DEJA DONNE was founded in 1997 by Lenka Flory and Simone Sandroni, former members of the Flemish company Ultima Vez. She is from Prague, and doesn’t dance any more. He is Italian, and still does. In the intervening decade these offstage partners (and, not insignificantly, co-parents) and their collaborators have created some of the most vital, entertaining and telling dance-based productions available to audiences in Europe and beyond.
The company takes its name from its very first performance. The follow-up, Aria Spinta (translation: Pushed Air), was even more of an international calling card. Premiered in 1999, this post-modern kinetic screwball comedy pitted ‘the show must go on’ fortitude against the manic pleasure some performers take in being the centre of attention. In the process, the space occupied by the cast and the audience generated parallels with that messy, unpredictable and absurd performance known as real life.
In Bella Copia (Fair Copy) continued in a similar vein, but took the company’s prevailing interests to deeper and more complex levels. Made in 2001, this show also bore all the hallmarks of the DEJA DONNE style: humour, passion and an unruly heroism. Here we were treated to a parade of truths and fictions, frustrated idealism, sexual appetite, humiliation and redemption. Full of seduction and play, the piece suggested a game driven by dark forces and streaked with danger. The dancing accompanying it was fast, daring, slithery and sharp, but with a full knowledge of something terribly vulnerable and tender.
There Where We Were, from 2003, was a sober and gripping surprise. Unsparing in its depiction of the shifting and intuitive power play between three people, with surgical precision this wordless drama constructed a chamber-sized stage universe of convulsive physical tirades, controlling attractions and stalking oppression.
Flory and Sandroni treat heavy themes with a heart-felt yet often ironic light touch. They take what they do, rather than themselves, seriously. Lately they’ve coupled their inclusive aesthetic philosophy with a growing social concern. More recent efforts include a small-scale Beckettian cultural critique (Piotr and the Stars of Tut, from 2005) and a big, multi-city European project involving schoolchildren and recycling (My Name is King, from 2006).
No matter what the size, each DEJA DONNE production is marked by an absolute honesty of intention. ‘We want to create shows that move people and are independent of fashionable forms or themes,’ Sandroni has said. In pursuing this creative path, he and Flory do more than merely touch upon the basic needs and concerns faced by most of us in contemporary society. Their work possesses an uncommon depth of feeling and a certain emotional intelligence. At heart, DEJA DONNE uses movement and character to expose that huge abstraction, the human condition. This is dance-based performance that matters. That asks questions relevant to contemporary society. That engages and entertains. That invigorates and heals by pointing ways forward through turbulent times.
October 2007
Donald Hutera writes regularly about dance and live performance for The Times of London, Time Out, Dance Europe, Dance Now and many other publications.
ARIA SPINTA (1999, La Filature Mulhouse / France)
was co-produced by La Filature Mulhouse, de Singel Antwerp, Hebbel Theater Berlin and Internationales Sommertheater Festival Hamburg. Received “Award for the best mise-en-scene” at Na Hranici Festival/C
IN BELLA COPIA (2001 Luzernertheater / Switzerland)
Received „Best dance mise-en-scene of the year award“ Prague / CZ. Co-produced by luzerntanz am luzerner-theater, Stadschouwburg Brugge, BRUGGE 2002 and Hebbel-Theater Berlin. A large tour in Canada and USA has been realized for In Bella Copia in DTW New York, National Arts Centre Ottawa, Wexner Centre for the Arts Columbus, On the Boards Seattle, Redcat Los Angeles and Walker Art Centre Minneapolis.
THERE WHERE WE WERE (2003 Tanzwerkstatt Europa Festival, Munich / Germany)
Received „Total Theatre Award“ at Edinburgh Festival 2003 / UK. The peformance was created with a support of Dance 4 Nottingham, Joint Adventures Munich, DBM Foundation, Czech Ministry of Culture, Theatre Komedie Prague.
RUSTLING SHADOWS (2005 Harbourfront Centre Toronto / Canada)
a commission for Four Chambers Dance Projects company Toronto in collaboration with Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontrio Arts Council, City of Toronto, the Bureau du Que’bec in Toronto. Received a nomination for “Dora Award 2005” in Canada.
PIOTR and the Stars of Tut (2005 Teatro Lauro Rossi Macerata / Italy)
was created on request of Region of Umbria, and in collaboration with Teatro Stabile di Innovazione Fontemaggiore and Czech Ministry of Culture for the small theatre stages of Italy.
MY NAME IS KING (2006 Archa Theatre Prague / Czech Republic)
erformance created in co-production with Dance Umbrella Festival London, Theater im Pfalzbau Ludwigshafen, Künstler-haus Mousonturm Frankfurt, Junges Ensemble Stuttgart, Fondazione Umbria Spettacolo Perugia, Tafelhalle Nürnberg, City of Prague, Duncan Centre Prague, Region of Umbria and Culture 2000 programme.
