Arhive B-Fit in the Street! - B-FIT IN THE STREET!

03.07.2023

Record Number of Participants at the 12th Edition of B-FIT in the Street! International Street Theatre Festival

After three years of absence, the comeback in Bucharest for the International Street Theatre Festival B-FIT in the Street! has enjoyed a record number of participants. In just three festival days, over 65,000 Bucharest residents and tourists have assisted, during the weekend June 30 – July 2, 2023, to the B-FIT in the Street! #12 shows that have taken over the city streets with dozens of street music performances, famous novels large scale productions, aerial acrobatics demonstrations, live installations and encounters with gigantic, fantastic characters, while the Dâmboviţa river has been animated, for the first time, by a nocturnal show.

Started in 2008, B-FIT in the Street! is the only theatre festival in Bucharest. A landmark of the summer season in Bucharest, B-FIT in the Street! enjoys a public of at least 20,000 participants, at every edition. Having reached its twelfth edition, B-FIT in the Street!, festival organized by The Capital City Hall, through ARCUB – the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest, together with the Directorate of Culture, Education, Tourism of the Municipality of Bucharest, has taken place this year between June 30^th – July 2^nd, 2023.

In various spots in Bucharest, the B-FIT in the Street! spectators danced on the party music by Batucada Los Vikingos from Spain drummers, had fun with the Stilt Parrots from The Netherlands and the Dodo birds from France, took pictures of the lighted swans Les Cignes from Italy and experimented the cabaret atmosphere with the French dancers from 20’ Street Ballet.

An original presence at B-FIT in the Street! #12, the artists from Gratte Ciel French company opened the program for this edition with the newest production in their repertoire, the live installation RoZéo which fascinated the public in the University Square, with the grace and poetry of the show, in which the movements of the acrobats were dictated by the imperceptible breeze. Also in the University Square, among the audience favourites, the Italian artists from Flower Sway Poles danced on giant white flowers and received long rounds of applause on all three days of the festival.

The first day of the festival, Friday, June 30th, culminated with the colour explosion of Tawa, the aerial acrobatics show in George Enescu Square. More than 15,000 spectators put their hands together for the artists from the most famous international circus companies in a 360-degree aerial acrobatics show, in which dance and live music blended with incredible numbers of human endurance. The chromatic explosion in the show finale has transformed George Enescu Square in a playground for spectators of all ages, who enjoyed the thousands of multi-coloured confetti.

The Victory Avenue became too small on the second day of the festival at ‟The Whale Street Show” performance. The first large-scale itinerant nocturnal show in the history of the festival, the French production of Coopérative de Productions Populaires et Polymorphes has taken the thousands of spectators along the Victory Avenue from the United Nations Bridge to the Queen Elisabeth Boulevard and impressed with its visual effects, music, dance, and acrobatics.

The twelfth edition of B-FIT in the Street! activated a new location in Bucharest, the river Dâmboviţa, with the fluvial show ‟DriFT”, which gathered thousands of spectators on the Independence Embankment, on the evening of Saturday, July 1st. Famous for their shows on water, the artists from the French company Illotopie returned to Bucharest, after having turned the Cișmigiu Park lake in a night theatre stage back in 2018.

The last day of the festival gathered around 20,000 spectators on the streets of Bucharest. Among the most anticipated B-FIT in the Street! moments, the aerial acrobatics show ‟Meraviglia” in George Enescu Square took the public to a fairytale atmosphere with the Nouveau Cirque demonstrations and the high-altitude athletic performance. In the end, the much-acclaimed Italian artists were joined on stage by the Spanish musicians Batucada Los Vikingos who continued the street theatre celebration on Victory Avenue, along with the Animal Fairytale giant puppets from France and the B-FIT in the Street! fans.

Fairytale weekend in the center of the Capital: The Bucharest International Street Theatre Festival B-FIT in the Street! #12 is about to start

This weekend, the streets in the centre of the Capital will be animated by the 200 international artists from Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and France, who will perform during the 12th edition of the Bucharest International Street Theatre – B-FIT in the Street!, organized by the Capital City Hall, through ARCUB – the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest, together with the Culture, Education, Tourism Directorate.

Thus, between June 30 and July 2, the public will enjoy a real summer season holiday, whose schedule includes shows on water, aerial acrobatics, live installations, live music, itinerant shows and encounters with fantastic characters.

