?’

22 June 2016| Rich Mix, London On the eve of the EU Referendum, and in the middle of the Euro-Cup, the Dash Café tackled the subject of European Football and Europe, Eurasia, Russia - and Brexit with an audio-visual mash-up of goals and football highlights from both sides of the Iron Curtain created by our filmic collaborators Obskura Film Club and accompanied by the fabulous tunes of DJ Sasha. It also featured a couple of live free matches interspersed throughout the evening on the Rich Mix big-screen.

DASH GIG DakhaBrakha

23 June 2016| Rich Mix, London

Dash Arts, Nest Collective and Rich Mix were thrilled to present the return of Ukrainian alternative folk-punk band Dakha Brakha at a sold-out gig, live in London

on the eve of their performance at Glastonbury Festival .


DASH GIG Mimika Orchestra: Divinities of the Earth and the Waters

23 June 2016 | The Courtyard Theatre, London The extraordinary Mimika Orchestra - led by Croatian composer and saxophonist Mak Murtic and supported by various musicians from London’s jazz and other music scenes - presented 'Divinities of the Earth and The Waters' bringing together South Slavic folk traditions, live electronics and contemporary jazz into a theatrical show that uses archaic Slavic languages, the onomatopoeia of Khlebnikov’s futurism, and elements of the folk music from the Balkans mixed with Mimika Orchestra’s own brand of alternative jazz-rock. “I enjoyed your generous efforts in inspiring the community, making it more sensible & tolerant toward the unknown! Thank you! - I really enjoyed Mimika.”

DASH ARTS DACHA Dash Arts Dacha

1 - 3 July 2016 | Rich Mix, London

The second 2016 Dacha returned to Rich Mix with our focus on the Ukrainian experience through the Soviet century and beyond. Featured writers, speakers and performers included Ukrainian chef and writer Olia Hercules, Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants, Mazaika Duo, writer Marina Pesenti, ensemble Izba Voices and DJs Mourrka and Penny Metal.


14 - 18 July 2016| Latitude Festival, Southwold, Suffolk

The final Dacha of 2016 was a third visit to Latitude Festival in Suffolk with our Ukrainian country house established in the Festival's Faraway Forest -- an oasis of cushions, rugs, china teacups and home comforts; and presenting live music, theatre, films and late night dancing to DJ Sasha.

DASH CAFÉ Tsygane: Russka Roma

20 July 2016| Rich Mix, London

This Dash Café featured an evening of Russka Roma culture exploring romance, nostalgia and stereotypes through the film, music, dance, poetry and experiences of Romany people across the Soviet and Post-Soviet space. The evening included Saeeda Kasym and Yagury Fire, live music by the Café's co-curator Elena Dana, a filmic retrospective of gypsies on screen by Obskura Cinema Club, and a conversation with Roma poet Valdemar Kalinin and anthropologist Michael Stewart.


DASH CAFÉ ‘Putsch Yourself' – 25 Years on from the August Putsch

21 September 2016| Rich Mix, London

An evening of film, discussion and reminiscence as we marked the 25-year anniversary of the 1991 attempt by hardline members of the Soviet Union’s communist party to wrestle control from then-President Mikhail Gorbachev. Putsch Yourself brought together live witnesses: journalists Artem Troitsky and Lucy Ash, former British Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Sir Rodric Braithwaite, and creators of an online oral history archive of the Putsch - Margarita Novikova & Elena Michajlowska -- for an evening that explored the experiences of ordinary people at an extraordinary time

DASH GIG Sasha Ilyukevich’s Asylum with Gábor Halász

7 October 2016| The Courtyard Theatre, London In October, Dash Arts launched DASH ASYLUM presenting dynamic sounds by the best of London's migrant artists through a series of gigs headlined by an established artist from a migrant background but featuring different support acts for each gig - more 'emerging' migrant artists - chosen and mentored by our headliner from London's international melting pot of talent. The Courtyard Theatre hosted our first series and Belarusian troubadour Sasha Ilyukevich (with his band the Highly Skilled Migrants) was our first headliner. The first Dash Asylum 'Guest Artist' was Hungarian accordianist Gábor Halász.

