Dovydas Strimaitis, the face of the Lithuanian Season in France
Dancer and choreographer Dovydas Strimaitis is the face of the Lithuanian Season in France, taking place from September 12 to December 12, 2024. With a touch of humor, he answered our questions about his career, his creation Hairy, which will be performed on various French stages, and his involvement in the Season.
Updated on 04/10/2024
5 min
Could you introduce yourself?
I am a Lithuanian dancer and choreographer, and I've been living in France for five years now. Upon arriving, I danced for three years with the Ballet National de Marseille, before deciding to pursue my career as a choreographer.
Today, my works are being presented as part of the Lithuanian Season in France. I must say, this is the perfect moment for me because I can present a fully developed version of my artistic work. It's a very pleasant feeling. I live here in France, so I've been able to build connections, form strong ties with institutions, artists, and France in general. I'm truly happy that the Season is taking place now.
What are your thoughts on the Season?
I’m often asked how I feel about being the face of the Season... but in reality, it’s not so much my face that’s visible, it’s more my hair that people recognize!
Joking aside, this Season makes me very happy for the reasons I just mentioned. It’s an excellent opportunity for me. But what makes me happiest is that contemporary dance has been chosen to represent Lithuanian culture. It’s not usually the most highlighted art form, so I’m even more grateful to the organizers, both Lithuanian and French, who see contemporary dance as something very current, alive, and dynamic.
Can you tell us about your artistic approach and the show *Hairy*, which is touring France during this Season?
Hairy, as the name suggests, is a show about hair. There's nothing simpler!
It all started when I began growing out my hair. For a long time, I wanted to hide its unique color, but it has now become somewhat of a trademark.
I think hair is an interesting part of the body. We all have a very personal relationship with our hair, and it serves as a social and cultural marker, sometimes even a political one. For example, there are hairstyles characteristic of certain cultures or subcultures. You can hide your hair, show it, style it in a particular way, and so on.
We’ve been creating Hairy for three years. Throughout these three years, we’ve continuously discovered new layers of meaning in the show. Both for me as a choreographer and for the dancers as performers, this piece means more and more to us. There are so many different interpretations, and I’m very happy about that.
How can the Season influence the representation of Lithuania in France?
I hope that at least a small part of the French audience, who will see some performances, shows, or exhibitions, will get a glimpse of Lithuanian culture. In such a short time, it’s impossible to fully grasp the culture of a country, but this Season is a first step.
While we may be different, we are also part of the same big family that is Europe. The Season allows the French to see that we share a common culture. It’s an event that contributes to a better understanding of European culture.
And at the very least, the French will be able to locate Lithuania on a map and name a few of our cities (laughs)!
What are your personal hopes for the future?
After the Season, I hope we’ll be scheduled to perform in many places all over France. I need money, so contact me (laughs).
In the future, my creations will be more conceptual. I’ll be more poetic and emotional, even though the main goal remains for my work to be seen and understood. I want to connect with the audience, that’s what matters most.
"Hairy", by Dovydas Strimaitis
- Festival Actoral, Marseille - 4 and 5 october 2024
- La Biennale – Festival international des arts vivants Toulouse Occitanie - from 27 September to 13 October 2024
- Théâtre de la Ville, Paris - from 29 September to 20 October 2024
- Espace 1789, Saint-Ouen - 15 October 2024
- Maison de la Danse, Lyon - 28 and 29 November 2024
- Festival NeufNeuf, Toulouse - 22 November 2024
The Lithuanian Season in France is implemented by the Lithuanian Cultural Institute and the Institut français, in close collaboration with the Lithuanian Embassy in France, the French Embassy in Lithuania, and the Institut français of Lithuania, under the auspices of the French Ministries of Europe and Foreign Affairs and Culture, as well as the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.