Dance and movement research workshop

The workshop starts with a score of movement improvisation in an atmospheric soundscape. Through this soundscape-score the participants are guided in a half-hour physical, imaginative and mental warm-up in a “ritual” that combines elements from somatic practices and from collective rituals that contain dance (concerts, celebrations, etc.), it focuses on relaxing the neck and cultivates a different perception of space, gravity and the body. At the same time, it cultivates relationships of collectivity and community in the group, while giving space to each one individually. Finally, in combination with the sound atmosphere, it activates imagination and memory.
Then with a series of movement and verbal tools, exercises and games the participants will explore the state of trance. Repetitive movements, rhythm, trust, “letting go” will be the main axes of the workshop.
Overall, the workshop invites participants to seek and practice those moments of flow and balance between individual and group, inner grounding and openness to the world.

Stali Symeon

Stali Simeon studied Political Science at university of Athens and Dance at Aktina Higher Professional School of Dance. She continues with post-graduate studies in Dance at the Antwerp Conservatory doing research on the corporeality and rituals of the social fringe. As part of her postgraduate research “This Dance Is Not For You” she participated in the residency 10 days to 10′, in the summer residencies at P.A.R.T.S. and DeSingel. Her work Eternally Alive, participated in the Container Festival in Thessaloniki, was presented in Athens at M54, and later a second version of the work Eternally Alive- A2 at the “On Bodies” Festival at the Dance House Nicosia. Since 2020 she collaborates with the BPM theater group as a choreographer (Rematia Festival, Mavromichali Theatre, PLYFA, Neos Kosmos Theatre, All Greece one Culture). In recent years she has participated as a dancer-performer in the creations of: La Coja Dansa, Belleville collective, Kiki Baka, Vaso Giannakopoulou, Sandra Grimma, Elisavet Pliakostathi, Hara Kassaraki, Varvara Bardaka, Anthi Drilia, Sofia Kouloukouri. She teaches dance and yoga.

Cost: 40 euro
* Για τους μαθητές και τις μαθήτριες του Κέντρου Χορού και Παραστατικών Τεχνών Ακροποδητί, φοιτητές-τριες, ανέργους-ες: 35 euro

Safety is a concept that has been heard frequently in recent years, especially in therapeutic areas. To be safe, to be careful, to protect our space.
Does the use of this word, however, in some cases begin to reach the limits of fear and overprotection, bringing us to a position of defense?
What if we replaced security with trust?
Feeling trusting instead of feeling safe?
In this seminar we will explore these concepts on the basis of the Muladhara chakra, our foundation, in a combination of yoga practice and drama therapy.
The purpose is to engage with these concepts physically, emotionally and mentally, through a creative encounter with self and others.
No previous experience is needed, just an appetite for exploration.

May we meet!

Master class: Echoes. An insight into contemporary sounds in ruins

The Austrian composer Egid Jöchl deals with various musical genres, mainly contemporary music and sound installations. In April 2024, he staged the opera “Idyll” as a live sound installation in a castle ruin in the mountains of Tirol. The musicians were positioned at various points in the ruin and the audience was sounded in the middle.
On actors was completely waived the plot ran through chat messages. The background formed the ruin and the view into the Inntal at sunset. The main component was the music that was built around the audience with echo effects. Egid Jöchl will give an insight into his work with a focus on this work?

The masterclass will be held in English.

Egid Joechl

Egid Joechl was born on December 7, 1982, in Kitzbühel and grew up in the area. He studied composition and music theory at the University of Art in Graz and took part in various master classes. He writes works for different line-ups and different styles, with a focus on New music and Sound installations. In 2018 he was Artist in Residence in Lisbon and in 2019 in New York. In 2020 he was awarded the Hilde Zach Composition Scholarship from the City of Innsbruck. Egid Joechl currently lives and works in Innsbruck.
Link: www.joechl-music.com

Cost: 30 euro
* Για τους μαθητές και τις μαθήτριες του Κέντρου Χορού και Παραστατικών Τεχνών Ακροποδητί, φοιτητές-τριες, ανέργους-ες: 25 euro

