Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost (2013)
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
Choreography: Jacek Luminskil
Music: Pawel Szymanski, John Zorn, Andy Statman
Lighting: Barry Steele
First Performance: 2013
Run Time: 25 minutes
Commissioned with funds from the Trust for Mutual Understanding, Polish Cultural Institute-New York, and Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
About the Choreographer
Jacek Luminski graduated from the program in dance pedagogy at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and received practical training in acting and theatre skills for six years in the State Jewish Theatre in Warsaw. His apprenticeship included classes in SJT actors’ studio and performing on stage under renowned directors, such as Jakub Rotbaum and Juliusz Berger.
In 1991 Luminski established Silesian Dance Theatre in Bytom (Silesia), the premiere contemporary dance company of Poland, an institution dedicated to the development and to the promotion of dance art on both a national and international scale. As artistic director of the Silesian Dance Theatre he designed educational and community outreach programs that succeeded in creating and building a dance audience in the otherwise working class city of Bytom. He embarked on a regional and national crusade, advocating for the recognition and support of the field of contemporary dance. He also organized workshops in contemporary dance; critical and historical dance writing and arts management as well as the Annual International Contemporary Dance Conference and Performance Festival – one of the most important festivals in Central Europe. In 2005, under Luminski’s guidance, Silesian Dance Theatre joined with six European dance schools (Folkwang Hohschule in Germany, CODARTS in Holland, Bruckner University in Austria, Dartington College of the Arts, LIPA, and Bath Spa University in UK) developed the first country’s accredited university dance curriculum, with support from Leonardo da Vinci EU Program.
Luminski’s highly original movement vocabulary and choreographic style was developed from his fascination with cultural traditions of Polish Jewry and Polish folklore. This fascination was reflected in his thorough research in this field, his dance works and dance publications. He earned international recognition and established ongoing exchange partnerships with partners in the U.S., Israel, Holland, Macau and Hong Kong.
Luminski’s long list of awards, grants and scholarships for creating a new style and form of contemporary dance includes, among others, Ben Sommers Capezio Award (USA/Israel) in 1986, Ballett International Fellowship (Germany) in 1988, United States Information Agency – Visiting Artist (USA) in 1992, Trust for Mutual Understanding/Suitcase Fund Fellowship (USA) in 1993, 1994, ArtsLink Fellowship (USA) in 1994, „Złota Maska” (Golden Theatre Mask for the development of the new form of theatre) of Katowice Voivodship (Poland) in 1995, McKnight Fellowship (USA) in 1996, „Złota Maska” (Golden Theatre Mask for WK-70 dance theatre piece) of Katowice Voivodship in 1997, Pilar of the Report in 2003 (awarded by business community), Golden Cross of Merits in 2004, Golden Honorary Medal of Merits for Silesian Voivodship in 2005, International Theatre Institute (ITI) Theatre Critics Award for promoting Polish Culture abroad (2009), Subenoy Chakraborty Smriti Puraskar, Calcutta, India (2009), Silver Cross of Merits in Culture “Glora Artis” (2011).
Luminski frequently conducts workshops and master classes in Poland, USA, Canada, Israel, Austria, U.K., Singapore and Macau. Leading critics from The New York Times (USA), Ballet International (Germany), Dance Magazine (USA), and Tanz Affiche (Austria) have analyzed his style and technique in detail. Since 2000, he has served as Curator of Contemporary Dance Co-production Fund (EU Program). In 2000, he also became a Eugene Lang Professor of Social Change at Swarthmore College (USA), the first artist to be so honored. In 2009 Luminski completed doctoral coursework under Anya Peterson Royce at Indiana University, Bloomington. He earned a PhD from the State Drama School in Kraków (Poland) in Theatrical Arts. Since 2008 he occupies a position of Dean of the Dance Theatre Department and is on track to become a full professor.