MARGINE BUIO (2007 Alberto Burri Museum Citta’ di Castello / Italy) a site specific international project for Alberto Burri Museum and Festival delle Nazioni in Citta’ di Castello. A commission by the Region of Umbria.
CARTE BLANCHE (2007 Temporada Alta International Festival Girona / Spain) with Mal Pelo and L’animal a l’esquena for a trio by Simone Sandroni, Pep Ramis and Jordi Casanovas.
IN BETWEEN (2007 Stara Elektrarna Ljubljana / Slovenia) a commission by the EN-KNAP GROUP, formed recently by a young international team of dancers.
ALL THE STORIES YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING ME (2008 Austin/Texas) a solo performance commission by Andee Scott/Texas in collaboration with filmmaker Barbara Schröer.
Has danced with Chambre Dance Studio in Czech Republic, with Czurda Tanztheater in Germany, Ultima Vez and Ernesto in Belgium. In 1993 she returned to Prague and taught contemporary dance technique at Duncan Centre Conservatory. One year later she founded and directed the Progressive European Dance Theatre Project, which yearly presented 10 chamber European companies in the conservatory‘s theatre. In 1996 it became an international CONFRONTATIONS festival running in various Prague venues each October till 2003.
In 1995 Flory founded Duncan Centre student company and created two works for them. The second of which led to international presentations (Germany, UK, Belgium, Poland, USA) and later transformed to a multinational company DEJA DONNE under the artistic direction of Simone Sandroni and Lenka Flory, which operated in Prague until 2005.
In 2006 company’s main residence moved to the province of Perugia in central Italy. Besides training and production studio for the company, Flory & Sandroni lead a centre for contemporary performance, by organizing and directing different educative programmes (CIT – Contemporary Interpreter Training and 3 month Post-diploma course for Dancers/Interpreters supported by EU).
Since 1997 Flory has been in charge of artistic co-direction, production and distribution for DEJA DONNE.
Flory co-directed performances: DEJA DONNE (1997), which gave the name to the company, and toured Europe, ARIA SPINTA (1999), coproduced by Hebbel-Theatre Berlin, International Sommertheater Festival Hamburg, deSingel Antwerp and La Filature Mulhouse, which toured Europe and the USA, IN BELLA COPIA (2001), coproduced by luzerntanz am luzernertheater Lucerne, Hebbel-Theater Berlin, BRUGGE 2002, Staddschouwburg Brugge, which toured Europe, the USA and Canada, THERE WHERE WE WERE (2003), supported by Dance 4, Nottingham, Joint Adventures Munich, DBM Foundation Rome, Teatro Kismet Opera Bari and Czech Ministry of Culture, which toured Europe and Asia, and PIOTR AND THE STARS OF TUT (2005) which was created on request of Fondazione Umbria Spettacolo and Associazione Marchigiana Arti Teatrali / Italy for small theatre stages of Italy. The most recent work MY NAME IS KING (2006) was co-produced by Dance Umbrella London, Theater im Pfalzbau Ludwigshafen, Kunstlerhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt, Junges Ensemble Stuttgart and in partnership with Tafelhalle Nuernberg, City of Prague and Region of Umbria.
DEJA DONNE has toured in 23 countries of Europe, North America and Asia.
Flory was a guest choreographer at American Dance Festival in 1996, mentor to director Ghislaine
Bodington in 1999 as a part of International Sommertheater Festival Hamburg‘s Internationational
Encounter and directed an International Dance Encounter at Aarhus Festuge, Denmark in 2002.
Since 2005 Flory focuses on collaboration with youth through collaborations with basic and high schools in different European countries (see R.A.P. for children project).
| 1988 | Solo |
| 1989 | Dual Vozes |
| 1991 | 7:35 (created for Duncan Centre Company, Prague) |
| 1993 | ... and where is Maria? (created for Duncan Centre Company, Prague) |
| Live and let Live (created for American Dance Festival / USA) | |
| 1997 | DEJA DONNE (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| 1998 | Dido and Aeneas (choreography for opera, J. K.Tyl Theatre, Pilsen / CZ) |
| The best mise-en-scene of the year Award, Prague / CZ | |
| Rusalka (choreography for opera, J. K. Tyl Theatre Pilzen / CZ) | |
| 1999 | ARIA SPINTA (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| Award for the best mise-en-scene at Na Hranici Festival / CZ | |
| 2000 | Necas (created for Dance Theatre Festival Prague with Iva Bittov? and Cikori band) |
| 2001 | IN BELLA COPIA (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| Best dance/ballett mise-en-scene of the year award, Prague / CZ | |
| 2003 | THERE WHERE WE WERE (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| Total Theatre Award Edinburgh / UK | |
| 2005 | Rustling Shadows (created for 4 Chambers Dance Projects Toronto) |
| Nomination for Dora Award / Canada 2005 | |
| PIOTR AND THE STARS OF TUT (created for DEJA DONNE) | |
| 2006 | MY NAME IS KING (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| 2007 | MARGINE BUIO (a commission by the Region of Umbria) |
| CARTE BLANCHE (created for Temporada Alta International Festival Girona / Spain with Mal Pelo and L’animal a l’esquena) | |
| IN BETWEEN (a comission by EnKnap Group) ALL THE STORIES YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING ME (a commission by Andee Scott Austin/Texas) |
Was the founding member of Ultima Vez in Brussels in 1987 and collaborated with the company until 1992. In 1993 he based his own group ERNESTO in Brussels and premiered its first work.