DASH CAFÉ Mugam Central Asia Festival

19 October 2016| Rich Mix, London E1 6LA / FREE October’s Dash Café brought Mugam Central Asia & ÖH3, a group from the most celebrated Central Asian musical tradition, Mugam, to East London as part of London’s first ever International Open Central Asia Cultural Festival. After the performance, Dash Arts presented a discussion around contemporary Central Asian theatre and arts with visiting playwright and theatre Director Sultan Raev (Kyrgyzstan), Theatre Director Ovlyakuli Khodjakuli (Turkmenistan), Actor and winner of People's artists Award Nasira Mambetova (Kyrgyzstan) and actor, and Director and founder of Orzu Arts Yuldosh Juraboev (London, UK).

DASH GIG Sasha Ilyukevich’s Asylum with Amrit Singh

4 November 2016| The Courtyard Theatre, London The second DASH ASYLUM gig was again headlined by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants and featured Amrit Singh as guest artist.

DASH CAFÉ Platonov- In Words, Performance and Conversation

30 November 2016 | Rich Mix, London Dash Arts explored the life and extraordinary works of Soviet novelist and playwright Andrei Platonov through conversation with poet and Platonov translator Robert Chandler, composer Gerard Mc Burney, and actress Vladislava Lemesevska. The evening also featured live readings, recordings, and live music from the wonderful Iryna Muha.

DASH GIG Sasha Ilyukevich’s Asylum with Shabsi Mann

3 December 2016 | The Courtyard Theatre, London The final Sasha Ilyukevich's ASYLUM again featured the Highly Skilled Migrants band and highlighted guest artist Shabsi Mann with her avant-garde experimental folk punk rock, inspired by her Eastern nomadic roots and rare dimensions.


DASH CAFÉ Kolyada and Karachun: A Russian Winter Solstice Party

22 December 2016 | Rich Mix, London Our December Café fell on the Winter solstice, hosted by the Slavic gods of Karachun and Koliada. It was an evening of food and conversation with chef Katrina Kollegaev, Emily Hennessy - teller of Russian fairytales, and live music from the fabulous Mazaika Duo. It was an evening packed with talk of bears, snow on birch trees, mysterious Slavic rituals and steaming mugs of borscht served to everyone in attendance.

DASH CAFÉ Ukraine - An Artist's View

25 January 2017 | Rich Mix, London The first Café of 2017 explored contemporary Ukraine through the eyes of its some of its most dynamic artists featuring live music from the wonderful Ukrainian singer and songwriter Olesya Zdorovetska (launching her new project 'Telling Sounds', a sonic journey across the landscape of contemporary Ukrainian poetry), award winning visual artist Nikita Kadan from Ukrainian contemporary art collective R.E.P (revolutionary experimental space), director of the Ukrainian Institute Marina Pesenti and contributions from Royal Court playwright Natalia Vorozhbit on her project Theatre of the Displaced that tells the stories of people who have lost their homes in Eastern Ukraine.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Revolutionary Futures: After Khlebnikov

26 January 2017 | Pushkin House and Kings College London, London Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian and British artists and academics came together to explore the writings of the utopianist, horticulturalist, mathematician, and poet Velimir Khlebnikov in the centennial year of the Russian revolutions. This event featured a discussion with visiting artists Ukrainian Nikita Kadan of the group R.E.P. and Moscow-based collective, Iced Architects, Emeritus Professor of Russian and Georgian at the University of London Donald Rayfield and Josephine Burton, who explored Klebnikov's writings, their revolutionary artistic potential, and the broader implications that Russia's revolutionary past - and future - has for the world. This public conversation was followed by the opening of 'Glossolalia', a sound installation created by Iced Architects and based on Khlebnikov’s Language of the Future.

