The story starts out in familiar fashion. Once upon a time a peasant family decides to build their house in the forest. The forest is full of various supernatural beings like nymphs and imps, as appear in Ukrainian legends. The old uncle teaches his young nephew Lukash to live in peace with all these beings. But when the boy falls in love with Mavka, a beautiful forest nymph, the story becomes much more complicated. To some it might resemble The Little Mermaid by Andersen; others might relate it with traditional African fairy tales. The Forest Song is about the contradictions of human ambition and the ways of nature; about lofty and profane things; about love and fidelity. Romance and tragedy often go hand in hand, but The Forest portrays a child’s interpretation that gives everything a second chance.
Kateryna was inspired to produce The Forest based on her own experiences working with children. “Some children would respond right away if you ask them do something, while others would think about it first. But increasingly with the spread of technology and the fast pace of life, children are already jumping and running around when you ask them to do something, and if you tell them to stop moving it would be like telling them to stop thinking.” The Forest will be suitable for all kinds of children; as a contemporary dance shows it will be interactive. “If you want you can join in, you can be an active part of it or just witness it. The child will be in their own element and you won’t feel embarrassed; it’s natural for the audience to be a part of such a performance. The child will have his or her own experience of making a decision. In the digital age when we do many things automatically, it is very important to stay creative.”