In addition to directing his own company he has directed a number of works for festivals, independent artists and schools in Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland (Festival de Beweeging Antwerp, Theatre Varia Brussels, Company Sosta Palmizi and MUK in Cortona and Padova, Duncan Centre and Petr Tyc in Prague, Academy of Music in Bratislava, Four Chambers Dance Projects Toronto and Luzerntanz am Luzernertheater Luzern).
In 1996 he founded a multinational company DEJA DONNE in Prague together with Lenka Flory.
In 2006 company’s main residence moved to the province of Perugia in central Italy. Besides training and production studio for the company, Sandroni & Flory lead a centre for contemporary performance, by organizing and directing different educative programmes (CIT – Contemporary Interpreter Training and 3 month Post-diploma course for Dancers/Interpreters supported by EU).
Sandroni created number of performances for DEJA DONNE: DEJA DONNE (1997), which gave the name to the company, and toured Europe, ARIA SPINTA (1999), coproduced by Hebbel-Theatre Berlin, International Sommertheater Festival Hamburg, deSingel Antwerp and La Filature Mulhouse, which toured Europe and the USA, IN BELLA COPIA (2001), coproduced by luzerntanz am luzernertheater Lucerne, Hebbel-Theater Berlin, BRUGGE 2002, Staddschouwburg Brugge, which toured Europe, the USA and Canada and THERE WHERE WE WERE (2003), supported by Dance 4, Nottingham, Joint Adventures Munich, DBM Foundation Rome, Teatro Kismet Opera Bari and Czech Ministry of Culture, which toured Europe and Asia, and PIOTR AND THE STARS OF TUT (2005) which was created on request of Fondazione Umbria Spettacolo and Associazione Marchigiana Arti Teatrali / Italy for small theatre stages of Italy. The most recent work MY NAME IS KING (2006) was co-produced by Dance Umbrella London, Theater im Pfalzbau Ludwigshafen, Kunstlerhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt, Junges Ensemble Stuttgart and in partnership with Tafelhalle Nuernberg, City of Prague and Region of Umbria.
DEJA DONNE has toured in 23 countries of Europe, North America and Asia.
In addition to his choreographical work, Sandroni leads number of workshops in Europe and in the USA.
| 1989 | Logaritmi in Rembrandt Place |
| 1993 | Get There (created for Duncan Centre, Prague) |
| 1994 | Il Lato Dimenticato (created for Ernesto Company, Brussels) |
| Amore Matto (created for Festival De Beweeging, Antwerpen) | |
| 1996 | Strappi Stuzzicanti (created for Duncan Centre, Prague) |
| 1997 | DEJA DONNE (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| L'tost (created for Theatre Varia, Brussels) | |
| Suspicious Love (created for Dance Academy, Bratislava) | |
| Piume (created for Associazione Sosta Palmizi, Italy) | |
| Premio Danza & Danza Award / I | |
| 1998 | The Discreet Obsession (solo piece created for Petr Tyc, Prague) |
| William's Dream (created for Duncan Centre, Prague) | |
| 1999 | ARIA SPINTA (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| Award for the best mise-en-scene at Na Hranici Festival / CZ | |
| 2000 | Oltre (created for theatre MUK, Padova) |
| Necas (created for Dance Theatre Festival Prague with Iva Bittov? and Cikori) | |
| 2001 | IN BELLA COPIA (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| Best dance/ballett mise-en-scene of the year award, Prague / CZ | |
| 2002 | Romeo's Rose (created for Luzernertheater, Lucerne) |
| 2003 | THERE WHERE WE WERE (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| Total Theatre Award Edinburgh / UK | |
| 2005 | Rustling Shadows (created for 4 Chambers Dance Projects Toronto) |
| Nomination for Dora Award / Canada 2005 | |
| PIOTR AND THE STARS OF TUT (created for DEJA DONNE) | |
| 2006 | MY NAME IS KING (created for DEJA DONNE) |
| 2007 | MARGINE BUIO (a commission by the Region of Umbria) |
| CARTE BLANCHE (created for Temporada Alta International Festival Girona / Spain with Mal Pelo and L’animal a l’esquena) | |
| IN BETWEEN (a comission by EnKnap Group) ALL THE STORIES YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING ME (a commission by Andee Scott Austin/Texas) |
Photo ©: Jeremy Mimnagh, Rocco Dubini