The festival starts on Friday, June 30th, at 16.00, in the University Square, with the aerial acrobatics live installation “RoZéo”, presented by the French artists from Gratte Ciel company, and the special show that marks the official opening of the Bucharest International Street Theatre Festival B-FIT in the Street! 2023, the French production ‟TAWA”, will take place in George ‟Enescu Square”, from 20.00. Artists from the most famous international circus companies will perform in ‟George Enescu” Square in a 360-degree aerial acrobatics show, in which dance and live music blend with incredible numbers of human endurance and impressive chromatic explosions.

The first day of the festival also holds three performances of the interactive musical show ‟Street Piano” (Italy), from 18:00, 20:00 and 22:00, on the sidewalk in front of the National Art Museum of Romania; an innovative music and dance show, performed by two street artists, who invite the passers-by to a dynamic play, with an oversized keyboard installed on the asphalt. From 19:00, on the ‟George Enescu” Square – Revolution Square – Music Store route, giant puppets, inspired by the fables of the French writer Jean de La Fontaine, will dance to upbeat music and amplify the street party atmosphere with the itinerant show ‟Animal Fairytale” (France).

In parallel, in the University Square, on Lipscani, Gabroveni and Roma Square in the Historical Centre, large scale graceful swans, parrots on stilts, Batucada drummers and fantastic characters will electrify the audience with the shows ‟Les Cignes” (Italy), „Stilt Parrots” (The Netherlands), „Batucada Los Vikingos” (Spain) performed between 18:40 – 23:00.

For the first time in the history of B-FIT in the Street! Festival, the river Dâmboviţa becomes the stage for two nocturnal shows on water. ‟DriFt” and ‟The Whale Street Show” will be presented by the French company Ilotopie on Saturday, July 1st, starting with 21:00, in the Dâmbovița river – United Nations Bridge area, and will continue to the Victory Avenue until the cross with Queen Elisabeth Boulevard.

Also on the second day of the festival, the organizers bring to light new effervescent artistic productions: from the dance and acrobatics show ‟Flower Sway Poles” (Italy), in which the protagonists dance on giant white flowers in the University Square, to the sound installations ‟Big Ears” (France), placed on the festival route, to the itinerant show Dodos (France) in the Odeon Theatre Square, in which the huge dodo birds explore the centre of the city to looking for local rites, traditions or food habits, to the parade show 20’ Street Ballet (France) inspired by the world of timeless elegant French cabarets, which brings the ’20s vibe to the streets of Bucharest.

On Sunday, July 2nd, street shows will continue to spread joy with a new series of itinerant performances between 18:00 – 23:00.

At 21:00, ‟George Enescu” Square becomes the host of a new grand show, titled ‟Meraviglia”, created by the company Sonics in Italy. With evocative aerial acrobatics and a fantastic scenery, spectacular set pieces and special effects make ‟Meraviglia” a memorable show that will fascinate audiences of all ages.

The full schedule for the International Street Theatre Festival B-FIT in the Street! 2023 is available on arcub.ro and fitsb.ro

Project organized by The Capital City Hall, through ARCUB – the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest, together with the Directorate of Culture, Education, Tourism

Main partners: Radio Europa FM.

Media partners: Radio Bucharest FM, Agerpres.ro, Bucharest Transport Company, Yooh

Details on www.arcub.ro

ARCUB – the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest cultivates the cultural identity of the Capital City since 1996. The projects initiated and carried out by ARCUB during its years of activity have contributed to the diversification of the cultural life of the city, as well as to its inclusion among the great capitals of the world.

ARCUB is the organizer of The International Light Festival – Spotlight, The International Street Theatre Festival – B-FIT in the Street!, of the only international jazz festival in the Capital City, Bucharest Jazz Festival and of Bucharest Days.

Contact person (press):

Nicoleta Ion – PR Manager

ARCUB – Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest

E-mail: nicoleta.ion@arcub.ro

Tel: 0729.97.94.93

30 JUNE – 2 JULY: Aerial acrobatics, shows on water, fantastic characters and live instalations at the BUCHAREST International Street Theatre Festival – B-FIT IN THE STREET! #12

Bucharest International Street Theatre Festival – B-FIT in the Street! transforms Bucharest yet again into a holiday destination with three days of shows on water, aerial acrobatics, live installations, live music, walking shows and fantastic characters. Between June 30^th and July 2^nd, over 200 artists from Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands will join the twelfth edition of B-FIT in the Street! Festival!

