Before the End … (of the World)
‘Have the birds started falling from the sky?’
‘No, but soon.’
A brand new piece by Iva Sveshtarova and Willy Prager, presenting their stage “revelation” of the apocalypse.
Before the End … (of the World) examines apocalyptic culture from various viewpoints. In this piece, the question of whether there will be an end of the world becomes redundant, as we are already living through end times due to the pandemic, the climate crisis, and the last generations of the current civilization. While utopians believe that everything can continue as it is, collapse looms as the horizon of our generation. However, collapse is not the end—it is the beginning of a different future. Can we rediscover new ways of living and being attentive to ourselves and others?
To prepare for these apocalyptic times, Iva Sveshtarova, Willy Prager, Miroslava Zahova, and Nathan Cooper delve into the text of Croatian dramaturg Ivana Ivkovic and begin examining dioramas of catastrophe with 3D models of their own bodies.
“Sometimes we are monsters, with very weird appendages, other times clad in festive clothing we shout in silence and fill the sky with balloons. In any case, join us in this strange celebration! Trust us, the future (eventually) will end!”
© Iva Sveshtarova, Ivan Andreev
Concept and Realisation: Iva Sveshtarova and Willy Prager
Dramaturg: Ivana Ivkovic
Music: Emilian Gatsov – Elbi
Lighting and Set Design Consultant: Ralitsa Toneva
Performance: Miroslava Zahova, Nathan Cooper, Iva Sveshtarova, and Willy Prager
Communication: A25 Cultural Foundation
Production: A Brain Store Project production in partnership with DNK – Space for Contemporary Dance and Performance.
For upcoming events of Iva Sveshtarova and Willy Prager, follow: Brain Store Project
Iva Sveshtarova
Concept and reaisation
Iva Sveshtarova is a choreographer and performer who holds a Master’s degree in "Choreography and Performance" from the Institute of Applied Theatre Studies in Giessen. She also graduated from the experimental Theatre-Studio 4XC and the "Synthetic Stage Arts" program of The University of Plovdiv. In 2006, she was awarded a "DanceWeb" Scholarship, and from 2002 to 2006, she was part of the company Acto – Instituto de Arte Dramática, Portugal. In 2007, she joined the Sofia-based formation Brain Store Project. Sveshtarova is the author and co-author of more than 15 performances. In recent years, she has collaborated with artists Willy Prager and Rosa Beermann (Germany). Sveshtarova is the author of the performances: "Perfectly Pink," "a (e) ffect," "Doing That Thing Again," "Mirror Phase," and "Kafka's Metamorphosis" (produced by Acto - Instituto de Arte Dramática, Portugal). The latest two productions by Iva Sveshtarova and Willy Prager, "shamebox" and "Made for Happiness," were awarded the IKAR National Award in the category of Contemporary Dance and Performance. Iva Sveshtarova is also among the co-founders of “Nomad Dance Academy” and Antistatic International Festival for Contemporary Dance and Performance.
Willy Prager
Concept and realisation
Willy Prager is a performer and choreographer who graduated from the experimental Theatre-Studio 4XC and the "Synthetic Stage Arts" program of the University of Plovdiv. He holds a Master’s degree in "Solo, Dance, Authorship" from the Universität der Künste in Berlin. Willy Prager is also among the co-founders of the Brain Store Project (2005). Together with Iva Sveshtarova, they have created or participated in: "Watch Your Back," "Cliche," "Dona Clara," "+/- 359 Topology," "Museum of Hygiene," "Our Last Pas de Deux," "Balkan Dance Reality Show," "shamebox," "Made for Happiness," "A Better Life," and "Before the End … (of the World)." "shamebox" and "Made for Happiness" won the artists two national IKAR awards in a row. He is the author of the performances: "Prager Strasse," "Game-a-porter," "Transformbility," "Egyptian Spring," "The Victory Day," and "Sequel for the Future" – the last three created and premiered in Berlin. In 2013, Prager won the Prix Jardin d’Europe Award of ImPulsTanz Festival with the production "The Victory Day." He is a co-founder of the Balkan dance network “Nomad Dance Academy” and Antistatic International Festival for Contemporary Dance and Performance. Willy Prager is also a co-producer of Dance Magazine in Bulgaria.
The project is realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture, within the framework of the Critical Movement Residency from the (NON)ALIGNED MOVEMENTS Strengthening contemporary dance in Western Balkans / NAM of the Balkan dance network Nomad Dance Academy, co-financed by the European Union.