Extract from How Do You Dance in a War Zone?, Ukraine,2023
How Do You Dance in a War Zone?
Paul Hill & Maria Falconer
When people think of dance, they often imagine something rather poetic involving arabesques and pirouettes. But this notion couldn’t be more at odds to the stark form of resistance presented by the Ukrainian dance community, where dancers prepare volunteer soldiers for combat and the military teach dancers how to fight.
In March 2023 Paul travelled to Ukraine with photo/videographer Maria Falconer. They met up with Ukrainian choreographer and dancer, Viktor Ruban, sound artist Grigory Semenchuk and nine Ukrainian dance artists.
Together, using a combination of still and moving images they asked the question How Do You Dance in a War Zone?
Still Images from How Do You Dance in a War Zone?, Ukraine,2023
Installation
How Do You Dance in a War Zone? is an installation comprising;
A video – duration 13 mins.
A series of 20 large photographs (36 x 24 ins), interspersed with small printed texts (7 x 5 ins) .
The video sound track by Grigory Semenchuck is devised from live recordings of the invasion, including sounds from the trenches, shootings, shakhed-drones, missiles, sirens and tanks.
The Collaboration
Director & Editor: Maria Falconer
Co-Producers: Paul Hill, Viktor Ruban
Camera: Maria Falconer, Paul Hill
Sound Artist: Grigory Semenchuk
Dance Artists: Alla Shliakhova, Khrystyna Slobodianiuk, Kristina Shyshkariava, Larysa Venedyktova, Liudmyla Mova, Mariya Salo, Mykyta Kravchenko, Svitlana Oleksiuk, Taisiia Tymofieieva, Viktor Ruban.