WHAT THE FOLK

This project is a creative response to the political climate in Slovakia, where artists and marginalized groups — women, queer individuals, outspoken activists — are portrayed as "crazy"or as "abusers of public funds," fuelling division, fear, and anger. The aim is to counteract this by focusing on community, inclusivity and connection. Research is being conducted into how how folk music and dance — traditionally uniting people in celebration and ritual — can be reimagined through contemporary bodies and voices. Can folk traditions inspire a sense of familiarity and connection in today’s society? The plan is to collaborate with local communities that preserve these traditions, learning from their knowledge while exploring how their music and dance can resonate globally. Specific elements like rhythm, weight, the body’s center in movement will be investigated, and how they shape folk dance and music. This approach helps reinterpret tradition in a contemporary context, opening doors to diversity through both familiarity and curiosity.