Happy hour – Stella Zannou
Contemporary Dance Workshop
Although technical elements are going to be found in this contemporary class, my basic aim is to make dancers aware of the weight and rhythm of movement, as well as to dance without fear and hesitation by using their physicality and full energy rather than sticking in the “academic” correctness of the movement.
Believing that each dancer should discover and develop his/her own way of moving, I will try to encourage personal expression and personal differences to exist by using simple improvisation exercises. These are then going to be applied in given phrases, transforming in this way a “set combination” into a quite unique personal movement material.
At the same time, this class will be a very strengthening training. Influences are found from different dance techniques as well as from martial arts. Floor work is also very important, since I find it is the base for understanding fundamental movement qualities.
Many acrobatics and handstands are found but without being the main goal of the class. The focus is on the safety of the body and flow of movement.
In general, this class is most often considered to be a very joyful and challenging class attracting dancers who love the physicality of dancing.
Ages: 17+
Level: Professional, dance students and experienced non-professional dancers
Photo credit: James Rea, Manuel Meza, Walter Bickmann, Dimitris Parthimos
Stella Zannou
Stella was born in Athens and has studied dance in London College of Dance, London Studio Centre, The American College of Greece, and the Greek State School of Dance. After choreographιng and dancing for Prosxima dance company, Stella formed “Smack Dance Company” in Greece and currently is living in Berlin, working as a freelance dancer, teacher, and choreographer.
As a dancer she has worked with Christopher Roman, Johannes Wieland /State theater of Kassel, Walter Bickmann, Maya Caroll/Lipsker, Alexander Carrillo, Clint Lutes, Xaris Mandafounis, Thomas Mettler, Richard Siegal, Michael Klein, Nana Vachla, Editta Braun, Yannis Antoniou, Ioanna Parali, H. Andahopoulou, etc.
As a choreographer she has created work for Vienna Opera house, Staatstheater Kassel, S.E.A.D., Sozo visions in motion, Anton Bruckner University, Iwanson International dance school, Danceworks, etc.
She is teaching for Staatstheater Braunschweig/Kassel, S.E.A.D.- Salzburg, cie Toula Limnaios, B12, Proda – Oslo, Nachschub – Basel, Potsdamer Tanztage, Bruckner University, University of dance and music in Cologne, Hollins University, Iwanson International dance school, American College of Greece, One small step festival, Αkropoditi international dance festival, etc.
She has won the price of the audience for the duet “We like men strong cause they last longer”, in Budapest “Solo and Duo Dance Festival”, in 2003 (Choreographed by Stella Zannou for Prosxima Dance Company) and was voted as “Dancer of the year” for the Ballet Tanz magazine by Katja Werner 2003 and from Arnd Wesemann in 2010.