A synthesis of dance, stage movement, vocal performance, and acting in a production about the struggle with personal weaknesses and overwhelming circumstances.

America during the Great Depression. Unemployment and poverty dominate everyday life. People are willing to do almost anything to earn even a small amount of money – including taking part in a long-distance dance marathon, eagerly consumed by spectators who have long ceased to see the participants as human beings. Lies, fear, betrayal, and ambition saturate the air of this show. The competition turns into a fierce fight for survival, and those unable to let go of their dream of the grand prize are forced to sacrifice more than they ever expected.

Some will choose to fight in order not to become animals – driven horses; others will become exhausted creatures, unable to stand up for themselves; some, unwilling or unable to continue the struggle, will end their existence, seeing this as an alternative to the loss of humanity.

This performance – a synthesis of dance, movement, vocals, and acting – is based on motifs from Horace McCoy’s novel They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, telling a story of confronting one’s weaknesses and insurmountable circumstances.

Premiere: September 6, 2024

Dance Awards 2023–2024 nominations

• Contemporary Dance Production or Event

• Contemporary Dance Choreographer

“Spēlmaņu nakts 2024/2025” Award

• Choreographer or Movement Artist of the Year – Irina Bogeruka

During the performance, spoken text is in Russian, with Latvian surtitles.

Gunshots are heard during the performance.

Cast:

Jevgenijs Mihailovs, Vadims Bogdanovs, Alina Kaļina, Alisa May, Kristīna Zaharova, Marks Šelutko, Vanda Gibovska, Svetlana Morozova, Miroslavs Blakunovs, Luiza Prokofjeva, Artjoms Afanasjevs, Natālija Kotona, Zanda Mankopa, Alisa Matvejeva, Nikolajs Gedzjuns, Raimonds Paegle, Aleksandra Koguce, Darja Šakalova, Eduards Beļnikovs, Žanna Lubgāne, Mihails Samodahovs, Irina Kešiševa, Ritvars Gailums, Inese Ivulāne-Mežale, Viktors Jancevičs, Egils Viļumovs, Milena Savkina, Vladislavs Vasiļjevs, Sofija Šakalova, Kristīne Veinšteina, Jūlija Ļaha, Jegors Korobkovs

Creative Team

Choreographer and libretto author – Irina Bogeruka
Set and costume designer – Inga Bermaka
Lighting designer – Sergejs Vasiļjevs
Composer (original music) – Aleksejs Fedotovs
Director – Oļegs Šapošņikovs

 Preschool-age children will not be admitted to the concert.

During the concert, photography, video and/or audio recording may take place for illustrative and artistic purposes, as well as to inform the public about the event. These activities are carried out in accordance with data processing regulations. The recorded material will be processed without isolating individual persons, so that no direct or indirect identification of individuals is performed. The resulting materials may be published and/or broadcast in the media, on social networks, and used in marketing materials.

You have the right to request that your personal data — photo, video, or audio recording in which you appear — not be used or be deleted by contacting us at info@cesukoncertzale.lv.

 Patron of the concert hall:

Concert supported by: