Dancer-Choreographer
Since the beginning of his career, he has created his own choreographic works, which he presents in Poland and abroad. He is the author of the performances Exérese monobloc (2004), a bliźniego swego jak siebie samego (And Thy Neighbour as Thyself), which was created in the framework of the first edition of Solo Projekt 2006 (Old Brewery, Poznań) and Live on stage (2008).
Orlik wrote that the the last piece is a performance about the choices of an artist, about what he does, and how he presents and sells himself. The show tells about finding yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, about the lack of ideas, their excess, about meeting the audience’s expectations, about creating too much, about doing too little. Live on stage is also about songs, dance, jokes, fooling around, mockery, skills and the lack thereof. The piece also tells about presentation and about going too far. Additionally the production is about serious performing – on stage, live:
A solo work is one of the most demanding forms of expression. A solo piece equals hard and lonely work. To me, Live on stage is the answer to a series of questions: can I make fun of myself, can I entertain the audience?'
On High Heels
In 2007 Janusz Orlik performed a part in a performance by the gymnastic association ‘nic’. Two years later, he participated in the show Happy ( in the Old Brewery, Poznań) , acting as assistant to choreographer Nigel Charnock. In 2010 Orlik took part in the performance Forces by the Kwaad Bloed group. In January 2011, together with artists from England, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece, Orlik participated in a week-long residency in London, during which work on a Nigel Charnock production commenced under the working title Cold Tongue .
Orlik has also performed parts in shows such as Wysokie obcasy (High Heels; Kraków Opera, 2007), Alfa (Contemporary Dance Stage, Poznań 2009) and Folk (Fouetté Dance and Ballet School, Poznań 2009). In 2001, he was awarded 1st prize at the choreographic competition Das Podium (Linz, Austria) for his production Monodrama. This piece was also presented at the 3rd Gdańsk Young Choreographers’ Debuts. s