FFF Dance Context Live & Feet Forward Festival: How (not) to evaluate art for children?

How can we create for the youngest audiences without underestimating them—and how can we write about such work so that criticism doesn’t remain trapped in adult clichés?

A discussion as part of the Feet Forward festival will bring together creators and critics, who will not only offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of productions for children and young audiences, but above all explore the specifics of how these works are reflected upon and evaluated. Come join the discussion on children’s imagination, the educational role of theater, and how we as adults should view contemporary works intended for young audiences from various perspectives. 

Moderated by Daniela Machová.

The discussion will be recorded and subsequently made available as a video as part of the Dance Context Live project.

Daniela Machová is an editor, financial manager, and, since 2017, the director of Dance Context, z. ú. She contributed to the development of the Dance Database and is currently primarily involved in projects under the umbrella of the Dance Context Life platform. She studied sociology at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and dance studies at HAMU, where she also earned her doctoral degree.

In her research, she combines sociological research methods with the study of dance phenomena. At HAMU, she teaches sociology and serves as a project manager in the Department of Science, Research, and Projects.

Dance Context is a nonprofit organization that has been active in the field of dance and the performing arts since 2006. Originally an online portal focused on industry news and journalism, it has gradually evolved into a broad-based forum that promotes reflection, dialogue, and the development of the art of dance.

Today, it also operates in an international context. It publishes a peer-reviewed print magazine, maintains an online database of dance organizations, organizes educational events, panel discussions, and professional gatherings, and develops a specialized media outlet focused on contemporary dance and the performing arts. www.feetforward.cz

Foto: Michal Hančovský