Ján Ďurovčík – From Dance to Direction

How did you start to dance?
„I started to dance normally, in a very ordinary way, through the children’s folk ensemble Zemplínik. At first I did not like it, then I reached a turning point, and when I reached 14 I finally started to like the idea of doing it.“ 

Why just dance?
„I discovered only later, only now, that dance itself had very little appeal for me. I would say, it was a natural transition from dance to choreography and then to direction, what I prefered. I enjoyed expressing myself through dance. Dance is a form of theatre and that was exactly what fascinated me.“ 

As an acclaimed choreographer and director, you have been chosen as a jury member for the dance contest “Let´s Dance”. What do you find the most entertaining about it?
„I like being at the dance competition. I like it because it is a dance competition at which a professional dances with a celebrity and their technical dancing skills gradually start to form a foundation on which to grow. I like evaluating and commenting on performances.“ 

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After the first series you were even chosen as a member of the final international jury in Mexico. What did you gain from this experience?
„For me it was an interesting experience for several different reasons. Considering the fact that our Slovak dance theatre is about to visit these countries, I had an opportunity to get to know these places in advance through dance. Moreover I had the opportunity to look inside, into the very preparation of the big show abroad. I think of it as a big show, with an audience of about 150 million people. It was a real experience to see foreign show business from the inside.“

You have recently directed the premiere of the world-famous musical West Side Story, introduced on “The New Scene” in Bratislava. How did you find working on it?
„It is a beautiful musical, but in the main very difficult. To work on it was gorgeous. If people believe in the performance and the director, it is always a pleasure to work.“ 

What is coming after West Side Story?
„My program is scheduled for three years ahead. In the near future we start with the musical Producers, then with The Firebird, Blood-related brothers, etc.“ 

By Dodo Mikláš
Photo: SK Magazine

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