THE TANGLED THREAD by Polski Tetar Tańca

Premiere: July 12th, 2025

Location: Merida, Spain

CREDITS:

Choreography: Katarzyna Niżnik

Dancers: Oliwia Miarka, Ewa Krzywicka

Production team: Polski Teatr Tańca

Every choice we make, every stance we take, weaves the fabric of our lives—one whose threads extend far beyond us, shaping the world for those who follow. The Tangled Thread reimagines the ancient myth of Arachne, revealing its enduring relevance in our modern world. It is a story of ambition, defiance, and the belief in one’s own power—an exploration of how the paths we choose define our fate.

Through a dynamic fusion of movement, physical theatre, and improvisation, the performance exposes a deeper truth: it is not only our decisions, but our very attitude toward life that holds the power to transform reality. Arachne’s story warns that pride may lead to downfall, but passivity can be just as destructive. It is a tale of responsibility, conviction, and the delicate balance between courage and arrogance.

The Tangled Thread invites you to reflect on the forces that shape our destiny—and the legacy we leave behind.

KATARZYNA NIŻNIK

Born in Krosno,Poland, 2000. In 2024 she graduated at SEAD – Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria. Katarzyna accomplished performing art programme at PERA Girne American University in Cyprus. Besides school education she was participating in many workshops such as GagaLab led by Ohad Naharin himself and Batsheva dancers (Orsolina28), Summer Intensive (Portugal), Cracov Dance Festival (Poland) and many more. Katarzyna was active in an art field also as organiser of contemporary art festival ,,Nomadic Roots’’ in Salzburg Austria and as main leader in Erasmus+ project ,,Dance Art of Freedom’’ cooparated with Ukrainian dancers. In 2024 she joined European Project ,,Meeting Point’’, including dance residency with dancers from Greece, Denmark, Ukraine and Poland. Recent work of Katarzyna involve collaborations with companies such as Maciej Kuzminski Dance Company, B’cause Dance Company (Poland), Ivgi&Greben Dance Company (Netherlands). Katarzyna has choreographic experience as she created her own works such as ,,My migrations’’ presented at Central Dance Stage (Warsaw,PL),  ,,Swimming flesh in my liquid bones’’ which has its premiere at Solo Dance Contest (Gdańsk,PL) and ,,Trapedy’’ premiered at Josef Eckhart Theatre (Salzburg,AT). As a dancer she has collaborated with artist such as Romeo Catellucci (Festspiele Salzburg), Olivier Dubois, Israel Aloni (IL Dance), Bostjan Antonic (Rosas), Manuel Ronda, Elena Fokina, Livia Balazova, Zebastian Mendez Marin (Ultima Vez), Nicolas Vladyslav (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui) at Josef Eckhart Theatre (Salzburg). Her interest in dance is supported through diverse activities and art forms. In 2024 she has started psychology studies focused in direction of sport and art psychology. In 2022 she accomplished yoga teacher training 200hrs RYT and in 2023 became personal gym trainer. Katarzyna shares her knowledge by dance workshops, as well as she was long-term contemporary dance teacher at SEAD Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in 2021-2023.

DANCERS

OLIWIA MIARKA

A dancer and choreographer, a graduate of the Ballet Studio of the Cracow Opera. She began her artistic work during her education, creating original choreographic compositions. During her education she performed in the repertoire of the Cracow Opera. As a dancer, she participated in the creation of the performance Cinderella, choreographed by Anne Jung and Ermanno Sbezzo, as part of the Sicilian Danzart Festival 2023. She participated in the prestigious GagaLab 2024 workshops with Ohad Naharin (Orsolina28). In 2024, she participated in the 6×2 Dance Platform program (Montecatini, Italy) with artistic directors of European theaters: Staatstheater Kassel, Staatstheater Augsburg, Komoco, Opera Graz and MiR Dance Company. At the invitation of director Thorsten Teubl, she completed an internship at Staatstheater Kassel. As a director and choreographer, she realized her first film project [ f r a m i n g ] in 2023. It won the Grand Prix in the “1 page, 1 look, 180 seconds” competition organized by the Polish Dance Theatre.

EWA KRZYWICKA

Ewa Krzywicka is a dancer. Graduate of dance studies with a specialization in dancer-choreography at the AHE in Lodz. Second degree student in the field of performing arts with specialization in choreography at the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz. Dancer of the Unknown Dance Theater operating in Poznan under the supervision of Katarzyna Leszek and Filip Hylewicz (‘Absolutist.’, ‘Holy melancholy’, ‘Holy melancholy: perfect families and how to find them’). Co-creator of the performance ‘Fantasia, a warm dance for the harmony and voices singing in your head’ as part of the Residency/Premiere project of the 14th Gdansk Dance Festival under the artistic supervision of Hannes Langolf. Participant in, among others, the Spaces of Art Lublin Program, Kaleidoscope Festival in Bialystok, Central Dance Stage in Warsaw, Mandala Performance Festival in Wroclaw.