In premiere, the Dâmboviţa river becomes the stage for two shows on water at B-FIT in the Street! 2023.

Initiated in 2008, B-FIT in the Street! is the only street theater festival in Bucharest. Having become a landmark of the summer season in Bucharest, B-FIT in the Street! enjoys an audience of at least 20,000 participants every year. Arrived at the twelfth edition, B-FIT in the Street! takes place this year between June 30^th and July 2^nd and is organized by the Capital City Hall, through ARCUB – the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest, together with the Culture, Education, Tourism Directorate of the Municipality of Bucharest.

Opening the festival, the French artists from Gratte Ciel present on Friday, June 30, from 16:00, in the University Square, the latest production of the company’s repertoire, the aerial acrobatics show RoZéo. Described as a living installation which incites daydreaming, where the artists perform on modular metal structures, swaying gently, moved by an imperceptible breeze and dialogue with the landscape, RoZéo has participated in major festivals in Spain and France.

On Saturday and Sunday, the shows start from 18.00 until 23:00 and invite the audience to more than five hours of street theatre in B-FIT in the Street! #12 hotspots: University Square, The National Art Museum of Romania, The Odeon Theatre Square, George Enescu Square, Victory Avenue, The Independence Embankment and the Historic Center (Roma Square, Lipscani street, Gabroveni street)

Giant puppets inspired from the fables of La Fontaine, parrots on stilts, Batucada drummers, cabaret dancers and jumbo-sized illuminated creatures walk the streets of the city and entertain the passers-by to enjoy the B-FIT in the Street! block party.

The festive atmosphere is completed by the Italian artists during the interactive musical show Street Piano, in front of the National Art Museum of Romania, as well as by the Flower Sway Poles artists who dance on giant white flowers in the University Square and by the sound installations Big Ears spread around in various spots of the city, from George Enescu Square to University Square, to Queen Elisabeth Boulevard, to the CEC Palace and the Independence Embankment.

The festival evenings end with performances of large-scale nocturnal shows, that promise to totally transform the urban landscape through surreal stories. Among the most anticipated B-FIT in the Street! moments of each edition, the aerial acrobatics shows return to George Enescu Square on the first and last day of the festival. Friday June 30, from 20.00, the artists from the most famous international circus companies, such as Cirque du Soleil, Les Tambours du Bronx, La Cie Hervé Koubi, Cie Gallott present the French production “Tawa” in George Enescu Square. A 360-degree performance, “Tawa” combines aerial acrobatics with dance and live music, with incredible numbers of human strength and endurance, and culminates in a spectacular colour explosion.

The climax of the Bucharest festival is scheduled for the evening of Saturday July 1st, with two large-scale shows. For the first time in the history of the festival, B-FIT in the Street! transforms the Dâmboviţa river into a stage for theatre on water. After the Seine in Paris, the Arno in Florence and the Tiber in Rome, the fluvial performance „DriFT” of the French company Ilotopie arrives in Bucharest on Saturday July 1st on Dâmboviţa river – The Independence Embankment. The parade of the 100 transparent characters parade will start at 21.00 and can be followed along Dâmboviţa quay, from the Izvor Bridge area to the United Nations Square.

The second nocturnal show of the evening of July 1st “The Whale Street Show” from France is an adaptation of the famous adventure novel “Moby Dick”. From 21.45 the city streets become the pages of Melville’s story, starting from the Dâmbovița – the United Nations Bridge following on to the Victory Avenue cross with Queen Elisabeth Boulevard. Circus artists and dancers stage the encounter with the legendary character Moby Dick, his pursuit and the final battle to the rhythm of live music.

On Sunday, July 2nd, from 21.00, in George Enescu Square, the show from Sonics company in Italy, “Meraviglia” promises to transport the audience into the world of fairytales and conquer it through the presence of special visual effects, and those attending the Nouveau Cirque performance will witness original moments which mix poetry and high altitude athletic performances.

Details about the B-FIT in the Street! 2023 schedule are available on arcub.ro. and fitsb.ro

Project organized by The Capital City Hall, through ARCUB – the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest, together with the Directorate of Culture, Education, Tourism

Main partners: Radio Europa FM.

Media partners: Radio Bucharest FM, Agerpres.ro, Bucharest Transport Company, Yooh

SCHEDULE BUCHAREST INTERNATIONAL STREET THEATRE FESTIVAL – B-FIT IN THE STREET!

