”A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” / Marcus Garvey

”The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.” / Maya Angelou

UNESCO declared 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. This year's theme for OPUS thus wants to encourage creativity through reviving our legacy.

Cultural heritage is an inherited good, which we define as a reflection and expression of values, identities, ethnicity, religious and other convictions, skills and traditions.

Young dancers, you might start by looking into your own family heritage, perhaps by investigating the attics and cellars of your grandparents, seeking old pictures and objects, postcards or letters and then creating your short dance pieces from those. Or you can choose an attraction in your town or its surroundings and research its history. You can focus on tangible or intangible heritage: natural and cultural attractions, habits, traditions, traditional events…

Transform and rearrange the memories and histories you hold dear, develop your own analysis, interpretations, and opinions about your past and your roots.

Historical stories are told, written down, danced, photographed, sung, painted, sculptured… Become borrowers, remixers, arrangers, critical thinkers of your cultural heritage and link it to the present. Look back, examine your roots, think from today’s perspective and try to understand/define/create the future – through dance. To quote Rosa Luxemburg: “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.”

Guideline for mentors and performers:

The obligatory part of the creative process should also be translating your ideas and procedures into words. The same as every year, you have to attach a description of your creative process to your application (literary origins, thoughts, procedures, decisions…). Think about it and work on it so as to genuinely delve into the depths of your short dance piece.

The theme is expected to offer a wide scope of possibilities to all artists, regardless of their age. Mentors should discuss it with young performers, while the later should be autonomous and creative in shaping their ideas and pieces.

The role of mentors in creating the short dance piece is to counsel, lead and guide the young performers in creating their own ideas, dance expressions and autonomous choreographies.

Approach the theme with exploratory zeal and creative inspiration.