BIRTHDAY

"Birthday" is a dance performance that combines a reflective, poetic narrative with a conscious approach to production and choreography. Inspired by Ildikó Boldizsár’s fairy tale The Birth of the Princess, it tells the story of the miracle of birth and the gifts we bring into the world. Dance in various styles and forms, music, and spoken word are woven into a delicate fabric of storytelling, creating a space for wonder at the simplicity and joy of life. The atmosphere of the performance is warm and familial; the on-stage "birthday" becomes a symbolic meeting of generations and a celebration of universal values and intangible wealth. The set design and costumes were created in the spirit of sustainable production – using available materials and natural fabrics – and the entire show was designed with easy mobility in mind.

Julia Dondziło (b.1982) – choreographer, dancer, dance researcher, dance instructor, independent artist. After years of experience in France and cross-border cooperation developing her artistic sensitivity, she is currently creating in Poland. A graduate of Performing Arts with a Dance major at Paris VIII University and the R.I.D.C. school, where she obtained a professional dancer diploma. Participant in numerous artistic projects at the National Dance Center in Paris. Founder of Compagnie de danse Julia Dondzio in the Paris region, active until 2023. Currently President of the CICHO ECHO Foundation. Since 2012, she has created about fifteen original productions during residencies in India, France, Estonia, and Poland. In her work, she develops a broadly understood choreographic culture by combining theory and practice. Awards and distinctions: the performance for children "Grafeet" was recognized at the Children's Festival in Poznań (2022), the piece "Feminine–Spring" won 3rd prize in the solo or duet category at the National Young Choreographers Competition organized by the Institute of Music and Dance and the "Śląsk" Song and Dance Ensemble in Koszęcin (2018). A major success was the first prize for the performance "Perfect State" created with Joanna Malitka at the choreographic competition 3...2…1...DANCE (Krakow Dance Theatre and Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, 2012), as well as numerous group awards. Antonina Maria Dąbrowska (b. 2002) – graduate of BA studies in Dance Theatre Acting (Dance Department, Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice). From the upcoming semester, a master's student in Dance Theatre. She comes from Białystok, where she developed her movement and dance sensitivity under the guidance of local teachers and artists. Beginning her artistic studies in Katowice opened new ways of thinking about dance as a path to expanding kinesthetic and sensory awareness and a means of conveying meaning. In her work, she focuses on the performative use of improvisation and the relationship between somatic exploration and constructing stage communication. Her main inspirations include the anthropology of performance and experience, existential philosophy, and contemporary phenomena in performing arts. She works in the language of contemporary dance and improvisation. She has performed in the following productions (among others): “Autentyki” – chor. Bartłomiej Mieszczak (Katowice, 2022), “BoneXposed” – concept by Sławomir Juszczak, dramaturgy by Zuzanna Kasprzyk (Gdańsk/Frankfurt am Main 2023), “C.U.D.fm” – dir. Julia Dondziło (Białystok 2023), “MOMENTUM LIVE ACT” – music: Franciszek Jackowski, directed by Anna Sawicka-Hodun (Białystok 2024), “Portret(y)” – dir. Ryszard Kalinowski (Dance Department 2024), “If Fish Had a Voice” – chor. Agata Jędrzejczak (Dance Department 2024), “UnPresent RED vol.2” – dir. Krystian Łysoń (Dance Department 2024) Mateusz Dawidziuk (b.1999) – 3rd-year student at the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź in the field of Choreography and Dance Techniques. Graduate of the Artur Grottger High School of Fine Arts in Supraśl and the Vocal and Acting School in Białystok. Dancer in the Etnomusical and Oktawa Kultur 2021 in Białystok. Member of the “Kurpie Zielone” Song and Dance Ensemble during the 2020/2021 season and of the Raw Art Society. In collaboration with Dorota Baranowska, director of the Raw Art Society, he co-created the performance “Instynkty” within the Przestrzenie Sztuki 2021 project. In his creative work, he aims to combine experiences from various techniques and environments to create new stage solutions. In addition