12th Edition, 30 June – 2 July 2023

Friday, June 30^th 2023

16:00 – 16:35: University Square (statues area): RoZéo (France) – live installation

18:00 – 18:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

19:00 – 19:30: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

18:40 – 19:20: University Square (statues area) – Historical Center: Les Cignes (Italy) – itinerant show

19:20 – 20:00: University Square (statues area) – Historical Center: Stilt Parrots (The Netherlands) – itinerant show

20:00 – 20:45: University Square (statues area) – Historical Center: Batucada Los Vikingos (Spain) – itinerant show

20:00 – 20:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

20:30 – 21:00: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

20:40 – 21:20: University Square (statues area) – Historical Center: Les Cignes (Italy) – itinerant show

20:00 – 20:40: George Enescu Square: TAWA (France) – aerial acrobatics show

21:20 – 22:00: University Square (statues area) – Historical Center: Stilt Parrots (The Netherlands) – itinerant show

21:50 – 22:35: University Square (statues area) – Historical Center: Batucada Los Vikingos (Spain) – itinerant show

22:00 – 22:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

22:30 – 23:00: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

George Enescu Square, University Square, Queen Elisabeth Boulevard (Cișmigiu Park area), Victory Avenue (CEC Palace area), Independence Embankment: BIG EARS (France) – sound installation

SATURDAY, July 1^ST 2023

18:00 – 18:12: University Square (statues area): Flower Sway Poles (Italy) – street theatre

18:00 – 18:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

18:00 – 18:45: Odeon Theatre Square – Muzica Store: Batucada Los Vikingos (Spain) – itinerant show

18:40 – 19:20: University Square (Statues area) – Historical Centre: Les Cignes (Italy) – itinerant show

19:00 – 19:30: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

19:00 – 19:45: Odeon Theatre Square – Muzica Store: Dodos (France) – itinerant show

19:30 – 20:15: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store – Novotel Hotel: 20’ Street Ballet (France) – itinerant show

19:20 – 20:00: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Stilt Parrots (The Netherlands) – itinerant show

20:00 – 20:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

20:00 – 20:12: University Square (statues area): Flower Sway Poles (Italy) – street theatre

20:00 – 20:45: Odeon Theatre Square – Muzica Store: Batucada Los Vikingos (Spain) – itinerant show

20:30 – 21:00: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

20:40 – 21:20: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Les Cignes (Italy) – itinerant show

20:45 – 21:30: Odeon Theatre Square – Muzica Store: Dodos (France) – itinerant show

21:00 – 21:45: Dâmboviţa River: Independence Embankment, Izvor Bridge: DRiFT (France) – show on water

21:00 – 21:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

21:20 – 22:00: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Stilt Parrots (The Netherlands) – itinerant show

21:15 – 22:00: Novotel Hotel – Victory Avenue – The National History Museum of Romania – United Nations Square: 20’ Street Ballet (France) – itinerant show

22:00 – 22:30: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

22:00 – 22:12: University Square (statues): Flower Sway Poles (Italy) – street theatre

21:45 – 22:30: Independence Embankment – United Nations Bridge following towards Victory Avenue up to Queen Elisabeth Boulevard cross: The Whale Street (France) – street theatre

George Enescu Square, University Square, Queen Elisabeth Boulevard (Cișmigiu Park area), Historical Centre, Independence Embankment: BIG EARS (France) – sound installation

SUNDAY, July 2^nd 2023

18:00 – 18:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

18:00 – 18:12: University Square (statues): Flower Sway Poles (Italy) – street theatre

18:30 – 19:15: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Batucada Los Vikingos (Spain) – itinerant show

18:40 – 19:20: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Les Cignes (Italy) – itinerant show

19:00 – 19:30: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale France) – itinerant show

19:00 – 19:45: Odeon Theatre Square – Muzica Store: Dodos (France) – itinerant show

19:20 – 20:00: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Stilt Parrots (The Netherlands) – itinerant show

19:30 – 21:00: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store – Novotel Hotel: 20’ Street Ballet (France) – itinerant show

20:00 – 20:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

20:00 – 20:12: University Square – Statues: Flower Sway Poles (Italy) – street theatre

20:30 – 21:00: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

20:40 – 21:20: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Les Cignes (Italy) – itinerant show

20:45 – 21:30: Odeon Theatre Square – Muzica Store: Dodos (France) – itinerant show

21:00 – 21:30: The National Art Museum of Romania (sidewalk): Street Piano (Italy) – interactive musical show

