From Gen Alpha to grandparents: Obnaženi festival brings generations together
A boomer sitting next to a Gen Alpha kid, both clapping at the same performance — this is what it might look like at the intergenerational festival Obnaženi (Uncovered) in the town of Chomutov. Its aim is to bring generations together, and that is reflected not only in the audience but also on stage.
The 21st edition of the Obnaženi festival will focus this year on intergenerational themes, ranging from contemporary dance and theatre to music and film, as well as visual arts and public discussions. Different generations will have the opportunity to meet not only in the audience but also directly on stage, through collaborative performances. The festival will take place at several unconventional venues in Chomutov, including St. Catherine’s Church, the courtyard of the Rouge café, and the Chomutov library.
According to festival co-founder Jana Timiopulu, Thursday’s dance film evening will be unique in its own right.
“All of the films are connected by the theme of ageing. Some focus more on intergenerational relationships, while others explore memory or a kind of closeness, which can be human, but also, for example, spatial. One of the films we are showing is about the relationship between architecture and the body, so the same theme is explored from a wide range of perspectives.”
The festival’s main theme is also reflected in its music programme. One of the bands performing will be the Czech duo Papalescu2.
“It’s a project by Moimir Papalescu, who has been a well-known figure on the Czech music scene for several years. Papalescu2 is a project he creates with his son. Musically, they move between electronic and acoustic music, resulting in a meeting of two generations and two different approaches to music.”
The dance-theatre production Entropie also approaches the theme in an original way, featuring not only professional dancers and actors but also performers aged between seventy and eighty-three. The performance is scheduled for Saturday at the City Theatre.
“The production features dancers and professional performers aged between 20 and 30 who make their living through movement and performance on stage. At the same time, they share the stage with senior performers aged between 70 and 83, who dance together with them, creating a live intergenerational encounter on stage.”
Festival participants who are not part of the official programme have the opportunity to explore movement first hand in a dance workshop called Dance Well. It is an international project that brings together contemporary dance, body care, and community gatherings. The event is open to everyone, regardless of age, previous experience, or physical ability.
“The Dance Well workshop is led by professional dancers who are trained in this method, which focuses on working with people with various types of disabilities. Seniors with limited mobility can take part, as can people with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. At the same time, of course, we are open to participation from younger generations as well.”
Each year, the Obnaženi Festival is dedicated to a theme that resonates with society, and it is no coincidence that this year the organizers chose the theme “Between Generations.”
“In Czech society, this is a topic that raises plenty of questions for each of us: What can we pass on to one another? How can different generations enrich each other? But of course, it also touches on intergenerational misunderstandings and divides. These are all themes that we would like to explore - sometimes poetically, sometimes through discussions or by searching for common questions and answers. We want to create a space where different generations can meet and enrich one another, and where we can identify areas where there are still gaps that we can work on.”
One of the main ambitions of the festival, which begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday, August 30, is to create a lasting space for intergenerational encounters and help build communities that will continue to exist even after the main programme of the Obnaženi Festival comes to an end.
