Elira Lluka, Author at Zana Hoxha

Camp of Artivists – influence of art and its inclusiveness in times of COVID

Human beings have continued to create even during unfortunate times and under the strangest of circumstances. The process of becoming and creating is part of our genesis and essence. With this in mind, Center for Art and Community – Artpolis has organized the feminist camp with artist and activists from all around Kosovo for four days, in Kukaj from 26- 29 June, 2020. Though, it’s just the second time, this camp brought together twenty-five women “ART-VISTS” to create and develop art works that reflect experiences, resistance, challenges, conflicts, cruelty, resilience and devotion in times of the COVID 19 pandemic all around the world,

A powerful series of stories, experiences and feelings have been told for four days in a row. Openness toward each other revealed similarities not missing. They grasped these similarities and approached each other even further, giving the power and inspiration/motives for more. These four days of intense work consisted of group work sessions, including rehearsals for scenic moves, creative writing, meditation and catharsis/ emotional relief. These have assisted artists and activists on expressing deliberately their experience and perception about society. Other than that, there were discussions going on with the aim to break down and reformulate concepts and ideas related to each of their artistic performance.

Artists and activists, which were divided in four groups established inspiring connections between each other and reunited with common goals and ideas to help one another carry out four artistic performances. This artwork is supposed to address messages on social matters. Every activity happening during these days was in function of developing their shows. They will proceed on betterment until finale which is presentation during 8^TH Edition of FEMART Festival, from 15^th -20^th of October,2020.

Camp of Artists and Activists came into being thanks to facilitators: Zana Hoxha(director), Robert Nuha (choreographer) and Shpetim Selmani (actor, poet).

Elira Lluka In Activism

Integrated Security Workshop – Training of Trainers edition

Integrated Security Workshop – Training of Trainers edition was held on 14-17 December, 2020 in hotel surrounded by beautiful mountains in Bogë with 11 women staff members from five shelters from different municipalities in Kosovo, including: Prishtina, Peja, Gjakova, Mitrovica and Drenas.

Women participating in this training were trained by certified trainers Zana Hoxha and Yllka Soba on techniques and methodology of self-care, such as: coping mechanisms, finding a common ground, creating a social network, how to protect themselves and how to address their needs.

The workshop helped participants connect to their bodies, emotions and experiences

For three days’ participants shared their stories with the group and trainers, or in teams of two, in addition to the exercises and facilitating sessions.

All participants, shelter representatives and trainers pledged to be there for each other, to help and support each other, while these types of collaborations considered to be long-lasting and beneficial for both parties.

A handbook including a summary and exercises on stress management with explanations on the exercises and facilitating sessions adapted and translated in Albanian language was shared with participants women – shelters staff that took part in this Integrated Security workshop.

Elira Lluka In Activism

The Forum Theater Program training brought together young people from Kosovo communities

In beautiful Prizren, girls and boys from communities living in Kosovo gathered to participate in the four-day training “Theater-based education”. The beautiful and sunny weather pushed the training organizers to modify the exercises and flood the stage of Prizren Castle. Then, coaches Zana Hoxha and Edlir Gashi continued with the agenda, developing exercises and improvisations of theater scenes, on socially discussed topics with a focus on multiethnic coexistence.

The special feature of this training was the masked workshop which was a relaxation but at the same time a stimulus for the development of creativity. Masks became part of the shows. The novelty of the training was the game with body movements, led by choreographer Robert Nuha, which also helped the performance of the participants.

“What distinguishes this workshop and group from the others, is that I have not seen any kind of prejudice here, something I have encountered in other workshops. And what was characteristic, we all tried to understand each other, since we do not speak the same language, and this is my strongest and most positive impression of this training “- says the participant of the training from North Mitrovica , Djurdjica Kaziq.

The 4-day training “Theater Based Education” was held in Prizren, organized by members of the Kosovo Coalition for Reconciliation, Artpolis and NGO Aktiv.

All activities were carried out in accordance with the recommendations for preventing the spread of Covid-19 virus.

Elira Lluka In Theatre

Musical Theatre Performance “Spring Awakening”

For the director of the performance Zana Hoxha, Frank Wedekind’s masterpiece “Spring Awakening” was an artistic calling, a desire and a need to bring this play in Kosovo, further adapting it in the era of 90s in Kosovo. The need of young people to understand and be understood has been and continues to be a challenge, especially considering the history that has followed the young people of Kosovo in the 1990s, a time of protest and resistance, a time when collective and personal freedom was limited by the political regime of Milosevic and the patriarchate, nevertheless solidarity kept the spirit of collective resistance alive.

Youth and their natural needs have not been a priority of the society, so information about sexuality, feelings, love and experiences have been discouraged and neglected by family, school and society. School violence, physical and sexual abuse, prejudice, unplanned pregnancy and abortion have been and remain real problems of our Kosovar society.

The first premiere during this pandemic time of COVID 19 coincidently addresses the lack of collective freedom in Kosovo.

This performance awakens the need to raise discussion of such “forbidden” topics, to talk about feelings, sex and first experiences as they are happening, the need to know it all, to understand and experience them all.
This performance including all of its creators is dedicated to all the teenagers who fell in 1998-1999 in the last war in Kosovo.

