11th International Dance and Performing Arts Festival in Syros
11th Akropoditi DanceFest 2024
11th – 21st July 2024
E x p a n d i n g identities
Another Festival has come to an end!
E x p a n d i n g identities, the title chosen for this year’s Festival, is now entering its second decade. Artists working in countries, other than their country of origin, presented the audience with works that deal with the concept of identity and how it expands through distance, travel, immigration, refugee and change. The Festival hosted artists from America, Europe and Asia, namely Jamaica – Great Britain, Syria – Germany – Luxembourg, Japan – USA, Iraq – Sweden, Palestine – France, Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece.
Each year, the Festival aims to be enriched by new themes giving voice to special groups of people within the arts and highlighting artworks inspired by sensitive matters.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in this year’s events and activities; the invited instructors of our workshops and all the artists who presented their work; to our sponsors, who have once again helped to make our Festival even more welcoming with their generous offers; and as always, to the people in our team, but also to our volunteers, for their invaluable presence and commitment.
Last but not least, we would like to extend our gratitude to the Municipality of Syros-Hermoupolis, the South Aegean Region-Aegean Islands, the Czech Centre of Athens and the cultural organization Nova Sit for their support and promotion of the Akropoditi Dancefest.
Special thanks also go to the Greek National Opera for the wonderful collaboration that gave a different touch to the Festival, as well as to all the collaborating institutions: the Municipal Port Fund of Syros, the School Committee for Primary Education of the Municipality of Syros Hermoupolis, the Association for Photography and Cinematography of Syros and the Association for the Support of the Disabled and Individuals with Special Educational Needs of the Cyclades, “Dikaioma”.
The Akropoditi DanceFest took place under the aegis and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture.
We wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you again at our next festival!
Collaboration between the Czech Centre (Embassy of the Czech Republic in Athens) and Akropoditi DanceFest 2024
This year, Czech artists are invited to submit proposals for a performance and a workshop to be hosted at the Akropoditi Dancefest 2024, in collaboration with the Czech Centre. Stay tuned to our page to be informed of additional workshops and events that will soon be added to our program!
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12th International Dance and Performing Arts Festival in Syros
12th Akropoditi DanceFest 2025 (10th – 20th July 2025)
Age-fully-present
The body grows and changes: it is the body of all of us.
As time goes by, our body becomes more and more present; a presence which becomes richer as it evolves, matures and transforms. Not only does it constantly acquire new skills but it is also met with new needs. It guards memories and secrets, it becomes an integral part of our world. Through life journey and its experiences, the body becomes more fragile but also more resilient, transforming into a diverse landscape that carries within it all the seasons and all the visible and invisible marks of the journey.
Yet, there comes a time when the body -our body- is perceived as withdrawn, hidden, placed beyond sight, receding. It is cast aside. It remains alone.
Why?
Our festival this year focuses on the active presence of the mature body in the performing arts and embraces works that either include older performers on stage or are related to the thematic of this year (mature age, the relationship between age and presence in general, and specifically the performing arts, etc.).
The International Dance and Performing Arts Festival Akropoditi Dancefest the last five years has been hosting on a permanent basis movement and expression workshops addressed to people of mature age which usually conclude with an open presentation or performance. Due to the festival’s constant and unwavering commitment towards the encouragement of participation of older adults in the performing arts, this year we aim to support and encourage the interaction of artists of different generations and our primary aim is to emphasize the importance of the presence of the body and its exposure, as well as the utilisation of all its expressive means without age limitations. We also desire to set the ground for and contribute to, as far as possible, a redefinition of the perception of aesthetics, as well as determine the intentions and goals of an artistic work.
Jul 11, 2025
Ballet – Greek National Opera Ballet
Akropoditi Dance and Performing Arts Centre
Iroon Polytexniou 84, Hermoupolis
Jul 11 - 13, 2025
Contemporary dance – Elenita Queiróz
Akropoditi Dance and Performing Arts Centre
Iroon Polytexniou 84, Hermoupolis
11th International Dance and Performing Arts Festival in Syros
11th Akropoditi DanceFest 2024
11th – 21st July 2024
E x p a n d i n g identities
Counting 10 years from the establishment of our festival and its anniversary edition which took place in July 2023, we are now standing at the threshold of our second decade. Eager to breathe new life into our projects we are setting out a thematic invitation for the upcoming performances that are to take place in July 2024 (11th – 21st July 2024).
This year’s call, entitled “E x p a n d i n g Identities”, launches a series of thematic suggestions with the aim of enriching the festival’s identity and embracing creative works that will respond to the contextual reference.