Seven Hours Apart, Part One: The Humans I Seven Hours Apart, Part Two: Present Simple Tense

The Seven Hours Apart project is a multidimensional cultural exchange initiative seeking ways to connect and enrich artistic practices in Bulgaria and the United States through dance, dance theater, and performance. This project is part of a longer-term creative collaboration between the New Bulgarian University - NBU and the University of Michigan - UMich, aiming for a unique collaboration between teachers and students from both universities. The project is based on the specialized theater departments of the institutions. They, in turn, have appointed a full-time teacher-choreographer to lead an artistic process with nine student artists from the partner institution. At the end of the artistic process, an original creative product was created - one in Bulgaria and one in the United States. From NBU, the leading choreographer-director is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tatyana Sokolova (she will work with nine students from America), and from UMich - Dr. Tsveta Kasabova, who will work with nine students from Bulgaria.

The creative idea of ​​the project is to explore and challenge traditional understandings of dance and theater, as well as their boundaries. So far, the project has realized two performances. The first – “Seven Hours Apart, Part One: The People”, was performed for the first time in Sofia, Bulgaria on 31.05.2024, and the second – “Seven Hours Apart, Part Two: Simple Present Tense”, debuted in Michigan, USA on 2709.2024. To date, the performances have been performed multiple times. Both performances are thematically linked and examine social themes related to identity, happiness and human interactions.

The first performance, “The People”, draws attention to individual and collective identities, the challenges of belonging and the processes of self-discovery. Through movement and choreography, artists from NBU present personal and universal stories that provoke reflection on our place in a globalized world. The performance is realized with the financial support of the New Bulgarian University.

The second performance, "Present Simple Tense", explores the concept of happiness and human connection, including an exploration of the phenomenon of "logorrhea". This is not only a capture of the social and emotional complexities of modern life, but also a search for ways of authentic communication and expression in an increasingly confused world. Through theatrical choreography and improvisation, the performance explores the theme of finding one's own voice and identity, through interactions with others. The performance is realized with the financial support of an American grant.
-------------------

Seven Hours Apart, Part One: The Humans

A choreographic metaphor about the need for communion in a world divided by visible and invisible borders.

Choreographer: Dr. Tsveta Kasabova
Consultant Choreographer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tatyana Sokolova
Music: Michael Wall
Costume Designer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yana Dvaretskaya and Ivayla Petrova
Artists: Aleksandar Gochev, Marina Haralambova, Ioana Popova, Petya Milkova, Nikolai Nikolov, Lyudmil Dimitrov, Elena Rangelova, Borislava Hristova, Varujan Boyadjian, Boyan Panov, Iliyan Stoilov

Seven Hours Apart, Part Two: Present Simple Tense

A choreographic metaphor about the need for communion in a world divided by visible and invisible borders.

Choreographer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tatyana Sokolova
Consulting Choreographer: Dr. Tsveta Kasabova
Music: Michael Wall, Handel
Lighting: Jess Fialko
Costume: Dr. Tsveta Kasabova and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tatyana Sokolova
Artists: Audrey Andrews, Maya Bridgewater, Samuel Hopkins, Zack Gergel, Ryland Gigante, Ella Lewis, Nathaniel McCanna, Constance (CC) Meade, James Parascandola