MEDIATHEK

I EXIST - to Rajasthan

Ancient tales chronicle the roots of the Roma from Rajasthan. For the avant-garde musician Iva Bittová and the artist duo Damian & Delaine Le Bas, this encounter with the reputed birthplace of the Roma also meant coming face-to-face with a part of their heritage.
 
 The music theatre ‘I EXIST – to Rajasthan’ tells the story of survival – of the remarkable strength that allowed the Roma & Sinti people to overcome centuries of hostility and even the attempt by the Third Reich to annihilate them completely from the face of the earth.
 
 An evening of contemporary and traditional Indian music, featuring video and interview excerpts from a joint research trip to India, eclectic costumes and stage décor by Damian & Delaine Le Bas, a breathtaking performance by Iva Bittová and outstanding traditional Indian musicians.
 
 In an intercultural, interdisciplinary panorama orchestral musicians from Germany (Dresdner Sinfoniker) and the former Yugoslavia (No Borders Orchestra), along with prestigious venues and cultural institutions from all corners of Europe and India, use ‘I Exist – nach Rajasthan’ as a vehicle to examine the concept of belonging, while ensuring that their unique personal experiences are mirrored by the production.
 
 A diverse outreach programme encourages both young and old in the various host locations and countries to independently examine artistically their attitudes to people with different cultural roots.