Go back Olga Žitluhina’s performance “#piecērt8000”. Dejas māja
A pioneer of contemporary dance in Latvia, Olga Žitluhina, together with her like-minded collaborators Juris Kaukulis, Kaspars Tobis, and a group of dancer-choreographers, has created the contemporary dance performance #piecērt8000, which marks the launch of Dejas māja at Rīgas cirks (Dance House at Rīgas cirks) programme.
#piecērt8000 is a tribute to the creative legacy of Olga Žitluhina’s Dance Company, bringing former company dancers together again as co-authors and performers. The stage is shared by legendary figures of Latvian contemporary dance: Elīna Gaitjukeviča, Ramona Galkina, Santa Grīnfelde, Ilze Zīriņa, Olga Žitluhina, Dmitrijs Gaitjukevičs, Aldis Liepiņš, and Valērijs Oļehno. The virtuosic and nuanced dancing is complemented by sensual music performed live on stage by Juris Kaukulis and Kaspars Tobis of the rock band Dzelzs Vilks.
The performance was created at the end of 2025 within the framework of the programme “Warming-Up Residency” of the project “Dance House in the Contemporary Art Space Kurtuve in Valmiera,” initiated by the Latvian Dance Information Centre, with support from the State Culture Capital Foundation (VKKF). Residency artists were invited to reflect on the upcoming 30th anniversary of Latvian contemporary dance, to be celebrated in 2026.
Choreographer Olga Žitluhina says about the performance:
“I try never to look back, not to dwell on the past, not to revisit old photographs or linger in memories of what has been done or left undone, but instead to move forward, because the most interesting things are still ahead. The feeling of being part of a dance company that once existed is very important to me, both in my soul and in my body. To be and to create together with people who see you in life, in dance, and in movement is an existential necessity. Whether it is nostalgia or a drive forward — without looking back, I long for the future.”
Structured in episodes, the performance weaves in recognisable quotes and motifs from Žitluhina’s earlier choreographies, including When the Owl’s Tail Will Blossom… (2004), Take 735 (2006), as well as And Again About the Same. Part I (2005), which includes Ilze Zīriņa’s solo choreographed by British choreographer Fiona Millward. The show offers a rich range of images and associations. As the performance and butoh artist Simona Orinska observes, one can also sense “a principle of clowning, marked by the paradoxical Zen ‘beginner’s mind’ — experiencing the world with an intuitive, open gaze and a distanced self-irony.” While Žitluhina embraces playful nostalgia, she maintains a present, transformative approach to dance and its essence: to change and to continue.
After the performance, you are warmly invited to stay for a conversation with the artists and ask your questions. The talk will be interpreted into Latvian Sign Language.
When: 10 February, 7:00 PM
Where: Riga Circus Arena, 4 Merķeļa Street, Riga
Performance duration: 80 minutes
Recommended age: 7+
Accessibility: accessible for wheelchair users; accessible for people with hearing impairments
Lighting Designer: Oskars Pauliņš
Costume Consultant: Šeila
Producer: LDIC, PARTY Association, Baiba Ozoliņa
Supporters: Latvian Dance Information Centre, State Culture Capital Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Dance House, Valmiera Municipality, Valmiera Theatre
Photo: Arvis Ertmanis
Seating in the Rīgas cirks arena is unnumbered, and tickets are not allocated to specific seats. Upon arrival, audience members are free to choose the most comfortable seats within their ticket category.
Ticket prices will increase on the day of the performance.
