"The Thorn in the Eye"

Last modified: 23-06-2010

The dance group "The Thorn in the Eye" was set up in April 2001. Now it has 6 members and it works under DDM Prague Spektrum of Karlín. The repertoire of the group is very wide, thanks to the previous dance experiences of its members. We perform dances in Gothic and Renaissance style – dances of the court as well as the folk ones.

Choreographies are based on experiences with original historical dances, which are allied with a creative fantasy of our dancers. They try to bring a feel of the days of yore by the manner, which is pleasant to the eye of spectator. Also all the others dance styles we offer (national, folk, scenic and oriental) are presented this way – to capture and please the audience. The costumes, although they less brighting the elegance and grace of women, respect the original historical patterns.

The group performs usual in public in various occasions, like a historical festivals in towers and castles, fights, balls, soirees, projects of the DDM etc. We organize also dance performances, where we teach some basic historical dances with explanation of their evolution and techniques.

Greek myths

Original and innovative treatment of antic motives.

Dance pantomime inspired by antic mythology. The music is a reconstruction of original antic patterns. Dance and theatre techniques are conforming to the period. Costumes are as historical as possible. They are based on the pattern of cloths of girls of Sparta in the classical period (including jewellery and hairstyles).

- Orpheus and Euridike
Dance pantomime talking about love and separation of two lovers in 5 acts. 7 minutes.

Gothic of the court

Dances in the style of gothic period in the boastful costumes of the court. They are made partly according to period records.

Various props: flowers, candles. Number of dancers: 4 persons. Time of the dance block is from 5 to 15 minutes. Time of one dance is 2-3 min. 7 choreographies in total.

Gothic folk

Colourful, fast and naughty dances from surrounding of the castle in the burgher`s costumes of the period when ruled the king Wenceslaus IV. According to previous agreement, it is posible to teach the audience some basic dances.

Dances are accompanied by interesting props (brooms, musical instruments etc.), which make them more absorbing and attractive for the spectator. For 4 persons. Time of the dance block is from 5 to 15 minutes. Time of one dance is 2-3 min.

Renaissance court

- European renaissance. Beautiful ladies in the magnificent dress. A cross-section through dance culture of Europe at renaissance (France, Italy, Spain, England, Bohemia, Hungaria). For 4 dancers. Total is 9 choreographies. Time of the dance block is from 5-20 minutes.

- Spanish variations. Block of 4 dances inspirated by the spanish court, by its culture and music. Number of dancers: 4 persons. Time 10 min.

Choreographies are often accompanied by interesting props used by dancers, like silk squares, music instruments or burning torchs. During this performance is possible to teach some basic dances of the period.

Renaissance folk

Merry and quick dances of the renaissance period. Number of dancers: 4 persons. Time of the dance block is from 5 to 10 minutes. Time of one dance is 2-3 min.

Chinese dance theatre and inspiration

"Chinese evening" It is a combination of music, dance, acrobatics and traditional Chinese martial art.

- The ballad about the girl Lan Chua-chua. Mixed performance of dance and theatre on the topic of traditional song of that name from the south of China. Costumes are inspirated by the period at the end of rule of dynasty C`chin, 19th century. Perform 4 dancers with the music of singer Song Feng-Yun.

- Red Chinese lanterns. Dance ispirated by the Chinese New Year tradition. For 4 dancers and more.

- Dance with fans. Dance for various number of dancers. It uses traditional techniques of the dance with fans.

- Sleeve dance. Inspiration from palace of the emperor Ming-chuang (8th century AC, dynasty of Tchang).

- Mulberry blossoms. It is a dance with ferret of 5 meters.

- Fishing. Duel of a man and the sea. Dance is inspired by traditional motives. 5 minutes.

Orient

Dances are presented here one by one, but it is possible to combine them into dance block. According to previous agreement, it is posible to teach the audience some basic techniques of belly dance.

- Harem. Dance of two dancers for the pleasure of their master with props of the period. It is possible to include the audience.
Time of the dance is 5 min.

- Dance with sabres. Dance inspirated by the male dances of the Near East. For 3 dancers (2:57 min).

- Little flames. Three exotic girls in the light of candles. Convenient like a part of evening performances (4:15 min).

