Hansel: Maybe eternal, but more or less forever

This year, Bitef danced at the very beginning. It was clumsy, as if done by a beginner or maybe it was just an impression caused by the fact that it was at the very beginning. Both dancing performances left an impression of inexperience. Does it mean that the only criterion regarding selection of the performances for the main programme is how spectacular they are? Is it really enough to use nothing more than well-made optical illusions, superficially used new technologies or great names from the world of choreography?
Maybe forever may be based on a tangible topic – unlike the attractive performance we saw at the beginning – but it does leave a gap filled with unanswered questions. The questions are various – form those concerning Love as a topic and possibility to present it by the means of contemporary dance, to those dealing with types of links between the two approaches to dancing. Eventually, it all comes down to one or two questions – what is the point of this performance and why is it at Bitef? In order to promote a young artist on non-European markets? Is it the very coming of Meg Stuart to Belgrade? Okay, but, couldn’t she have come with some other performance?
Another omission was made regarding the announced time spent on preparation of the performance. It said, five days. The audience was barely reassured by Meg Stuart herself. And I am sure I am not the only one who thinks that Maybe forever was being created yesterday, spontaneously, during the performance. Anyhow, whether it was made for five days, two months or it was completely improvised (which I would cheerfully support), Maybe forever will be remembered by Niko Hafkenscheid's music and the fact that Meg Stuart came to Belgrade.
In the end, Bitef wouldn't be what it is if there hadn't been any mistakes on the part of the organisation. What ever has happened, you wonder? Nothing much. Some of you will probably not even understand the remark. But, isn’t it unusual that there was no translation during the performance? I am aware that the (post)modern society imposes computer literacy and knowledge of English but wasn’t that gesture a sign for the so-called less educated that Bitef is not for them? Mr. Bitef, is that how you imagine emancipation?

Dušan Milojević