to his artistic work, he was the coordinator of the “Kalejdoskop” Festival in 2021 and 2022. This experience allowed him to view an artist's work from the organizational side and gain experience that proves useful in his creative projects. Wiktoria Baczar (b.2005) – dancer, student of the 8th grade at the Non-public School of Dance Arts in Białystok. She began her dance training at the Classical Dance Academy at the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Białystok, where she performed in: “Coppélia,” “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake,” “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as an international tour with the performance “Cinderella.” Later, as a student of NSST, she participated in the International Ballet Confrontations in Kołobrzeg, the International Ballet Art Competition in Elbląg, and the International Dance Festival “Happy Dancer.” She took part in dance projects and performances including the “Parallax” Poruszone Concerts choreographed by Andrzej Morawiec as part of the Przestrzenie Sztuki Białystok program, the “East of Culture” Festival, the “Fairy Tale Forest” project, “Fairy Tale Trail,” “Summer Ballet Evenings,” and “The Missing Link. A One-Act Ballet.” She has attended dance workshops with instructors such as Izabela Zawadzka, Maciej Kuźmiński, Aneta Wira-Ostaszyk, Sebastian Flegiel, Sławomir Juszczak, Karolina Kroczak, Łukasz Zgórka, Anna Godowska, and Sławek Krawczyński. She has been exposed to various dance styles, including classical, character, hip hop, folk, and tap. However, her greatest passion is contemporary dance and the vast possibilities it offers – expressing oneself, conveying meaning to the audience, and experiencing that which cannot be described in words. Wiktor Klimaszewski (b.1998) – breakdance dancer, painter, DJ, music producer, founder of the artistic collective Rytmy Movement, and organizer of contemporary art exhibitions. As a multidisciplinary artist, he combines his 17 years of experience in street dance with 13 years of education in visual arts, including abstract painting, murals, video art, VJ-ing, and music production. In 2020, he completed a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design at Bialystok University of Technology, including an exchange to the School of Media Arts and Design in Portugal. He then completed his Master's degree in Graphic Design at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology in Warsaw. He is the author of numerous soundtracks for dance performances, short films, and exhibited art installations. He has performed for, among others, Jarosław Staniek and Anna Sawicka-Hodun. Between 2017 and 2023, he led over 700 hours of dance and interdisciplinary dance-painting workshops in Bialystok, Warsaw, and Swiebodzin, held in dance studios and cultural centers for diverse age groups including children, adults, and people with disabilities. Marta Kowalczyk (b.2004) in Bialystok. She developed her dance technique and stage movement skills at SDK Danceoffnia studio. From 2017 to 2020, she studied jazz, classical, and contemporary dance there. She then focused on body awareness and movement potential under the guidance of Anna Sawicka-Hodun, attending her classes. As a result, she performed in shows such as: “Here and Now. Asleep in Events” (2022), “Self-Portraits” (2023) – Anna Sawicka-Hodun. Getting to know the Bialystok artistic community, she began to incorporate other art disciplines to broaden her understanding of dance. She co-created an improvised performance to electronic music “Rhythms of Space” (2022), where she confronted her technique with other dance styles. She completed the "Ways of Being" composition and dance dramaturgy workshops twice, organized by Movement Direction. There she learned how to tell stories through dance and create cohesive and compelling works that convey emotion and the beauty of movement. Inspired by this knowledge, she created the duet "Sploty," which she presented in 2024 at the University Culture Center. Starting next semester, she will be a student at the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz, majoring in Dance Techniques and Choreography. Justyna Godlewska-Kruczkowska (b.1976), from Bialystok, graduate of the Puppet Theatre Arts Department at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz Theatre Academy in Warsaw, actress with dozens of roles ranging from comedic characters and fairytale heroines to major dramatic roles. Master of Arts. Recipient