21:00 – 21:45: George Enescu Square: MERAVIGLIA (Italy) – acrobatics show

21:20 – 22:00: University Square (statues area) – Historical Centre: Stilt Parrots (The Netherlands) – itinerant show

21:45 – 22:30: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Batucada Los Vikingos (Spain) – itinerant show

22:00 – 22:12: University Square – Statues: Flower Sway Poles (Italy) – street theatre

22:00 – 22:30: George Enescu Square – Revolution Square – Muzica Store: Animal Fairytale (France) – itinerant show

George Enescu Square, University Square, Queen Elisabeth Boulevard (Cișmigiu Park area), Victory Avenue (CEC Palace area), Independence Embankment: BIG EARS (France) – sound installation

Details on www.arcub.ro

Contact person (press):

Nicoleta Ion – PR Manager

ARCUB – Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest

E-mail: nicoleta.ion@arcub.ro

Tel: 0729.97.94.93

THE INTERNATIONAL STREET THEATER FESTIVAL BUCHAREST – B-FIT in the Street! #11

200 artists, 8 participating countries, more than 60 performances, 10 locations

The new edition of the International Street Theater Festival Bucharest – B-FIT in the Street! will take place between the 12^thand the 14^thof Julyand its program will include award-winning shows, first time in Bucharest street theater companies, and in premiere free-running performances. FITSB is a project of the City Hall of Bucharest via ARCUB, and brings, throughout the three festival days, dozens of street theater performances in downtown Bucharest: the University Square, George Enescu Square, the Revolution Square, Odeon Theater Square, Victory Avenue, as well as in the Old City – Saint Anthony Square, Rome Square, French Street, Lipscani Street, Gabroveni Street.

During the eleventh edition of FITSB, more than two hundred artistsfrom France, Romania, Italy, Holland, the Great Britain, Spain, Germany, and Belgiumwill put on shows of acrobatics and juggling, shows on stilts, contemporary dance, street performance, and a spectacular parade which will take place on Saturday, the 13^thof July, on Vicotry Avenue, starting from George Enescu Square up to Queen Elisabeth Boulevard.

One of the festival highlights, the Zéro Degréshow from Franceis the first ever free-runningperformanceincluded in the FITSB agenda. Derived from the “parkour” acrobatic movement, the free-running technique is the art of fluid movement in the urban environment, in which the roofs, the balconies, and other apparent limitations become part of the itinerary. Called “the geniuses of the air”, the free-runners of Zéro Degré will make the public discover the city by looking up.The French artists will run, climb, and jump on a distance of half a kilometer on Calea Victoriei, following an itinerary devised according to the particularities of the local architecture.

Taking place in the second July weekend (12-14 July),, the FITSB2019 shows will start with 6 p. m.(except for the first day of the festival, on Friday, the 12^thof July, when the shows will start at 7 p.m.) and they will take place simultaneously in several locations in Bucharest, until 11 p.m.

For the festival opening, 11 international street theater troupesanimate streets and squares in downtown Bucharest on Friday, the 12^thof July, starting with 7 p.m. The University Squareis the central locationof the opening dayand it hosts a program of shows throughout the evening, from parades on stilts and acrobatic shows, to performances of flag wavers, drummers, and pipers.

The Revolution Squarehosts an award-winning aerial acrobatics show from Germany, while Calea Victoriei(from George Enescu Square to Odeon Small Square) becomes the stage of the free running artists from Zéro Degré.

The other locations of the opening day are in the Old City of the Capital (French Street, Lipscani Street, Gabroveni Street, Rome Square, Saint Anthony Square)and they host acrobatic shows, juggling on bikes and stilts, flag wavers and marching bands.

The International Street Theater – B-FIT in the Street! 2019 continues with the paradeof the festivalscheduled on Saturday, the 13^thof July, and with more than sixty performancesof this edition’s artists between the 13^thand the 14^thof July.

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Record Number of Participants at the 12th Edition of B-FIT in the Street! International Street Theatre Festival

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Fairytale weekend in the center of the Capital: The Bucharest International Street Theatre Festival B-FIT in the Street! #12 is about to start

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30 JUNE – 2 JULY: Aerial acrobatics, shows on water, fantastic characters and live instalations at the BUCHAREST International Street Theatre Festival – B-FIT IN THE STREET! #12

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THE INTERNATIONAL STREET THEATER FESTIVAL BUCHAREST – B-FIT in the Street! #11

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