Dance Performance “Sofija” | In the Shadow of Genius

What does an ambitious woman feel when she spends her whole life in the shadow of her husband – a genius?

The “Lietuva” Ensemble presents a premiere – the dance performance “Sofija”, which with a bold gaze will awaken what is (un)expected, and perhaps often left unsaid. The new program will be presented on October 30, 2026 at Vilnius Old Theatre, later the tour will continue in other Lithuanian cities. The M. K. Čiurlionis Year is full of attention to his most outstanding achievements and the impressive biography of the artist, which inspired the creators of the performance to the opposite idea – an exceptionally tender and open (con)fession with his great muse Sofija Kymantaite – Čiurlioniene.

“It is time to turn to the person who best understood, most deeply felt the genius of M.K. Čiurlionis in his time. A person who, in our opinion, undeservedly remained in the shadow of her husband, an undeservedly forgotten contribution. Sofija – a woman who endured life’s twists and turns, encompassing countless roles within herself. Her love, struggle, determination and devotion simply inspire. While researching her biography, I realized that she had to experience so much, those experiences will encourage viewers to reflect and raise thought-provoking questions”, – says director and chief choreographer of the “Lietuva” ensemble Aušra Krasauskaitė about the born idea. The new performance, affecting the language of movement and symbols, will highlight S. Kymantaite – Čiurlioniene’s multifaceted personality, especially the less revealed aspects, the most intimate breaks and transformations. What does it mean to live with a genius? How to survive the mental illness of a loved one? What is the meaning of fighting and preserving every memory of a husband? How much can love endure poverty and non-recognition? How many roles fit in one woman?

“Čiurlionis – one of the most intriguing Lithuanian artists, whose life, creation and thoughts allow not only to delve into a unique art philosophy about the eternal incompleteness of a work, to ask where the boundary lies between brilliant creation and madness, and to be moved by non-recognition and poverty. Besides that, we can admire an extraordinary love story with a strong exceptional woman – Sofija Kymantaite. An active promoter of Lithuanian culture, public figure, writer, one of the first literature and theater critics. Sofija Kymantaitė – Čiurlionienė – the genius’s teacher, muse, beloved, wife, nurse, mother of a child, the main guardian and disseminator of Čiurlionis’s work. Sofija remained a widow for the rest of her life after her beloved husband’s death, turned loss into the engine of life, followed love until the very end. The fact that today we can delve into Čiurlionis’s work is only due to Sofija’s persistent and consistent