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September 7th, 2008
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Czech dancers find inspiration and success at home

Nederlands Dans Theatre grads look to train a new generation

By Brooke Edge
For The Prague Post
January 16th, 2008 issue

420 People

When: Jan. 23 and 24 at 8
Where: Divadlo Archa
Tickets: 150–290 Kč, available at the venue

When discussing their decision to quit an internationally renowned ballet company and become freelance dancers and choreographers, Václav Kuneš and Nataša Novotná found an apt comparison in the need for children to leave home once they grow up. However, the reference comes full circle when their ensuing move is taken into account.
After 11 and seven years, respectively, as members of the esteemed Nederlands Dans Theatre (NDT), neither Kuneš nor Novotná could see any benefit to moving to another company in Europe. So striking out on their own seemed the next best opportunity.
Both dancers, Czech by birth, decided their next career base would be the Czech Republic. They’ve grown up, left their professional home and returned to their cultural home with a mission: to update Czech dance and help train the next generation of dancers.
Kuneš has been on his own for four years, Novotná for two; both have found success in being hired by other choreographers and commissioned by theaters for their work. Much of the ease of the transition to freelance status, both say, is due to NDT and its world-class reputation.
“Leaving NDT and being a freelancer, you have sort of a passport,” says Kuneš.
Novotná echoes that sentiment when she explains how the network of dancers and producers in Europe has welcomed the two Czech dancers. “You’re not as safe as you were in your nest, but the theater world opens up much more for you,” she says. “It keeps growing.”
Adds Kuneš: “I can do everything I did before, but better.”
He and Novotná will have a chance to prove it when they present their newest work next week at Divadlo Archa, a collection of five original pieces. The “420 People” title refers neither to a company nor a project, Novotná explains tentatively. “I call it ‘the unit,’ ” she finally decides.
It’s the product of a partnership among Novotná, Kuneš and Czech dance producer Ondřej Kotrč that started with a collaboration they did for the local contemporary TODAnce company nearly two years ago. There, Kuneš, Kotrč and National Theater Ballet corps member Tomáš Rychetský began tossing around the idea of a partnership.
“We would love to create here and work here,” Novotná says. “Prague has a good group of dancers. ... This place has such spirit. We could choose any place to [form a company], but why not do it here?”
“It’s really a pure wish or desire to be here and be creative and share what we have learned,” Kuneš adds.
Under the name 420 People, Kuneš and Novotná plan to stage at least one new project per year in the Czech Republic. These performances will feature Czech dancers and Czech choreography (for now, with an emphasis on Kuneš’s works), with appearances by foreign dancers and choreographers from Kuneš and Novotná’s extensive network of accomplished international friends “to spice it up,” Kuneš says.
Additionally, the two freelancers behind 420 People will use portions of their time to invest in the next generation of Czech dance, holding workshops for young dancers. “Like everything else here,” Novotná says, Prague’s contemporary dance scene has to catch up with Western Europe. “For the continuity” of Czech contemporary dance, she says,“it’s very important.”
Next week’s performance will feature three pieces by Kuneš, one by French guest Abou Lagraa and another by Dutch guest Edd Schouten. Lagraaa and Schouten will appear onstage with Kuneš, Novotná and National Theater Ballet members.
This event marks just the beginning of 420 People’s ambitious plans. From holding workshops around the country, to writing grant applications and working on a new Prague premiere set for December, Kuneš and Novotná are finding that quitting their day jobs and pursuing their hometown dreams entails a great deal of heart and hard work.

Brooke Edge can be reached at tempo@praguepost.com


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