Aerial yoga workshop lasting 4 hours over 2 days, designed to offer you a complete experience of the fundamental principles and techniques of aerial yoga. During the workshop, you will become familiar with the hammock, grips, and supports. Through practical experience, you will discover the numerous benefits of aerial yoga. There will be an introduction to safe and effective inversion techniques that decompress the spine and poses in the hammock that improve balance and concentration.
Movements in the air enhance blood circulation and provide a sense of upliftment while simultaneously reducing stress. You will then discover how poses can be combined into a flow, creating harmonious sequences and transitions, allowing you to experience the joy of movement and the sense of freedom that the hammock provides.
Each practice concludes with relaxation, giving you the opportunity to enjoy tranquility and inner peace. Join us to discover aerial yoga and boost your confidence by learning to trust your body and its capabilities.
This workshop is suitable for all skill levels.

Co existing – Improvisation workshop for dancers and musicians

During our residency we will explore ways in which we can connect as musician and dancer, in an attempt not to be detached from each other. While the relationship between dance and music is inextricably linked, how do the two become one in creation and ultimately on stage?
In this workshop we will approach the dynamic between dance and music, beginning with two key factors, the body and the space. Through exercises focusing on bodily awareness, our relationship to space and interaction, we will expand our observational awareness and, in extension, communication between musicians and dancers/performers, thus strengthening the connection of the group. We will improvise in a collective process, equally fed by all participants, ultimately creating a dynamic and vibrant environment. How can we all exist together in the present, creating a new composition beyond the distinction of music and dance?

Some key words are contact, listening, support, distance, connection, time, joy.

Musicians shall bring their instruments, acoustic or electronic, and wear comfortable clothes.

Olga Kalantzi

Olga Kalantzi was born in Athens in 1994. She studied at the Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering in Syros and at the Higher Professional School of Dance “Aktina” in Athens. She has worked with Akropoditi Dance Theatre in Syros and SQx Dance Company in Canada. She now lives in Athens and teaches traditional dances together with Andreas Segditsas. In 2023 she presented her solo “WRAP: a pocket guide to never escaping yourself” in Athens, Portugal and Turkey and took part in the All4fun audience theatre awards at the Ideal cinema. She also collaborates with Collective Spine for the work “La Soiree”.
She is interested in practices, improvisation tools and research on elements such as freedom and restriction, order and disorder, form and amorphousness, as well as collaboration and strengthening the connection between people.

Filippos Raskovic

Filippos Raskovic is a composer, improviser and curator from Athens, Greece based in Vilnius, Lithuania. His work creates a sonic world; accidental and composed, recognizable and unexpected simultaneously.
As a composer, he often creates interdisciplinary work with visual artists and in close relation to instrumentalists with a focus on the acoustics of objects, sculptures, and spaces. In 2021 he completed the performative installation “Echo Chambers” in close collaboration with the sculptor D.Tampakis which was developed during his FUGA residency in Spain and together with the collective UN P R 18T (Un. Processed Realities), they created “POST EUROPEAN RAGEROOM TM” a performance & pop-up exhibition shown at Centrum Berlin.
As an improviser, he self-released his first album “gentle presence” in 2020 and has performed at the Monopiano Festival 2021 at Fylkingen, Sweden, State51 Studios, London, Flatterschafft – Basel, Flatterschafft: THE END – DefDefDefinitive, Studium P, Vilnius and Chimeres, Athens, amongst others. He is also a founding member of “illucid trio” with Kazimieras Jusinskas and Gediminas Stepanavicius. In 2019 he co-founded the KRAMA collective and festival an independent initiative aiming to present a new outlook within the art scene of Athens and beyond. Finally, he is a monthly resident host at the independent web radio “Radio Vilnius” and co-producer of the show Krama Entries at movement radio.