DASH GIG Battleship Potemkin (1925) with live, improvised score with Kino Klassika

17 February 2017 | Regent Street Cinema, London

A Dash collaboration with Kino Klassika and Regent Street Cinema for a landmark screening of Eisenstein’s masterpiece, 'Battleship Potemkin'. Originally conceived as part of a cycle of films commemorating the revolutionary events of 1905, Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin recreates in documentary-style the failed mutiny of the Black Sea fleet and the subsequent massacre of the people of Odessa. Musician and broadcaster Max Reinhardt led an inventive quartet of Elo Masing, Orphy Robinson and Adriano Adewale in creating a live, improvised score from the seats of the cinema.

DASH CAFÉ Odessa: A City of Rogues and Schnorrers


February’s Café explored the tales of Isaac Babel's 'Odessa' exploring the dark underbelly of a city filled with gangsters, prostitutes, beggars and smugglers set alongside everyday Jewish life. The Café included excerpts from Michale Boganim’s documentary 'Odessa Odessa' (2005) about the last days of Odessa's Yiddish actors, readings from Boris Dralyuk’s new translation of Babel’s 'Odessa Stories', conversation with scholar Dr Uilleam Blacker and literary critic Nick Lezard plus songs from Russian / Yiddish maestro Polina Shepherd and the London Yiddish Choir.


DASH GIG Come the Revolution with Radio Gagarin

23 February 2017 | Rich Mix, London Never Mind the Bolsheviks. An anarchic romp through memory, history, revolution and the special brew offer at Lidl to launch our REVOLUTION17 season of gigs, events and performances. Artistic collective Radio Gagarin filled Rich Mix with a tundra melting mix of live music, digital DJ prowess, performance art, East European cinema, poetry, puppetry, poverty, latkes, blinis, and vodka featuring musical performances from Tantz and Fran and Flora, performance and poetry, films, and Djs Max Reinhardt, Penny Metal & Mourrka.

DASH GIG The Jack Wood

25 February 2017 | Rich Mix, London In partnership with Rich Mix and the Nest Collective, Dash Arts kicked off our REVOLUTION17 gig series by presenting, Siberian garage-protopunk-blues band The Jack Wood, fronted by the lead voice of Pussy Riot, Sasha Klokova. Famed for powerful and unpredictable live performances, this rough, darkness-filled, smoke and whisky trio have conquered stages across the UK, Europe and Russia and collaborated with musicians like Richard Hell, Lenny Kaye, Mark Ribot, Nick Zinner, Pussy Riot and Le Tigre in New York and performed with Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth in London and Glastonbury.

DASH CAFÉ Exposure – Soviet Politics on Film with Kino Klassika

22 March 2017| Rich Mix, London The March café featured an investigation in three eras of Soviet cinema - the 1920s, 1940s and 1950s with extensive film clips from across the decades with representations of early Soviet social realism, war patriotism and the impact of tight censorship on the industry. Interspersed was a lively conversation with Soviet cinema scholars Jamie Miller, Alexander Graham and Clare Knight plus live music from the brilliant Mazaika Duo, who played a set drawn from and inspired by the musical scores of different eras of Soviet film.

2017-2018

DASH GIG

Mariana Sadovska and Abraham Brody with Nest Collective and Rich Mix

25 April 2017| Rich Mix, London Two exceptional international musicians together in a moving and profound double bill bringing together their Ukrainian and Lithuanian backgrounds and using voices, violin, harmonium, loop station, shruti box, and other instruments to weave their own unique magical sound worlds. Performing separately as well as together, this performance launched a collaboration on their shared roots in the Carpathian Mountains in both Ukraine and Poland. Presented with the support of the PRS for Music Foundation.

