The central highlight of the "Hommage à Čiurlionis" event series – an evening of contemporary choreography in two parts dedicated to the memory of M. K. Čiurlionis – a modern creative perspective on the artist’s world, his visions, and the language of his music and art.

In the first part, we will see the premiere of the one-act ballet Epiphanies, choreographed by Edita Stundyte to music by Arvydas Malcys. In the second part – six choreographic miniatures inspired by M. K. Čiurlionis’s paintings, created by dancers from the KVMT ballet troupe.

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PART I

Epiphanies

The premiere of a one-act ballet based on the life and work of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

Composer: Arvydas Malcys

Choreographer: Edita Stundytė

In this one-act ballet, choreographed by Edita Stundyte and set to music by Arvydas Malcys, an abstract portrait of an Artist devoted to his calling emerges – inspired by the personality and real biographical moments of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, such as his meeting with his future wife Sofija Kymantaitė and the First Exhibition of Lithuanian Art, held in Vilnius in 1906.

This performance explores the artist’s worldview, emotional experiences, creative struggles, nightmares, inspiration, and love. The action takes place in a timeless space between reality and dream: the artist is preparing for an exhibition and goes through various mental states, hallucinations, and visions. Yet, moments of clarity and enlightenment flash before him – when he manages to realize his artistic vision or when he meets his beloved muse. The artist knows he has created a true masterpiece, but he faces a society that fails to understand his art. The crowd does not see the light radiating from his paintings… However, as Čiurlionis wrote in his diaries, despite misunderstanding or resistance from others, what matters most to the artist is his calling – to carry and spread his inner light:

“One must have the light within oneself, from within, to shine in the darkness for those standing on the path, so that, seeing it, they may find the light in themselves and walk their own path... (…) Light before the storm, the storm, and after the storm – light again – such has it been since the beginning of the world.”

PART II

6 dance miniatures based on the work of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

Music: Donatas Bielkauskas, Dylan Iuliano, Kristijonas Lučinskas, Jonas Raudonius, Yana Shliabanska, Andrius Stakelė

Choreography: Bernat Blay Bosch, Elly Bruno, Aurora Ruvoletto, Roman Semenenko, Mantas Ūsas, Daria Verovka

The second part of the evening presents another special transformation of the annual KVMT choreographic workshop project "Attention! Ballet", dedicated to International Dance Day. This year, the dancers of the KVMT ballet troupe will offer six choreographic miniatures as dedications to the 150th anniversary of M. K. Čiurlionis – inspired by his paintings. Ballet artists from various countries, performing in the theatre’s ballet troupe, will present their own choreographic compositions, for which they also chose the costumes and collaborated with composers on the soundtracks. These artists, each with different creative backgrounds, use these miniatures to express their personal connection to Čiurlionis’s visual art.

For many – from Spain, Italy, or Ukraine, where Čiurlionis’s work is not widely known – this project became their first opportunity to decode the meanings, symbols, states, and moods embedded in his paintings and try to interpret them through the language of dance. Without a doubt, for all involved, this was an exciting challenge to explore the legacy of Čiurlionis’s works – now considered a core part of Lithuanian cultural identity – and to engage in a kind of choreographic iconographic hermeneutics, opening paths to develop and express their individual narratives, imagery, and even mystical experiences.

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EVENT INFORMATION

Date & Time: October 4, 2025, 6:30 PM

Venue: Klaipėda State Music Theatre

Address: Teatro str. 1, Klaipėda

More: HERE

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ORGANIZER

Klaipėda State Music Theatre

Contact: teatras@kvmt.lt / +370 645 59472

Program

Dance performance "Hommage à Čiurlionis“

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