info@artforrainydays.com
Art For Rainy Days is a performance collective made up of a circus artist, a dancer and a dramaturg. Combining perceptions, the aim is simple: to be inspired by each other’s artistic standpoints and to create by melting brains.
Art For Rainy Days is created by Jason Dupree, Alise Madara Bokaldere, and Izabele Kuzelyte. The three artists came together to create art that is sustainable for the artists and focuses on their well-being first and foremost. To put it simply – artists over the art.
Art For Rainy Days is a slow breakfast, scribbles in a notebook, a daydream. It’s artwork inspired by tasks and projects taken up on unproductive days to relax, breathe and find time for yourself.
Jason Dupree
A performance director & choreographer living between The UK & Latvia. His studies include a BA at the National Centre For Circus Arts & an MA in Contemporary Circus Practices in Stockholm University Of The Arts. He is artistic director of an experimental site specific circus company Living Room Circus & is co-founder of The Working Boys Club, a transdisciplinary company of creative makers, engaging & making work for the under-served working class of the UK. Jason’s current obsessions are humans in digital spaces & how to make the digital more beautiful.
Izabelė Kuzelytė
A contemporary circus creator and artist who contributes to the promotion of contemporary circus and its development in Lithuania. Originally from Vilnius, Lithuania she started her circus path in young age, later learned circus skills in Gravity Circus course and graduated FLIC scuola di Circo in 2021. Izabelė also participated in trainings hosted by various international festivals and projects (BNCN, New Circus Weekend, Lab Rope Creative, etc.) which contributed to her experience and knowledge in stage arts. In her performances and creations she merges previous background in various dance styles and circus technique to achieve fluidity and fragility in her movement style. Some chosen works: performer/ choreographer in “Hans – Christian Andersen festival”, performer in Kaunas 2022 – Cultural Capital of Europe, performer in “Radio Angels IV: Departure” by Roberto Magro.
Alise Madara Bokaldere
A contemporary dancer & choreographer based in Latvia. Graduated from the Latvian Academy of Culture with a BA in ”The art of contemporary dance”, & completed the digital training program Towards Vivencia: designing performance presence. Alise has been working internationally since 2018, & her choreographic experience involves working with dance, theatre, & circus. Her movement practice is based around stillness & draws attention to mundane moments, magnifying their impact & importance.
Jason Dupree
A performance director & choreographer living between The UK & Latvia. His studies include a BA at the National Centre For Circus Arts & an MA in Contemporary Circus Practices in Stockholm University Of The Arts. He is artistic director of an experimental site specific circus company Living Room Circus & is co-founder of The Working Boys Club, a transdisciplinary company of creative makers, engaging & making work for the under-served working class of the UK. Jason’s current obsessions are humans in digital spaces & how to make the digital more beautiful.
Izabelė Kuzelytė
A contemporary circus creator and artist who contributes to the promotion of contemporary circus and its development in Lithuania. Originally from Vilnius, Lithuania she started her circus path in young age, later learned circus skills in Gravity Circus course and graduated FLIC scuola di Circo in 2021. Izabelė also participated in trainings hosted by various international festivals and projects (BNCN, New Circus Weekend, Lab Rope Creative, etc.) which contributed to her experience and knowledge in stage arts. In her performances and creations she merges previous background in various dance styles and circus technique to achieve fluidity and fragility in her movement style. Some chosen works: performer/ choreographer in “Hans – Christian Andersen festival”, performer in Kaunas 2022 – Cultural Capital of Europe, performer in “Radio Angels IV: Departure” by Roberto Magro.
Alise Madara Bokaldere
A contemporary dancer & choreographer based in Latvia. Graduated from the Latvian Academy of Culture with a BA in ”The art of contemporary dance”, & completed the digital training program Towards Vivencia: designing performance presence. Alise has been working internationally since 2018, & her choreographic experience involves working with dance, theatre, & circus. Her movement practice is based around stillness & draws attention to mundane moments, magnifying their impact & importance.
One Dancer, one Aerialist, one Dramaturge and one Rope explore the act of revolving.
Renowned circus director Jason Dupree (UK), choreographer Alise Bokaldere (LV) and aerialist Izabele Kuzelyte (LT) join forces to create a collaboration between the west and east of Europe. In this piece, the artist merge their traditional values and modern outlooks on the current state of the world, merging dance, aerial rope, and hair-hanging.
In this piece the two performers are connected. Both influence each other, unable to separate. They are two but must become one.
How A Spiral Works is an invitation to slow down. The meditative nature of the piece challenges the speed of the current climate as well as the spectacle of circus, and asks you to adapt to a slower pace, not the other way around.
“There was an attentive, gentle and compassionate connection between the two artists moving on the stage and the technical behind the scenes. A tether connected to the audience not by direct eye contact, but by feeling – the feeling that what happening on the stage is indeed a reflection of our inner world. Using “hair hanging” technique, aerial acrobatics, skillfull movements of contemporary dance and minimalist scenography, the artists, like the artists of “Exit” (Cie Circumstances), pulled in the audience. Only this trio did not attract the audience for entertainment, but for a meditative, deep inward state. Every movement on stage had a purpose – it wasn’t meant to be a display of physical superiority or power – rather, it turned into a rich language that everyone watching could hear and perceive in their own way.” – Art critic Judita Paužuolytė
‘In the current world where everything is fast-paced, caffeinated and loud, This piece was a beautiful contrast. A performance full of care, that took its time, and allowed my brain space to engage. If you want a reset then this performance is the one’ – Audience Member.
‘I saw the division of self, the inner me and the outer me. Conversations that you have with your better and/or worse self’ – Audience Member.
‘Minimalism, black and white, symbiotic coexistence, fragile power’ – Audience Member
Photos by Kristīne Madjare
Artistic directors
Jason Dupree, Alise Madara Bokaldere, Izabele Kuzelyte
Performers
Alise Madara Bokaldere, Izabele Kuzelyte
Dramaturg
Jason Dupree
Music composer and producer
Adam Dupree
Costume designer
Aurelija Rancane
Creative rigger
Jacob Jakobson
Hair hanging mentor
Ingrid Eskusson