Curie - three colours

What connects Maria Skłodowska-Curie and dance? At first glance, nothing—but when we look deeper... Perseverance, determination, perfection, and discipline are qualities essential both to a scientist and a dancer. Dance, it turns out, is a perfect medium to convey her fascinating biography. This dance performance, created by Artur Żymełka, is a true showcase of the artistry and skill of our dancers. The choreography blends the elegance and dynamism of dance with emotional depth, resulting in a unique ballet experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of dance theatre. Audiences will experience an eclectic fusion of classical, cinematic, and electronic music, combined with special effects. These diverse musical genres aim to highlight values that are eternal and universal. "We must have perseverance and self-belief. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained—at all costs." – Maria Skłodowska-Curie Curie – Three Colours is not only the biography of an extraordinary scientist and double Nobel laureate told through dance. It is a starting point for deeper reflection on issues such as women's equality, tolerance, discrimination, and emigration. Artur Żymełka's performance carries a powerful message—it emphasizes the uniqueness of the individual, the ability to overcome obstacles, and the potential to make groundbreaking discoveries. While deeply rooted in history, it remains strikingly relevant today, reminding us that the fight for women's equality and recognition is still ongoing. Every minute of this spectacle gradually reveals the figure of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, peeling back layers of her character and showing that her path to success was filled with twists, turns, and challenges. We witness Maria’s unwavering determination, even as she was marginalized in the scientific community because of her gender. Her triumph, though bittersweet, transformed former adversaries into allies eager to share in her success and acclaim. Maria Skłodowska-Curie lived a life full of passion—for science, but also for love. A strong personality paired with deep sensitivity, a need for closeness and tenderness. Artur Żymełka vividly presents this side of her life as well—the personal and emotional. He explores her great love for Pierre Curie and the journey they shared. Their love and life were dominated by science. Curie – Three Colours, representing red, white, and blue—the national colors of France, the Nobel laureate’s adopted homeland—carries deep symbolic meaning in the performance. It was in France that she found scientific success and love, although both came with suffering and humiliation. Values such as fraternity, equality, and freedom—the cornerstones of French society—are woven into the very fabric of this production.

Artur Żymełka – director and choreographer. He has gained wide recognition for his innovative approach to stage art. As a dancer, he performed with many renowned theatres, including the Grand Theatre in Łódź, Theater Görlitz, Theater Erfurt, and the Metropol Theater Berlin. His academic background and extensive stage experience have provided him with valuable knowledge and skills, which he later applied to his work as a choreographer and director. His works have been presented on the stages of the Grand Theatre in Warsaw, the Grand Theatre in Łódź, the Grand Theatre in Poznań, the Wrocław Opera, the Castle Opera in Szczecin, the Silesian Opera in Bytom, and the Musical Theatre in Łódź, as well as during his international tours. He has led ballet ensembles at the Castle Opera in Szczecin and the Musical Theatre in Łódź, where his creative work was highly praised by both critics and audiences. In 2013, he received the Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Award in the category Best Choreographer from the Mazovian Musical Theatre for the rock music spectacle "Łazja – A Rock Miscenium." The production also earned the Musical Theatre a Special Golden Mask Award. In 2021, the Silesian Opera was honored with the Golden Mask of the Silesian Voivodeship for the ballet production "Salt of the Black Earth."