Cossachka | Choreographer Gala Pekha | PULSE

An ambient audio-choreographic odyssey that delves into the depths of women's resilience, brought to life by an independent collective of female dancers, musicians, and visual artists from Ukraine. Forged in the fires of war, where many women have voluntarily taken up arms or dedicated themselves to activism, this performance explores the collective experience of womanhood, unfolding as a ceremonial stage expression.
The production weaves together contemporary dance, live singing, and live electronic music. The title Cossachka evokes the legend of the women warriors, amazons, who once roamed the lands of contemporary Ukraine, marking their appearance by the braids they wore (cosy/kosy in Ukrainian).
Cossachka is a poetic exploration of the female gaze on war and crisis, and the preservation of identity in the face of colonialism. It challenges traditional narratives, presenting a non-heroic, but rather a space holder perspective on resilience amidst catastrophe.

Director: Julia Lopata
Choreographer: Gala Pekha
Composer and performer: Olena Shykina
Singer and performer: Solomiya Kyrylova
Costume designer: Asya Sutiagina
Lighting designer: Olena Antokhina
Dramaturg: Paul Bargetto
Producer: Polina Bulat
Dancers: Dayana Mankovska, Dana Sarman, Daria Hordiichuk, Viktoria Demydova, Anna Kulchytska

Supported by: Goethe-Institut's Projektfonds Ukraine, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office to strengthen the sustainability of cultural and educational partners in Ukraine.
The Work in Progress of the performance was supported by the Ukrainian Contemporary Dance Platform and The Place (UK) as part of the Let The Body Speak project.

*Duration: 50 min.
***Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Co-funded by Primăria Municipiului Sfântu Gheorghe & Bethlen Gábor Fund.
TRAILER: https://youtu.be/YN7G-JPyLYo?si=8oniuPqRizNsaRZ0