MDC Live Arts’ The Black Queen Explores the Story of a Demonized Female Ruler
Miami, Sept. 17, 2018 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) MDC Live Arts presents an original work, The Black Queen, at 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 27 and Friday, Sept. 28, at the MDC Live Arts Lab. The experimental theatrical piece reexamines the narrative of a historical female leader, and one cannot help but draw parallels with contemporary societal struggles, where powerful women are often maligned.
The medieval queen Barbora of Celje was an intelligent, powerful ruler whose life was rewritten by her enemies as a myth of evil, witchcraft and vampirism. A recent text by a Slovakian historian unveils how—without questioning—her myth was adopted and embellished. She went from Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, where she independently administered large feudal fiefdoms and taxes and was instrumental in creating the royal Order of the Dragons, to exile/imprisonment for allegations of alchemy, heresy and immoral behavior.
In a new work, MDC Live Arts Live Arts Lab Alliance (LALA) artist-in-residence Juraj Kojs explores Barbora’s story together with fellow composer/performers Jennifer Beattie and Adam Marks. They unite medieval melodies, contemporary poetry, real-time electronics and a voice-controlled interactive star ceiling to create moments of magic—invoking a sonic mediation and surreal encounter between dark myth and true spirit. Whether a fan of Game of Thrones or a citizen who has heard any political commentary in recent times, this piece is sure to strike a chord. Goth attire welcome, dragons not allowed.
Juraj Kojs is a Slovakian composer, performer, multimedia artist, producer, researcher and educator residing in Miami, FL. His compositions received awards at Europe’s A Sound Panorama, Miami New Times “Best Of” Award, Eastman Electroacoustic Composition and Performance Competition and the Digital Art Award. Miami New Times described his muscle-powered multimedia Neraissance as “striking and unforgettable,” and MiamiArtzine called his Signals “enthralling and immersive.” Miami Herald described Bang for the Train as “the most profound work of the night – and certainly the most unexpected and enjoyable.” Kojs’ commissions include The Quiet Music Ensemble, Miami Light Project, Deering Estate Chamber Ensemble, Meet the Composer, Harvestworks New York, Miami Theater Center and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.
Kojs is the director of the Miami-based Foundation for Emerging Technologies and Arts (FETA). He holds a Ph.D. in Composition and Computer Technologies from University of Virginia. Kojs taught at Medialogy Department Aalborg University (Copenhagen, Denmark), Yale University, University of Virginia and Miami International University of Art and Design. Kojs is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. His research articles appeared in journals such as Organized Sound, Digital Creativity, Leonardo Music Journal, Journal of New Music Research and International Journal of Arts and Technology. More info can be found on www.kojs.net
WHAT: MDC Live Arts Presents The Black Queen
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m.
WHERE: MDC’s Wolfson Campus, MDC Live Arts Lab, Bldg. 1
300 NE Second Ave.
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To purchase tickets, please visit mdclivearts.org. Tickets are $10.
About MDC Live Arts
MDC Live Arts is Miami’s most eclectic performing arts series. Created in 1990 as Cultura del Lobo, MDC Live Arts has a celebrated history of bringing extraordinary national and international performing artists to Miami. The annual series presents today’s most exciting artists and designs meaningful engagement between these artists, the students of MDC, and the greater community. MDC Live Arts seeks artists from across the globe who push boundaries and honor traditions relevant to Miami’s diverse community, and aims to offer audiences opportunities to discover new ideas, perspectives and forms of expression. For more information, please visit www.mdclivearts.org.
MDC Live Arts Contacts: Alexa Burneikis, Marketing Manager, 305-237-7733, aburneik@mdc.edu
Lisa Palley, Palley Promotes, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net