DASH CAFÉ

Clouded Lands and a New Cold War 26 April 2017| Rich Mix, London Our April Dash Café took place within Food of War’s 'Clouded Lands' exhibition - a show of photography, installation, painting, gastro-performance, sculpture and filming that explored the impact of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe, precisely 31 years on. We discussed the work, the wider issues and the influence of Nobel-prize winner Svetlana Alexeivich's 'Chernobyl Prayer' with several of the participating artists including Zinaida Lihacheva, Hernan Barros and Omar Castaneda inspired by. We were also joined by BBC journalist Lucy Ash and Peter Conradi author of the

recently published 'Who Lost Russia? How the World Entered a New Cold War' alongside live music from Ukrainian songstress Iryna Muha.


DASH GIG

The Disorientalists with Nest Collective and Rich Mix 4 May 2017| Rich Mix, London

Part klezmer cabaret, part oriental ragtime, part theatrical storytelling, Berlin-based The Disorientalists presented a magical piece of musical theatre based on the life of Essad Bey a.k.a. Kurban Said, author of the great Romeo and Juliet-esque novel 'Ali and Nino' (see Dash Cafe 16.03.2016), set in Baku during the upheaval of the Russian revolution. Performing on ba˘glama, accordion and piano - The Disorientalists are a little bit folkloristic - a little bit klezmer. Commissioned by the Maxim Gorki Theatre, Berlin.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Brodsky/Baryshnikov with Bird & Carrot Productions

3 - 7 May 2017 Apollo Theatre, London Brodsky / Baryshnikov is a one-man show based on the poems of Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky, performed by international dance star Mikhail Baryshnikov. Conceived and directed by Alvis Hermanis, noted Latvian director of The New Riga Theatre, Brodsky / Baryshnikov is an emotional journey deep into the poet's visceral and complex compositions. Performed in Russian, Brodsky's mother tongue, Baryshnikov recites a selection of his long-time friend's poignant and eloquent works. His subtle physicality transported the audience into Hermanis' reverent imagining of Brodsky's interior world. Following acclaimed runs in Latvia and at Baryshnikov's own arts centre in New York, we collaborated with UK-based Russian promoters Bird & Carrot to present the production's London premiere.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Sounds of the Revolution -Late at the British Library

5 May 2017 | British Library, London A night of breathtaking live music, radical sound and silent film featuring the premiere of the first Journey from Renegade Orchestra, a revolutionary piece of music theatre written by Russian composer Alexander Manotskov with musicians from the Post-Soviet States. The Renegade Orchestra was researched, developed and created over several years by Josephine (see multiple references above).

The evening continued with a screening of Vsevelod Pudovkin’s brilliant silent film 'The End of St Petersburg' (1927) - in association with Kino Klassika and Nonclassical - which beautifully depicts the Russian peasants’ struggle and journey

towards Revolution in 1917 -- accompanied by a live soundtrack devised by British-based composer Gabriel Prokofiev and Manotskov and featuring the Renegade Orchestra and additional UK-based musicians. Monumental sounds, sirens, theramin, strings and foley instruments combined with elements from works of the period by composers such as Sergei Prokofiev (grandfather of Gabriel) and the legendary experimentalists Mossolov, Avraamov and Matyushin. Made possible with the support of PRS for Music Foundation and Rich Mix London (The End of St Petersburg) and the Oleg Prokofiev Trust, Brighton Festival, and Cockayne - Grants for the Arts (Renegade Orchestra).

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Dash Gig: Vardan Hovanissian and Emre Gultekin with Nest Collective and Rich Mix 11 May 2017| Rich Mix, London A stunning collaboration between Armenian Duduk player Vardan Hovanissian and his musical soulmate, Turkish saz player Emre Gultekin. A friendship capable of overcoming frontiers has brought them to Adana, their first CD as a duo. No mere reference to the city that bore the brunt of the Armenian tragedy just a century ago, Adana also stands for the hope the musicians share of an Adana where Armenians and Turks live in harmony.