Κόστος 2^ος κύκλος:
Κόστος κύκλου 8 μαθημάτων: 65 ευρώ
Κόστος κύκλου 4 μαθημάτων: 40 ευρώ
Κόστος 1 μαθήματος: 12 ευρώ

Κόστος 3^ος κύκλος:
Κόστος κύκλου 5 μαθημάτων: 45 ευρώ
Κόστος 1 μαθήματος: 12 ευρώ

* Η συμμετοχή στα μαθήματα δηλώνεται απαραιτήτως στην αρχή κάθε κύκλου.
Οι κύκλοι μαθημάτων συνεχίζονται καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της χρονιάς.

Παρακαλούμε θερμά τους μαθητές και τις μαθήτριές μας να επικοινωνούν με τη γραμματεία τηλεφωνικά στο 22810-80690 ή μέσω ηλεκτρονικού μηνύματος στο email akropoditidancecentre@gmail.com πριν έλθουν στα μαθήματα αν δεν έχουν ολοκληρώσει την εγγραφή τους κατά την περίοδο των εγγραφών.

The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. Since how you move is how you move through life, these improvements will often enhance your thinking, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities.

The Feldenkrais Method is based on principles of physics, biomechanics, and an empirical understanding of learning and human development. Moshe Feldenkrais said, “We move according to our perceived self-image.” By expanding your perception and increasing awareness, you will become more aware of your habits and tensions and develop new ways of moving. By increasing sensitivity, the Feldenkrais Method assists you to live your life more fully, efficiently, and comfortably.

You can experience the Feldenkrais Method in two ways. Awareness Through Movement® lessons are taught in a group setting, with students following the verbal instructions of the teacher. Functional Integration® sessions are one on one lessons where the fully clothed student is guided through touch, movement and verbal instruction.

* Τι πρέπει να έχετε μαζί σας: Άνετα ρούχα, κάλτσες, μια μικρή κουβέρτα και ένα μικρό μαξιλαράκι.
* Συστήνεται στα μαθήματα να φέρνει ο καθένας το δικό του στρωματάκι (στην περίπτωση που το διαθέτει ήδη) και το δικό του παγούρι ή μπουκαλάκι με νερό.

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες για τη Μέθοδο Feldenkrais: http://feldenkrais-method.org/en

Physicalising our identity through movement
Masterclass by Julian Nichols and Alex Henderson
Length: 3 hours

Engaging in a guided warm-up session, participants will focus on building connections, trust, and fostering a positive atmosphere. Icebreaker activities will encourage the sharing of personal stories, creating a sense of community and empathy among attendees.
Participants will delve into improvisation exercises, promoting free movement and self-expression. Emphasis will be on exploring individual identities, gender expressions, and unique artistic voices. Facilitators will offer prompts to guide participants in translating their emotions into movement, fostering a deeper connection to the subject matter.
The masterclass will include choreographic phrases designed to explore LGBTQ+ themes and experiences, incorporating diverse dance styles. Participants will broaden their movement vocabulary while deepening their understanding of the subject matter, connecting it to their personal journeys.

