Dance performance “Žemaitė N.18(0)”

The state ensemble “Lietuva” presents the premiere of “Žemaitė N.18(0)”—a dance performance about a woman who was far ahead of her time. The new production will debut on February 21^st at Vilnius Dance Theater, followed by a tour across Lithuania. Žemaitė’s phenomenon, with all the most intimate facts of her life, deserves special attention, making this dance performance an invitation to view the renowned Lithuanian classic writer from a completely new perspective.

”Žemaitė N.18(0) – you will be surprised by how extraordinary, unstoppable, and independent she was,” says director and chief choreographer of the “Lietuva” ensemble, Aušra Krasauskaitė. A rebel of her time, she was unique in her inner freedom, courage to love, and ability to stand out. The new performance will unveil the passions that burned beneath her dignified demeanor, always covered by a headscarf, along with her extraordinary thirst for knowledge, life, art, and men. By intertwining her intriguing biography with creative themes, the production will explore a lesser-known side of Žemaitė, unraveling secrets yet to be deciphered by many creators and dismantling the well-worn image of the “grandmother” from the former Lithuanian litas banknote.

The “Lietuva” ensemble’s new program commemorates the 180th birth anniversary of writer Julija Beniuševičiūtė-Žymantienė, known under the pen name Žemaitė. Her life story alone sparks curiosity: at the age of 65, she fell in love with a man 30 years her junior—who had initially been interested in her granddaughter but ultimately married Žemaitė’s daughter. Surviving letters to her beloved testify to deep emotions that profoundly influenced her work.

“Žemaitė was, above all, a person who not only listened to her inner voice but had the courage to follow it. One can analyze her biography endlessly or the people around her who may have shaped her, but these speculations don’t matter. Anyone curious about Žemaitė can find information with a few clicks. What interests me is that Žemaitė, like me, was a woman who allowed herself to listen to her authentic ‘self’ and respond to her needs—to create, to love, and to live freely in a time when many wouldn’t even dream of such things. And this choice remains relevant today. Despite the proclaimed freedom to choose—where to live, whom to love, whether to be a feminist or not, or to embrace one’s feelings without questioning their validity—it is becoming increasingly difficult. I want to create a performance that conveys what I feel when reading and thinking about Žemaitė. I share this inspiration with the hope that you, too, will turn inward,” invites A. Krasauskaitė.

This special project, dedicated to the Year of Žemaitė, will portray her vivid, colorful personality through the language of movement and symbols. The choreography will blend classical, neoclassical, and contemporary dance, with dynamic ensemble scenes transitioning into duets and solo compositions performed by “Lietuva” dance troupe. Modern choreography, interwoven with ethno motifs and enriched by Lithuanian folk traditions, will reinforce the rural and urban imagery inseparable from the writer’s life. The scenography will immerse audiences in the multifaceted personality of Žemaitė. The performance will feature compositions by various musicians, alongside themes from Lithuanian folk music.

Literary scholars describe Žemaitė as “an active, passionate woman, wearing her scarf like a hipster, eccentric, and unafraid of radical life changes.” Among classical authors, she resonates most with contemporary sensibilities. The seeds of feminism can be traced in her works—she openly questioned why women earned less than men. Paradoxically, while she found support from young intellectuals like Povilas Višinskis and Jonas Jablonskis, she lacked understanding in her immediate environment.

Žemaitė is best known for depicting rural life, interpersonal relationships, hardships, and vivid landscapes, masterfully capturing human emotions. Her keen sensitivity to feelings remains a compelling aspect of her work. She laid the foundation for modern Lithuanian prose and realism, with iconic works such as the short story “Marti” and the novella “Petras Kurmelis”, still widely studied in schools. However, while her literary achievements are celebrated, her personal life and dramatic experiences are often overlooked.

Director and choreographer A. Krasauskaitė is a recipient of the Golden Stage Cross and the Gratitude Mask awards. She has staged more than eight dance performances in various Lithuanian theaters and created choreography for several projects of the “Lietuva” ensemble, including the musical drama “Emilija”, the collage opera “Mažvydas”, the musical drama “The legend of the gifted heart”, and the dance performance “Dance symphony from the Northern Jerusalem”, based on music by Jievaras Jasinskis. She was also inspired for this new project by the dance performance “Uncles and aunts”, based on the work of Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas.

The scenographer and costume designer, Giedrė Brazytė, is also a laureate of the Golden Stage Cross, the Gratitude Mask, and the Fortune Prize. The dramaturgy is written by Kristina Steiblytė, while the musical pieces will be brought together by Silvija Miliūnaitė. The lighting designer is Pijus Vasiliauskas.

Informational partner LRT. The project is partially funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Director and choreographer: Aušra Krasauskaitė
Playwright: Kristina Steiblytė
Scenographer and costume designer: Giedrė Brazytė
Composers: Silvija Miliūnaitė, Nijolė Sinkevičiūtė, Faustas Latėnas, Vidmantas Bartulis, and Martynas Bialobžeskis
Musical director: Silvija Miliūnaitė
Lighting designer: Pijus Vasiliauskas
Assistant director: Giedrė Kriaučionytė-Vosylienė

SOLOISTS:

Žemaitė: Gintarė Vaitiekūnaitė / Kristina Tarasevičiūtė
Daughter Juzė: Eiva Dobilaitė / Vesta Gineitytė
Granddaughter Elzė: Goda Mikuckytė / Alina Jazdauskytė
Konstantinas: Danielius Voinovas
Son Antanas: Simonas Laukaitis / Antanas Striganavičius
Unė Babickaitė: Greta Frolovaitė

PERFORMERS:

Dance troupe of the state ensemble “Lietuva”