Author: Frank Wedekind
Adaptation & Director: Zana Hoxha

Actors:
Hajat Toçilla, Valmir Krasniqi, Labinot Raci, Arta Muçaj, Shkelzen Veseli, Semira Latifi, Shpetim Kastrati, Qëndresa Loki, Verona Koxha, Flamur Ahmeti, Armend Ballazhi

Musicians: Alzan Gashi, Arbër Salihu & Drin Tashi
Choreography: Robert Nuha
Costumes: Yllka Brada
Scenography: Youliana Voykova – Najman
Stage Manager: Bajram Mehemtaj
Asisstant: Elira Lluka

A production of Kosovo National Theater and Art and community Center – ARTPOLIS

Photo: Meddy Huduti

Elira Lluka In Theatre

The performance “Artemis’s Huntresses”

Inspired by the nature and its beauties of the village of Kukaj, where space and everything that surrounds this environment is in harmony with the earth and the sky, began an extraordinary story of the performance “Artemis’s Huntresses”. This creative process started from a visit to the peaceful nature, a healer for body and soul, and inspired the theatre director Zana Hoxha, to create a work that is in accordance with nature as a healing goddess, source of life and inexhaustible energy.

The ” Artemis’s Huntresses” were slowly shaped by personifying the soul of an independent woman by doing pagan rituals and giving love and solidarity in harmony with nature. The choreography, music, costumes and performances of the actresses are the result of the emotions and feelings that this symbiosis of nature with woman and art evoked, and was fully in accordance to the place, atmosphere and the Ethno Fest event.

The performance “Artemis’s Huntresses”.
From: Zana Hoxha
Music: Arbër Salihu
Choreography: Robert Nuha
Actresses: Aurita Agushi, Semira Latifi, Donikë Ahmeti, Daniela Markaj, Qëndresa Kajtazi, Hajat Toçilla, Fitore Jashari.
Costumes: Arbnor Brahimi
Technical assistant: Elira Lluka

Photo: Medi Huduti

Elira Lluka In Theatre

Stage reading Spring awakening

“Believe me you’re not alone no
Please believe me
Believe me, I’ll thaw the life
And I will not be far from you.
Believe in the sun, belief in the sun … ”

With verses of the song “Believe in the Sun”, a hit of the 90s, at the Oda Theater finished stage reading of the play “Spring Awakening,” which was brilliantly performed by Kosovo’s professional actresses and actors.
The staged play, set in Kosovo in the 1990s, has sadness the diverse audience consisting of youngsters, willing and curious, to understand more about their parents’ beliefs, games, and stories in their teens, and from the older public who witnessed and experienced that period of life, at that time.

After the performance, a discussion was opened with the public to receive comments, questions or suggestions on the theme and process of the play, which will be completed in March 2020, when the premiere of the play “Spring Awakening” will be given.

Author: Frank Wedekind; Director and adaption: Zana Hoxha
Actors: Hajat Toçilla, Valmir Krasniqi, Arta Muçaj, Shkelzen Veseli, Labinot Raci, Qëndresa Loki, Verona Koxha, Flamur Ahmeti, Armend Ballazhi.
Music: Alzan Gashi; Choreography: Robert Nuha; Ass.director: Arlinda Morina, Costumes: Youliana Voykova – Najman; Lights: Skender Latifi; Design and illustrations: Vanja Lazić
Production: Artpolis – Art and Community Center
Photographer: Blerta Hocia

Elira Lluka In Theatre

“Destur” – Sweet Blasphemy

This is the first time National Theatre of Kosovo has presented a piece about the well-known Sufi poet, Rumi. To tell his story the troop have gone through an intense training to captivate authentic dervish dances. “Destur”, a play by Musa Ramadani and a novel within a novel called “Sweet Blasphemy” ( from “40 Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak) have all merged to create a play with dramaturgy and directed by Zana Hoxha.

Set in the 13th century, this play revolves around the various interpretations of religion and love and the conflicts that arise between academic intellect and pure wisdom. Shams of Tabris, a wanderer searching for God, has found his purest form of love and his captivating presence leaves all people transformed when they cross Shams’ path. Maulana Rumi, is a dervish (Sufi) imam praised for his academical wisdom for God.

The dramatic encounter of Shams and Rumi in the city of Konyo is the turning point to Rumi’s spiritual journey. These [two] lock themselves in Rumi’s library for 40 days as each day, they discuss the 40 Rules of Love. This love is addressed to God throughout the story, but its magic lies in the relevance of the philosophical discussions about romantic love, pertinent to modern day 21st century. Shams teaches Rumi how to open his heart entirely and experience God in a new way.

Leading roles: Maulana Rumi: Çun Lajçi, Shems of Tabriz: Shkelzen Veseli Other roles: Armend Smajli, Edlir Gashi, May-Linda Kosumoviç, Semira Latifi, Anisa Ismajli, Basri Lushtaku, Kushtrim Qerimi, Flamur Ahmeti, Armend Ballazhi, Mikel Markaj, Selman Jusufi, Florent Salihu, Blend Sadiku, Leonit Maloku. Choreographer: Robert Nuha, Costumes and Stage Design: Youliana Vojkova-Najman, Music: Memli Kelmendi, Assistant Director: Flutura Çelaj, Stage Manager: Bajram Mehmetaj, Lighting: Sherif Salihu dhe Mursel Bekteshi, AV: Arben Aliu, Stage Organiser: Aziz Maloku. This play is dedicated to Mr. Istref Begolli, iconic actor of the National Theatre.