of the City President's scholarship for professional artists in 2015 (project "Emocjałki" based on the works of Grzegorz Kasdepke) and in 2020 (project "The Mistress" based on the romance of Nina Andrycz and Aleksander Węgierko), recipient of the Dorman Project scholarship from the Theatre Institute in 2016, and of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage scholarship together with her founded association Teatr Improwizacje ("Wyspiański Project'2007"). She was awarded by the Podlaskie Voivode in the 2002/2003 artistic season, and by the Podlaskie Marshal for cultural promotion (2020). Educator. Workshop instructor for children, youth, and adults. Jury member of many recitation and theatre competitions, speech therapist. Author of scripts, songs, rhymes (not only for children), co-author and director of many literary-theatrical projects, cooperating continuously with the Podlasie Library, its many branches across the region, and with schools. Initiator, president, and founder of the Pracownia Teatralna Foundation. Advocate and passionate supporter of education through art, especially theatre. Gifted with a strong yet quirky sense of humor. Martyna Štěpán-Dworakowska (b.1980) – graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (Czech Republic), Department of Puppet and Alternative Theatre. PhD graduate from the Faculty of Media Arts and Stage Design in Warsaw. Lecturer at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz Theatre Academy in Warsaw, Bialystok branch. She has designed numerous stage sets for theatrical productions in Poland and the Czech Republic. Her collaborations include: Teatr Baj in Warsaw, Miniatura Theatre in Gdańsk, Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, Arlekin Puppet Theatre in Łódź, Groteska Theatre in Kraków, Drama Theatre in Bialystok, Bialystok Puppet Theatre, Ateneum Puppet and Actor Theatre in Katowice, HaDivadlo Theatre in Brno, Studio Ypsilon in Prague, Petra Bezruce Theatre in Ostrava, and many others. Creator of stage designs, puppets, and theatrical costumes, as well as interactive space installations. For years she has been conducting original workshops focused on visual and theatre arts for children, including: "In the Dark for Light," "Art for the Tiny Ones," "Artistic Experiments." Four-time scholarship holder of the City of Bialystok for Young and Professional Artists with her original projects: "Dancing the Polka in the Theatre," "In the Dark for Light," "Play Laboratory," and "Mi moja." Franciszek Jackowski (b.2004), stage name MARMØ, young sound artist, producer, live performer, and sound designer from Bialystok. In 2022, he released his debut album "Momentum" as MARMØ, in collaboration with vocalist Michał Gieniusz (Mutanaum). In 2024, he organized the premiere concert "MOMENTUM LIVE ACT" at Kino Forum in Bialystok. Directed by Anna Sawicka-Hodun, the event presented the full concept of the album "Momentum" with dance, visualizations, lighting, vocals, and live electronic music. The concert was very well received. He also creates music for dance performances and films. His compositions have been featured at festivals such as Electrum Up To Date and Tribalanga Festival. MARMØ’s soundtracks accompanied performances at the Polish Dance Platform in Łódź, Bialystok Puppet Theatre, the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, and the Olga Sawicka International Dance Festival in Lądek-Zdrój. He has also created music for art exhibitions, including for the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic and NordArt in Germany. MARMØ was awarded an Artistic Scholarship from the Podlaskie Voivodeship Marshal for 2019/2020. In 2024, he plans to start studies in electroacoustic composition at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań. Natalia Nosorowska (b.2002) – vocalist, composer, and leader of the Bialystok-based band La Vanders. Music has accompanied her since preschool age, with the most significant influence on her development being her participation in a classical guitar duo, gospel ensemble, and sung poetry. For her overall achievements in numerous reviews and competitions, she was awarded a scholarship from the Podlaskie Voivodeship Marshal in 2021 in the field of artistic creativity. Currently, she works as a vocalist, lyricist, and guitarist for the band La Vanders, which is currently releasing its second album. In January 2024, the band was ranked third among the best artists in Podlasie according to the regional music community.