DASH GIG Oligarkh with Nest Collective and Rich Mix

23 May 2017| Rich Mix, London A journey through the Russian collective conscious - Oligarkh brought Electro-beats, Orthodox chant and Russian folk to a live drumming backbeat and a continuous montage of Soviet-era audio-visual footage in a spectacular evening at Rich Mix direct from St Petersburg.

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The Émigré Flight from Russia 24 May 2017| Rich Mix, London Many writers and artists caught up in the chaos of the Russian Revolution and subsequent Civil War went on to forge new lives in exile in Europe. We focused on the hugely popular and funny story writer Nadezhda Teffi and other émigré writers, Vladimir Nabokov and Ivan Bunin with speakers Bryan Karetnyk and Dr Maria Rubins and the beautiful musical collaboration of Sasha Ilukyevich/Rochelle Swanson bringing these poignant words to life.

DASH ARTS DACHA 26 - 29 May 2017 |British Library, London

Our first stop of the 2017 Dacha season was a bank holiday installation in a large marquee on the piazza of the British Library and an in-depth exploration of the revolutionary year of 1917 with a kitchen stocked full of vodka, hot tea and snacks as our Russian country house explored life across the spring, summer and autumn of 1917 through the eyes of the Popov family in Vyritsa, several hours outside Petrograd - and how they reacted to the tumultuous events across that year.

DASH ARTS DACHA AT RICH MIX - A MONTH-LONG RESIDENCY 12 June - 12 July 2017 |Rich Mix, London

Following our Rich Mix Dacha installations of 2015 and 2016, in 2017, Dash Arts was invited to create a month-long residency within Rich Mix's Main Space. Over these four weeks, our Russian country house came to life and hosted a wide-range of events, talks, mini-residencies, performances and a live, radio broadcast.

DASH ARTS DACHA - AN OPENING PARTY 12 June 2017 | Rich Mix, London

A lively musical opening to our month in the Dacha that drew on a century of Russian music and culture with an opening set by Mazaika Duo bringing their intoxicating blend of contemporary folk songs, jazz, tango and gypsy violin and accordion and followed by DJ Sasha who played out the evening with a set of rocking tunes from across the Post Soviet States.

DASH ARTS DACHA - A WEEKEND IN THE SPRING OF 1917 17-18 June 2017 | Rich Mix, London

The opening weekend in the Dacha was set early in the year of 1917 where the Popov Family has retreated to their dacha in Vyritsa, several hours outside Petrograd (once St Petersburg) to escape the gloom and confusion of the last days of the Imperial Monarchy. Featured artists included Ukrainian singer Iryna Muha, Russian storyteller Rachel Rose Reid and Belarusian troubadour Sasha Ilyukevich alongside storyteller Vanessa Woolf.


DASH ARTS DACHA AT RICH MIX - A MONTH-LONG RESIDENCY 12 June - 12 July 2017 |Rich Mix, London

DASH ARTS DACHA/FILM - AND QUIET FLOWS THE DON 22 June 2017| Rich Mix, London

Dash Arts was pleased to present a rare opportunity to experience this stunning five-hour cinematic epic directed by Sergey Gerasimov telling the story of the lives of the Cossacks in a village in Southern Russia between 1912 and 1922 -- adapted from one of the classics of early Soviet literature showing how the common people - traditional farmers, workers and warriors suffered through the most dramatic events in the history of Russia.

DASH ARTS DACHA - A WEEKEND IN THE SUMMER OF 1917 24-25 June 2017 | Rich Mix, London

Our Dacha summer of 1917 was set shortly after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II as the Popov Family spent a weekend in Vyritsa several hours outside Petrograd as chaos reigns in the city. With the samovar always boiling in the kitchen, visitors were treated to performances including Polina Shepherd and the London Russian Choir, a special re-telling of Prokofiev's 'Peter and the Wolf' and Theatre Borscht presenting vegetable puppet theatre. The weekend also featured screenings of two of the most celebrated films of post-Soviet cinema - 'Leviathan' (2014) and 'Russian Ark' (2002).

