"Tending to emphasize the power of art, because art makes us better, in every sense."
Birute Letukaite
"I have decided to kill my children and leave this country. I do not have another minute, for fear that someone will take my children and they will be slaughtered at the hands of some enemy. They must die: it is better that they die at my hands, the hands that gave them life." (Euripides, Medea).
Inspired by the Greek tragedy of Medea, the performance choreographed and designed by the director of the Aura Dance Theater, Birute Letukaite, aims to give voice to a drama that seems to shock Lithuanian society, characterized by a high number of infanticides and abortions. The passion for Medea, which has accompanied her artistic life, and the social condition of her country have driven the choreographer to address these themes through the language of dance, convinced that art can draw attention to deeply rooted societal issues. Created in collaboration with vocalist Skaidra Jancaite, Letukaite has developed a performance where dance interacts with live voices, building a crescendo of pathos, where ancient Medeas blend and confuse with today’s women, whom the choreographer defines as "contemporary Medeas."
Aura Dance Theater has been active in Lithuania for over thirty years. Its artistic endeavors span both national stages and numerous international events; over time, it has exported and represented Lithuanian contemporary dance in around thirty countries worldwide and at dozens of festivals.
The director of Aura Dance Theater, Birute Letukaite, constantly seeks new artistic forms and remains open to new ideas while pursuing collaborations with diverse professionals. The company actively promotes and participates in residency programs, continuously creating projects with dancers and choreographers from all around the world. For over twenty years, Aura has also organized an important international festival in Kaunas, contributing to the spread of contemporary dance culture in Lithuania and enriching the country's cultural life.
In 2006, Birute Letukaite was awarded the Golden Stage Cross for her choreography of the performance Aseptic Zone or Lithuanian Songs, and in 2008, she received the Culture and Art Award from the Lithuanian government. This year, Birute Letukaite has received the Golden Stage Cross for the second time for the significant contribution that she and her theatre continually make to the art and contemporary dance of Lithuania.
