420PEOPLE

420PEOPLE are Nataša Novotná and Václav Kuneš

Both of them are linked together by one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world, The Netherlands Dans Theatre – a place, where the intensive collaboration with world leading choreographers and artist comes to it's peak. Their dream and intensions are to "use" the years on the top of the dance world, subsequently presenting as much of this top within the Czech Republic and furthermore sharing these experiences with Czech dancers and the Czech spectators.

Our goal is to be creative in a place that, as we believe, has on its own already great deal of inspiration to offer, very rich history and promising future – the Czech republic. At first, the main focus of our long-term project is an intensive collaboration with compelling foreign choreographers, dancers, musicians, designers and artist from other fields with their Czech counterparts and vice versa.
With regards to our extensive international network of artists from many different disciplines, we would like to present and introduce to the Czech viewer contemporary dance as we know it and as we believe in it. Use the unique position of our capital city Prague in the heart of Europe, to help to establish a crossroads of artists, focusing at first on dancers, choreographers and teachers.

In all of our efforts the highest on the list is the idea of incorporating Czech dancers into each and every program and project. And, on the contrary, allowing talented Czech choreographers to be able to create their new works with highly professional dancers from abroad.
420PEOPLE would like to disclose the word 'contemporary dance' to the Czech audience; show its layering, tones and wider view in its highest possible quality. Yearly, we would like to present at least one new full evening dance production. The world premiere will always take its place in Czech Republic followed by tour - series of performances, representing our work abroad. The long term focus is to establish a permanent group of dancers based in Prague and twice a year present a new program in a collaboration with international guests.
Each 420PEOPLE project will be accompanied by workshops lead by our foreign guests or by the main protagonist - Nataša Novotná and Václav Kuneš. Allowing like this the sneak preview of each and every artist’s style of working, their way of moving and creating. Our wish is to set in motion an arrangements between different conservatoires within the Czech Republic and their Dance Departments, making it possible for students not only from Prague to experience these workshops. As we believe that fresh and new input next to a strong and developed (classical) training is absolutely essential for every dancer nowadays.

VÁCLAV KUNEŠ choreographer, artistic director of 420PEOPLE
After graduating from the Dance Conservatory in Prague in 1993, he joined the junior company of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 2), later followed by the main company NDT 1. During these years he has created, worked with and performed works by most of the best known choreographers. In 2004 Václav became a freelance dancer and choreographer, occasionally setting up works by Mr. Jiří Kylián on other companies around the world.
Václav has created pieces for NDT 2, Laterna Magika, Copenhagen Int. Ballet, Korzo Theater and Station Zuid in Holland, Ballet l'Opéra National de Bordeaux, DWDT in Houston and 420PEOPLE. In the Finnish film production, Vaslav Nijinski - Invisible Power, he played the role of Young Nijinski. As a dancer he received the Dancer of the Year award in Cannes and been nominated for the Thalia award 2009 in the Czech Republic. For the choreography Small Hour (2007), Václav got awarded the Theater Newspaper/Sazka Price for the best performance of the season.
web.mac.com/v.kunes

NATAŠA NOVOTNÁ, executive director of 420PEOPLE
After her graduation at Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava, she joined the junior company of Nederlands Dans Thetre, under the leader ship of Jiří Kylián. In year 2000 she got engaged for the Gothenburg Ballet in Sweden, where besides other, got a scholarship price for the role of Juliet (Romeo & Juliette - M. Muller). Nataša returned to the Netherlands in 2002 joining the main company of Netherlands Dans Theater. During these years she worked and created with many world-leading choreographers and by the Dutch critics was twice nominated as a Best Dancer in performances Duo(W. Forsythe) and Pneuma (J. Inger). From the summer of 2006 she became free-lance dancer, rehearsal director and pedagogue. Nataša collaborates with various artist/ productions and performing worldwide. For her interpretation of the choreography Small Hour by V. Kuneš, she was awarded the prestigious Thália Award 2008 in Czech Republic and recently also got the price for the Czech Best Dancer of 2009.
web.mac.com/n.natasa

REPERTOIRE
choreography by:
Václav Kuneš
Small Hour – 2007; awarded the Theater Institute/ Sazka Price 2008, Thalia award 2008 in Czech Republic
On an Even Keel 2008
Golden Crock- final nominee for the Sazka Price 2009
Neen – Ya - created for the Sommerballet in Copenhagen 2006
Paedocypris Progenetica(small fish) – concept Edd Schouten/ NL 2006
A Small hour ago - nomination for the Thalia award 2009 in Czech Republic Affordance 2010
Wall to wall 2005
Reen - premiere 11/2010

Ohad Naharin
B/olero from 2011 rights to be negotiated with the Batsheva Dance Company production

Nataša Novotná
Sacrebleu – premiere 11/2010

Shusaku Takeuchi
Package – premiere 420PEOPLE 9/2010

Photos by Pavel Hejny
and
Srdjan Stanojevic

www.420people.org