The Crossing: An Indo-Polish Contemporary Dance Collaboration

"ASHLEY LOBO is considered to be the spearhead of international dance in India. He is the Founder & Artistic Director of both The Danceworx Performing Arts Academy (TDX) and Navdhara India Dance Theatre (NIDT). Trained in Australia at the Bodenweiser Dance Centre and at Sydney Dance Company, his career in performing arts comprises of over 32 years of performing, choreographing and teaching, in India and overseas. Ashley is renowned for his Prana Paint™ technique, a unique sensitizing approach developed by him that explores movement through yoga, breath, connectivity and touch. This notable technique has put him on the international map and led to him being invited to teach and choreograph overseas. In 2017, he was invited to create a full-length contemporary dance production “Das Dschungelbuch” for The Ballet Chemnitz in Germany. In 2019, he is doing the same for Landestheater Linz in Austria. Ashley has choreographed extensively for both stage and cinema, with over 30 feature films to his credit. His choreographic style has a strong influence of cinematic techniques combined with clear narrative. In film and stage, he is known for producing work with a uniquely strong sense of connection, which he has developed through his Prana Paint™ technique."

"Karolina Kroczak Dancer, teacher, choreographer. She graduated in Polish studies (culture theory) at the University of Warsaw. She has worked, as a dancer and choreographer, in Zawirowania Dance Theatre. She has worked with the group since 2006 – she has taken part in the following performances: Nic tylko błękit, Chopin Ambiente, Innocent when you dream, Fuera de Campo by Daniel Abreu). In 2005–2007, she participated in an educational project of the Silesian Dance Theatre. She collaborated with such artists as: Jaro Vinarsky, Hilke Diemer, Georg Blaschke, Juan de Torres, Daniel Abreu. She was also a choreographer of the 5th Edition of TV show “You Can Dance – po prostu tańcz”; in 2010, she created, as a choreographer and second director, a performance with dancers of “Dancing with the stars” Lady Fosse in Capitol Theatre in Warsaw. She is also a dancer and teacher of many dance techniques and physical methods, i.e. contemporary dance, physical modern, release modern, pilates. She runs workshops for all levels."

Elwira Piorun – dancer, teacher, choreographer. She graduated from the Ballet School in Warsaw and in Ballet Pedagogy from the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. For many years she was a soloist of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw. For eight years (1990–1997) she worked in Germany (Hagen and Dortmund). In 2005 she founded, together with Włodzimierz Kaczkowski Zawirowania Dance Theatre. In the theatre she regularly co-produced group choreographies in which she also performed and featured performances of other artists such as Juan de Torres and Daniela Merlo. She is an active promoter of contemporary dance in Warsaw. She organized, together with the theatre, Zawirowania Dance Theatre Festival, taking place each year in June.