Julian Nichols

Julian Nichols, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, is a talented dancer, choreographer, and activist. He has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary dance, both as a performer and as a promoter of gender inclusivity in the field. In 2017, Julian graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, SUNY. During his time at college, he had the opportunity to study abroad at Taipei National University of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan, where he collaborated with renowned international artists, broadening his perspective on dance. Throughout his career, Julian has had the privilege of performing works by several esteemed choreographers, including Aszure Barton, Tom Weinberger, Jose Limón, Brian Brooks, Kyle Abraham, Darryl Tracy, Allen Kaeja, Rosalind Newman, Emily Molnar, Alexander Whitley, Carol Anderson, Fanny Ghoreyab, Hanna Kiel, Maxine Doyle, and Roy Assaf. His repertoire showcases his versatility and skill, allowing him to interpret a wide range of choreographic styles and concepts. Julian’s talent and versatility were also recognized when he had the opportunity to dance for Hanna Kiel’s Human Body Expression, demonstrating his artistic range in different collaborative endeavours. Additionally, Julian has made significant contributions to the Amina Khayyam Dance Company, showcasing his exceptional talent and dedication as a dancer. His involvement with Nimbus Dance Works as a company member and his guest artist work with The Limón Company further solidify his reputation within the dance community. Furthermore, Julian’s skills have been sought after in the realm of television, music videos, and commercials, where he has brought his artistry to the screen, captivating audiences with his performances. His ability to adapt and excel in diverse settings is a testament to his versatility and professionalism as a dancer. Whether on stage, in front of the camera, or collaborating with fellow artists, Julian continues to leave an indelible mark on the dance industry. In his quest for artistic growth, Julian has actively sought training opportunities at prestigious dance programs and workshops. He has participated in Springboard Danse Montreal, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Momentum Montreal, and the Movement Invention Project. These experiences have allowed him to refine his technique, expand his creative horizons, and connect with dancers and choreographers from around the world. In recent years, Julian has shifted his focus towards composition and activism. He founded his own nonprofit organization called Bodies in Action ~ enGendering Contemporary Dance, with the aim of promoting equal representation of all gender identities in the field of contemporary dance. Through this initiative, Julian strives to challenge traditional norms and create a more inclusive and diverse dance community. Since its inception, Julian has created a short dance film, two evening-length works, and multiple duets, solos, and group pieces. Julian’s passion for dance extends beyond his own performances and activism. He has also shared his knowledge and expertise through teaching engagements. He has conducted company classes for prestigious dance companies such as the Rambert Dance Company, New Adventures, Corey Baker Dance in London, and NDC Wales in Cardiff. By teaching and mentoring aspiring dancers, Julian contributes to the growth and development of the next generation of dance artists. Currently based in London, UK, Julian continues to make a profound impact on the dance world through his performances, choreography, and advocacy work. His dedication to pushing boundaries, challenging stereotypes, and fostering inclusivity in contemporary dance establishes him as a dynamic and influential figure in the field.

THE BOUNDLESS FOOD WORKSHOP

THE BOUNDLESS FOOD WORKSHOP is a live model course, with dancers exploring their gestures, to capture natural and exaggerating movements of their own eating habits. Participants, in turn, will pose and capture these gestures, like a therapy.
With this masterclass, I invite participants –from 16 years old– to embark on a sensory journey, challenging themselves to question their own relationship with food, confront their boundaries and discover new possibilities of moving.

Valentine Bouvet

Valentine BOUVET is a French artist and figurative painter born in 1994.
Her journey as an artist began during her childhood and later when she was experimenting with different art mediums. She first studies applied arts during high school where she developed a real interest in drawing and fashion design. Then, she decided to deepen both cursus and practice her art aside working for different brands as fashion designer.
During her 20’s, Valentine developed a deep passion for paintings and was particularly drawn to the expressive power of color. Her works delves into a wide range of costal and cultural issues, such as gender stereotypes, consumerism, beauty standards and the impact of social media. This year, she participates, for the second time, to Le Cercle de l’Art, a big community of women artists who work on sharing their artistic process and encouraging others to use art as a means of expression and social change.

DECODING BALLET Workshop and group course of FASCIAL FITNESS by Vassiliki Kapsidou 

DECODING BALLET
13-14 January 2024
Saturday, 17:30-20:00
Sunday, 11:30-14:00

An eminent, second-to-none method:
DECODING BALLET is a fundamental and radically progressive results-oriented education for Dance Teachers and Dancers (professionals and students) both of classical and modern dance, based on the “human body’s blueprint” training.
Developed by Vassiliki Kapsidou – Ballet Teacher, Kinesiologist, Neuromechanic and Bio-energetic Fascia Integration Instructor & Specialist, with knowledge resulting from breakthrough scientific discoveries in the Neurology & Bioenergetics, DECODING BALLET, is a unique, targeted and innovative method that:
– trains the dancers to translate (decode) the dance commands into brain-compatible terms (within the biomechanics / kinesiology / myology context) so that the central neurological system stimulates the proper muscle(s) to execute movement with accuracy and without neuromuscular exertion
– provides you with a “master-key” through the neuro-fascia matrix training, with a view to achieve a high-level technique, shield the body against injuries, build muscle and joint resilience against the work-out fatigue and obtain a compact and flawless body motor response