- Fire and water. Belly dance for one dancer in the style Raks sharki. (4:14 min.)

- Dancing hands. Dance for two dancers inspirated by traditions of the cultures of the Near East. Convenient for smaller showrooms. (3:27 min.)

- The sea. Graceful dance with butterfly`s wings for three dancers. Time of the dance is 5:27 min.

- Thousand and one night. Belly dance with and without traditions. Parody on the oriental subject. (4:14 min.)

- The fire wings. Unusual dance whit the fire fans.

- Caffe Ishaba. Modern version of belly dances.

Dances from the tavern

Vivacious and daring dances in foolhardy costumes. Convenient for the milieu of medieval tavern or market-place. Number of dancers: 4 persons. Time of the dance block is from 5 to 10 minutes. Time of one dance is 2-4 min.

National dances

- Cancan. Cclassic french dance of the cabaret in the period of 19th century. For 4 persons. Time of the dance is 3 min.

-Tregger whisky cancan. This dance is lightly lied with the previous one. Tempting curves of girls, humorous and seductive choreography, all this will lead you to the buoyant feel of cabaret in 19th century. Time 3:08 min. It is possible to cooperate with the audience.

- Jemine domine (Czech folk variations). Merry and quick dance in bandit`s costumes for 2-3 dancers with music of czech folk music group Hradišťan. Time of the dance is 2:09 min

- One granny had once a plum tree… (Czech folk variations). Humorous, partly mime-show dance with music of czech singers Ulrychovi. The main topic is plum brandy. For 5-6 persons. (1:30 min.)

- Pair dances (Czech folk variations) accompanied by czech folk songs from music groups: Carmina, Čechomor and Hradišťan. For 2 or 4 persons. Time of the dance is 2-3 minutes in average.

Gipsydom

- Dance for me… Fast and naughty romany dance in colourful and attractive costumes. Number of dancers: 3-6 persons. Time 1:45 min.

- Falcons Dance with scarfs for 2-4 dancers with original music of gipsies from Bulgaria. Time of the dance is 3:34 min.

- Gipsy in Turkey Solo dance with elements of belly dance (shaking and contractions). (2:30 min.)

- Cardash Partly improvise dance accompanied by merry romany music, danced among spectators with a posibility to make them dance too. Time is 4:14 min.

Fashion show

You can choose from different versions and historical periods in various durations.

-The way through centuries. From prehistory to today. (primeval ages, barbarian nations, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo,18th century, 19th century, 20th century – 50´s and 70´s). Range of costumes is created according to your requirement. Basic offer is 2 costumes (man and women) for each period. It is possible to create some more. Duration is 1 hour or more (according to the range of showed costumes).

- Historical periods separately. You can choose from: Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Duration accords to the range of showed costumes.

-Spanish Renaissance fashion in the courts of whole Europe. Examples of Renaissance costumes in the 16th century from different countries (France, Spain, Italy and Bohemia) are presented. Showed costumes are replicas based on historical paintings. We present dress of Bohunka of Roľumberk, Eleonora di Toledo or Anne de Pisseleu. Duration approximately 20 minutes.

-Oriental fashion show. You can see examples of clothes and costumes from Balkan, Middle East, Malaysia, India and China.

According to your demand we are able to provide professional fashion show jetty, lighting and music installation or accompaniment of live music.

Special offer

- Special dance performance with the subject of your choice.

- Choreography for you (we compose it at your order, you can present it )

- Dance lessons of historical dances during the dance performance.

- Dance lessons of historical dance for Primary or Secondary School ( history of dances, basic dances and history of clothing)

- Improvise performance (according to previous agreement, music and subject of your choice)

- Chorus

- Birthday celebrations

- If you are interested, we are able to compose also performances, where we combine dance with musicians, fencing mans, jugglers etc.

Reference

- Office of The Czech Republic President

- Criminalistic Institution Prague (CZ)

- Jílové u Prahy City (CZ)

- Frýdlant Ciry (CZ)

- Eger City (Hungary)

- Restaurant "U českých pánů" (CZ)

- Czech-China Asociation

- League of Hungarian Living in Czech and Moravia

- Minimax Média Ltd. (CZ)

Email contact: trnvoku@centrum.cz