Before revitalisation
The facility, as well as the Centre for Climbing and Strength Sports, is located on the premises of the former Rozbark coal mine. The subject of the revitalisation process was the guildhall building of the former mine, the administration building and the green areas surrounding the buildings indicated. The guildhall building of the former Rozbark Coal Mine, built in the early 20th century, was entered on the list of monuments in 2007. Already before its revitalisation, the guildhall attracted outstanding artists; the Rozbark coal mine’s guildhall was the setting for a scene in the film „The Salt of the Black Earth”, which was directed by the legendary Silesian author Kazimierz Kutz.
As part of the project, all the planned works were carried out with a view to adapting and changing the way in which two buildings of the former Rozbark coalmine in Bytom were used, including the historic guildhall and administration building, and developing the adjacent land. The project was co-financed with EU funds under the 2007-2013 Regional Operational Programme for the Silesian Voivodship.
It should be noted that the Rozbark Dance and Movement Theatre continues the work of the now-defunct Silesian Dance Theatre, which was liquidated in 2013.
After revitalisation
Rozbark Dance and Movement Theatre has been operating in Bytom since 2014 and during this time has produced more than 20 premieres, marking its presence on the national dance map. The post-industrial space of the former guildhall of the „Rozbark” coalmine hosts mainly dance performances, international artistic projects, as well as educational and social activities for various audience groups. The theatre supports independent artists by providing them with space as part of residencies. In 2017, it was a co-organiser of the Polish Dance Platform – one of the most important dance art events in Poland, as well as the National Culture Conference. Rozbark Theatre’s productions were presented in the most important dance centres in Poland: Warsaw, Wrocław, Krakow, Lublin, Białystok, Gdańsk, Poznań and many other cities. They have also been staged in Germany, France, Holland and Hungary. They have won prizes and awards at festivals and were also awarded two Golden Masks (prizes of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship) in 2016 for Elżbieta Okupska and Anna Piotrowska.
