Drops of Tears Glistened on the Flowers

Kujawiak is one of the Polish National Dances that developed in the late 18th and early 19th century in the region of Kujawy, in central Poland. It derives from wedding ceremonies and is often referred to as “sleeping” or “smooth” – as it resembles tall grain stalks in the fields gently swaying in the wind. The dance is performed with calm dignity and simplicity, in a flowing manner. Pairs move along a circle line to the sentimental, melancholic music.

In Drops of Tears Glistened on the Flowers, Polish choreographer Przemek Kamiński reclaims Kujawiak, repurposes it and updates it. Together with two performers, they dissect Kujawiak’s codified movement vocabulary, probing new ways of improvising upon the form and composing the dance.

The performance unfolds in four parts, in four distinct landscapes of sound and movement, that explore Kujawiak’s sensual qualities, flirtatious energy and melancholic companionship.

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