DASH EVENTS - TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD 1-2 July 2017 | Rich Mix, London (part of Art Night)

A never-to-be-repeated experience. As part of the annual all-night/over-night Art Night event - we threw open the doors of our Dacha for an all-night revolutionary happening as audiences re-lived the 1917 Revolution through music, DJs, two very important films depicting the events of the day 'October' (1927) and 'Reds' (1981) and an impromptu staging of John Reed's thrilling first-hand account 'Ten Days That Shook The World' - finishing at 6am with a Russian breakfast provided by KinoVino Catering.

DASH EVENTS - BBC RADIO 4 - LIVE RECORDING OF THE KITCHEN CABINET WITH JAY RAYNER 11 July 2017 | Rich Mix, London

Direct from the Dacha on its final day...BBC Radio 4's premiere food programme - 'The Kitchen Cabinet' - brought its witty, fast-moving irreverence to a live Dacha audience. Featured guests included Dacha favourite Mamoushka Chef Olia Hercules and Dash Arts Co-Artistic Director Josephine Burton.

DASH ARTS DACHA - THE AUTUMN OF 1917 9 July 2017 | Rich Mix, London

Autumn arrived for the Popov Family of 1917 Russia who have retreated to their rural home in Vyritsa as the Winter Palace and the Provisional Government falls. Performers from the E15 Acting Programme created a special day in the Dacha with a mixture of performance, music, story, puppetry, one-to-one theatre, song, craftsmanship and cooking.

DACHA RESIDENCY - A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY WITH E15 ACTING SCHOOL 12 June - 12 July 2017 | Rich Mix, London

Throughout our Dacha residency we were joined by MA Directing and MA Acting students from drama school E15 who took up residency in the unique ambience of the Dash Arts Dacha - inspired by the vibrant culture and political turmoil of the Soviet Century. Over the four weeks, the MA Directors and Actors brought us open rehearsals of newly devised plays, live performances and an open house of public workshops and immersive possibilities.


DASH CAFÉ The Revolution that Changed the World


Our June Café, at the heart of our REVOLUTION17 year, was a probing investigation into the gripping events of 1917 in Petrograd, the year of revolutions that changed the world -- exploring what happened between the less known February revolution and the iconic October uprising. Sitting within the pop-up installation of the Dacha at Rich Mix, the evening featured an exciting conversation between special guests Orlando Figes, Elena Zaytseva and Natalia Murray accompanied by film clips compiled by our friends Obskura Film Club.


13 - 16 July 2017| Latitude Festival, Southwold, Suffolk The final Dacha of 2017 was a thrilling fourth visit to Latitude Festival in Suffolk with our country house well established in the Festival's Faraway Forest -- an oasis of cushions, rugs, china teacups and home comforts; and presenting live music, theatre, films and late night dancing to DJ Sasha -- and where we were met by a faithful and enthusiastic audience who often report 'it's the best thing at Latitude!'

DASH CAFÉ Disgraced Monuments, Iconoclasm and Soviet Dreams


Our July Café explored the creation of icons in Soviet times and the significance of their existence and destruction in the years since the fall of the Soviet Union. The evening included a screening of Laura Mulvey's 1994 poignant film 'Disgraced Monuments' and a discussion which looked at the sudden changes to political and cultural life in the former Soviet Union through the prism of its classic icons with filmmaker Mulvey as well as writers Zinovy Zinik and Owen Hatherley.