Cost: 40 euro
* Για τους μαθητές και τις μαθήτριες του Κέντρου Χορού και Παραστατικών Τεχνών Ακροποδητί, φοιτητές-τριες, ανέργους-ες: 35 ευρώ
** Για την κατοχύρωση της θέσης σας είναι απαραίτητη η προκαταβολή του ποσού των 30 ευρώ μέχρι και τις 10/01/2024.
Duration: 5 hours

FASCIAL FITNESS – group course
Sunday 14 January, 10:00-11:00

Training through the Fascia Fitness program we activate the collagen fiber network that permeates the entire body (fascia).
With modern science referring to fascia as the “youth factor”, this program provides new information to the tissue and benefits you overall.
It’s for you who want:
– Elastic connective tissue with the ability to resist injuries
– Strength – Flexibility
– Reconstruction of collagen tissue
– Lymphatic decongestion
– Muscle stimulation
– Increase in body awareness

The Fascial Fitness course helps you:
– to correct the posture of the body and obtain a strong and healthy spine, preventing injuries
– start regaining the “lost youth” through a firm and toned body
– to improve the functioning of the nervous system (through the lengthening of the spine, due to the widening of the spaces between the vertebrae where the nerves begin)
– to improve your movement, to become bouncier and elastic in your stride, with a sense of ease and grace in every step

The longer we keep the fascia “alive”, in good condition, the more flexible and lighter we feel throughout our lives. Today this network is considered as a new autonomous system of the human body, with a decisive role in both movement and health in general.
Fascial Fitness is a holistic approach to fascia training based on the research of Dr. Robert Schleip and his team (UlmUniversity, Germany). Nowadays, fascia training is an integral part of classical and alternative exercise programs because it gives the extra information needed and missing from a comprehensive training program.
It is predicted that in the future more and more types of exercise will use fascia training as an integral mode of physical movement.

There is no age restriction for participation.

Cost: 15 euro
* Για τους μαθητές και τις μαθήτριες του Κέντρου Χορού και Παραστατικών Τεχνών Ακροποδητί, φοιτητές-τριες, ανέργους-ες: 12 ευρώ
** Για την κατοχύρωση της θέσης σας είναι απαραίτητη η προκαταβολή του ποσού των 10 ευρώ μέχρι και τις 10/01/2024.
Duration: 1 hour

Vassiliki Kapsidou
Vassiliki Kapsidou, is a Ballet Instructor and a leading Kinesiologist, Neuromechanic and Bio-energetic Fascia Integration Instructor & Specialist in Greece. With a Swedish-Greek origin and holder of the degree of the Dance Instructor in classical and contemporary Dance from the Higher Professional School of Dance Morianova-Trasta and with a profound experience as a dancer, she was always seeking to find the way that would lead safely and unquestionably to the dancer’s integrated perfection.
The pursuit of this personal goal, led her to study various kinesiology-related fields and today she also holds the following diplomas:
Neuromechanic & Manual Biomechanic Specialist – from the globally renowned Canadian Manual Biomechanic Specialist, Scott Forhan
Bioenergetic Fascia Testing and Integration Trainer & Specialist – from the Fascia Training Academy. Vassiliki Kapsidou is among the first Fascial Fitness Trainers in Greece
Pilates Instructor in mat and reformer categories – from the Stott Pilates Canada Organization
After more than a decade of studies and personal research, Vassiliki Kapsidou developed the DECODING BALLET training education specifically for Dance Teachers and Dancers – a radically progressive method that is based on the neuro-fascia matrix function reprograming with a view to provide the Dance Teachers and Students with a blueprint that leads to integrated performance excellence.
Vassiliki Kapsidou is also the Founder of Healing – Art, a Hall of the body and soul balance enhancement and care, based in Athens, Greece.