Estonia

Battery Dance Company’s outdoor presentation of The Solo Project was facilitated by Tiia Hiie, a friend of Jonathan Hollander’s who had served as an interpreter for a variety of international events that took place in Estonia. Tiia negotiated adroitly with local authorities, gaining permissions and arranging for the City to erect a stage in the middle of Tallinn’s medieval main square. On that Sunday afternoon, hundreds of strollers and city visitors stopped by to watch. By the end of the performance, Battery had gathered an audience of over 500 around the stage, and had introduced a new face of American culture to the Estonian public.

Being in Tallinn provided an opportunity for meetings with members of the local dance community including Priit Raud, first dance presenter in Estonia. By coincidence, the dancers picked the same café for Jonathan’s birthday celebration that was chosen by Paavo Järvi and his colleagues from Estonia’s illustrious clutch of orchestra conductors to celebrate twin sister conductors Anu and Kadri Tali’s birthday the same night. Both groups noticed each other and formed one big joint celebration of performing artists and birthdays!

Rakvere, a small town in North-Eastern Estonia, hosts an annual international dance and theatre festival. In 2002, Rakvere also celebrated its 700th Jubilee. Battery was honored to perform as part of this historic event. Rakvere’s Von Krahl Theatre was packed “to the roof” and the performance rallied the community from miles around, including local residents, students and workers s to city officials. Battery was given a token of honor, and was thanked for “creating such sweet memories for the city’s Anniversary”.