DASH CAFÉ On Meyerhold


When the Bolsheviks took power in October 1917 the young theatre director Vsevolod Meyerhold was the radical, star pupil of the great Stanislavski. Meyerhold's productions were shaking up classical theatres and his plans for actor training were a century ahead of their time. To explore the shocking narrative of his tragic demise, we hosted an evening of artistic revelation with academics, performers and Meyerhold experts including Director and Acting Coach Oleg Mirochnikov, Dr Amy Skinner from the University of Hull and Dr Beatriz Calvo at City University.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Twistov: A Theatrical Adventure Through the Streets of Shoreditch with Teatro Vivo

30 October - 18 November 2017| Launching from Rich Mix, London In development since 2014 (see above), Twistov came together as a thrilling exploration of identity and home and who we become if both are lost. Inspired by both Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' and the real experiences of migrant communities, Twistov was the story of a young man you has gone missing in London. Taking place over the streets of Shoreditch, Twistov took the audience on a journey challenging them to see beyond the new buildings and trendy shops, to look down side streets and in doorways and to meet another London.


DASH CAFÉ Revolution: 100 Years On

25 October 2017| Rich Mix, London Held on the evening of the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution, we explored its impact on Russia today bringing together artists, activists and writers including Charlotte Hobson, award-winning novelist, translator and journalist ('Black Earth City'; 'The Vanishing Futurist'); Artemy Troitsky ('Subkultura: Stories of Youth and Resistance in Russia, 1815-2017'), dj and cultural critic; and Vladimir Ashurkov, Russian dissident and colleague of anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny.

DASH MIGRANT ARTISTS PROGRAMME/INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE LAB

International Performance Laboratory 20 November - 2 December 2017 | Rich Mix, London An unmissable artistic and professional development opportunity exploring performance in the unique Dash Arts style -- across art-forms, languages and cultural background. Targeted to UK-based performers originally from another country, our 12 participants spent two weeks in a collective, physical, playful and instructive sharing of skills and experience while investigating the novella 'SOUL' by the great Russian writer Andrei Platonov (see Dash Cafe 30.11.2016), an extraordinary tale of a nomadic community of different races and ethnicities surviving together in the Soviet Central Asia of the 1930s.

DASH CAFÉ Dash Arts' Five Years in the Post Soviet World

22 November 2017| Rich Mix, London The November Café - the last REVOLUTION17 Café - reflected on Dash Arts' five-year journey through the Post-Soviet world with a group of exceptional colleagues and friends including journalist Oliver Bullough and playwright Natalia Vorozhbit who have helped us explore how politics and the arts have changed over the period. Plus we were joined by some of our favourite REVOLUTION17 musical collaborators - Mazaika Duo, Sasha Ilyukevich and tunes from DJ Mourrka.

DASH PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS Cold Wars: A Uniqlo Tate Late Installation

24 November 2017 | Tate Modern, London Inspired by the exhibition - RED STAR OVER RUSSIA, Dash was invited to participate in November's Uniqlo Tate Late installation event and contributed a an exploration - both practical and metaphorical of the Soviet/Post-Soviet century through the medium of the chess board. Created by Josephine and Dash Arts Creative Associate Bryan Woltjen .

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DakhaBrakha 29 November 2017 | OvalSpace, London For their triumphant third visit over our five-year REVOLUTION17 programme, Dash Arts and Nest Collective were very pleased to present the return of Ukrainian folk superstars Dakha Brakha. Following our initial visit in 2014 and our sold our Rich Mix gig in 2016, this time we presented them in the much larger Oval Space - selling out all 1,000 tickets.

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Dash Asylum 2 December 2017 | Rich Mix, London

Our closing night of the International Performance Laboratory doubled as a fitting closing night to the entire REVOLUTION17 project. Throwing open the doors to the public, we shared selections of work direct from the Lab. Plus we shared a final REVOLUTION17 opportunity to dance to the punk lyricism of Sasha Ilyukevich and his Highly Skilled Migrants alongside the late night tunes of DJ Sasha.

2012-2017 dash arts in the post-soviet world · historian orlando figes. part travelogue, part...

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