Yuliia Lopata – Gala Pekha (UA): Cossachka | 14. SŐT7 festival

The Cossachka is an atmospheric sound and dance odyssey that explores the depths of female resilience. The performance is the creation of a collective of independent Ukrainian female dancers, musicians, and visual artists, born in the context of war—a place where many women have voluntarily taken up arms or found their calling in activism. The production transforms the communal experience of womanhood into a ritualistic theatrical event.

The performance, which is a fusion of contemporary dance, live vocals, and electronic music, takes its title from the legend of female warriors, the Amazons who once lived on the territory of modern-day Ukraine. Their appearance is linked to their characteristic braids (in Ukrainian: cosy / kosy), which are echoed in the name Cossachka.

The piece is a poetic journey through the female perspective on war and crisis and the preservation of identity in the shadow of colonization. It does not follow traditional heroic narratives but instead presents a quiet yet powerful form of perseverance and presence in the midst of catastrophe.

Credits

• Dancers: Dayana Mankovska, Dana Sarman, Daria Hordiichuk, Viktoria Demydova, Anna Kulchytska
• Costume Designer: Asya Sutiagina
• Composer and Performer: Olena Shykina
• Vocalist and Performer: Solomiya Kyrylova
• Lighting Designer: Olena Antokhina
• Producer: Polina Bulat
• Photo: Vira Dumke
• Dramaturg: Paul Bargetto
• Director: Yuliia Lopata
• Choreographer: Gala Pekha

The Cossachka performance is realized within the framework of the dancEUA Creative Europe project (2024–2027), which was created by the Studio Contemporary Dance Company (Croatia), the Central Europe Dance Theatre (Hungary), Vitlycke – Centre for Performing Arts (Sweden), M Studio (Romania), and the UA Contemporary Dance Platform (Ukraine) to foster the local development of the contemporary dance field.