Posts Tagged :

contemporary dance

By:akropoditi13
May 22, 2026
0

Festival Closing Night – Open JAM with live music https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/levitate-end-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g May 22, 2026 July 9, 2026

Festival Closing Night – Open JAM with live music

Greece

Our final performance, Levitate, brings this year’s festival to a close and leads into a sound and movement JAM –a closing celebration with live music and dance.

Join us in improvising and dancing together, as we conclude the 13^th Akropoditi DanceFest with a festive gathering and an exchange of experiences!

Accessibility Information

– Evantia Kairi Theatre
The venue is wheelchair accessible. An accessible restroom is available, though it does not fully meet disability access standards.

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Contemporary dance and improvisation – Alexis Fousekis https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/fousekis-1-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 March 30, 2026

Contemporary dance and improvisation – Alexis Fousekis

Contemporary dance and improvisation workshop

The beginning of the workshop is a pivotal moment, as we approach the awareness of our senses within space-time, activating both the body’s center and its memory. This is followed by improvisational prompts focused on level changes and traveling through space, aiming to discover new, personal movement choices. Technical exercises based on the principles of contemporary dance are taught, leading into an extensive movement phrase. The goal is to manage dynamics and different accents within various rhythmic patterns, while training physical memory and muscular endurance.
The ultimate aim of the workshop is the awareness and acceptance of our physical limits, cultivating a relationship with ourselves, the environment, and the people we dance and interact with, so that we may communicate and express ourselves freely.

Ages: 15+
Level: open, intermediate

Photo credit:

Alexis Fousekis

Alexis Fousekis is an Athens-born dancer and educator. A graduate of the Hellenic State School of Dance (KSOT) and the University of Athens, he continued his training at the Martha Graham School in New York on a scholarship. As a member of Robert Wilson’s artistic company, he has performed globally in productions such as “Oedipus Rex”, “Three Tall Women”, and as a soloist in “Messiah”, appearing at venues like the Houston Grand Opera, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. In 2021, he collaborated with Lucinda Childs for “Bach 6 Solo” in Paris.
A core member of The Watermill Center (NY) and a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Artist Support Fellow (ARTWORKS 2021), he has been teaching contemporary dance since 2011. He is currently a faculty member at the Athens Conservatory Professional Dance School and other prominent studios, specializing in professional exam preparation.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Acrodance – Davide Bonetti https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bonetti-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 June 16, 2026

Acrodance – Davide Bonetti

Acrodance Workshop

During these 4 days workshop I will share my technical acrodance material, mixing soft acrobatics, contemporary dance and floorwork vocabulary, as also a part of improvisation and movement research. The main goal will be exploring creative and expressive forms with the body that open doors towards a wider freedom of movement.
We will look into tasks based on lightness in motion, flow, body and gaze awareness, sharpness on and off the floor, limitations as potential opportunities.
Are you ready to expand your movement creativity?
This workshop is open to anyone with basic experience in acrobatics. No specific level of acrobatic skill is required, as long as participants feel comfortable moving on the floor

Ages: 16+
Level: No needed a specific level of acrobatics skills but being comfortable with moving on the floor.

* The workshop will be held in English

Photo credit:

Davide Bonetti

Davide Bonetti is a professional acrodancer and movement teacher. At the age of 18, he entered FLIC contemporary circus school in Turin (Italy) as an acrobat, specializing in handstands. At 22, he continued his training at CNAC (Centre National des Arts du Cirque) in France, focusing on a more fluid and organic approach to acrobatics: acrodance, a discipline that combines soft acrobatics, floorwork, elements from capoeira, breakdance, and contemporary dance. Between 2019 and 2021, he toured in France and Belgium as a performer and since 2019 he has been teaching his own workshops in Italy and Europe. Among the festivals he has taught in there are: B12 research or die (Berlin) for five consecutive years, Henny Juriens Studio (Amsterdam), Frei Art Festival (Freiburg), AreaDansa (Barcelona), and PERA School of Performing Arts (Cyprus).”
https://www.instagram.com/davide_bonez/

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
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Contemporary dance – Sevasti Zafeira https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/sevasti1-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 March 30, 2026

Contemporary dance – Sevasti Zafeira

On Fragility
Contemporary dance workshop

In this workshop, we will explore how the body organizes its movement with less tension and greater precision. The practice focuses on the mechanics of fragility: the ability of the body to move with awareness, gentleness, and ease, without straining muscles or joints, relying on sensitivity and precision rather than strength or effort.
Through improvisational guidance and structured movement material, we work with slow tempo, isolation of body parts, and clarity of movement, emphasizing the spine and limbs as sensitive and active structures.
The goal is simplicity, mindful presence, and the exploration of fragility as a tool for creative practice. The workshop is open to everyone and is intended for those who wish to reconnect with movement with curiosity and care, without requiring any professional experience.

Ages: All
Level: All

Photo credit:

Sevasti Zafeira

Sevasti Zafeira is a dancer who lives and works in Greece and graduated from the State School of Dance in Athens. She has collaborated with choreographers such as Christos Papadopoulos, Antonis Foniadakis, Patricia Apergi, Eva Georgitsopoulou, Tzenni Argyriou, Evangelos Poulinas, and others, participating in performances both in Greece and abroad. She has also worked with various theater and film directors, including Manolis Mavris, Thanos Papakonstantinou, Vassilis Kekatos, and Benjamin Vu.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Contemporary dance – Manuel Cañadas, Arturo Parrilla & Esmeralda Valderrama https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/en-vano-1-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 July 9, 2026

Contemporary dance – Manuel Cañadas, Arturo Parrilla & Esmeralda Valderrama

Contemporary dance creation masterclass

Step into a space where every body matters.
This isn’t just dance—it’s a celebration of difference, creativity, and connection. No matter your age, experience, or ability, this workshop invites you to explore, move, and express yourself alongside others.
What makes it special:
Celebrate diversity: create from what makes you unique.
Connect through movement: discover the power of bodies in dialogue.
Guidance from experts: learn from choreographers who turn technique into playful, inclusive exploration.
Collective creation: improvise, experiment, and shape movement together.
Experience: dynamic warm-ups, individual and partner exercises, and group improvisation that highlight every voice, every movement, every body. By the end, you’ll see dance as a tool for inclusion, expression, and human connection.

Ages: 16+
Levels: anyone curious, anyone bold, anyone ready to move—because here, all bodies belong.

Photo credit:

Manuel Cañadas Román

Manuel Cañadas is a prominent figure in the history of contemporary dance in Andalusia. His work is characterized by a unique creative signature and a language in constant evolution. Born in Málaga, he began studying dramatic arts at age 16. He was awarded scholarships by Thomé Araujo and Josep Mijats at the Málaga Danza-Teatro company. In 1990, he moved to Seville to continue his training. He has worked as a performer and choreographer for numerous companies, including La Cuadra, Octubre Danza, Producciones Imperdibles, Teatro el Velador, La Tarasca, and Choni Cía. Flamenca. In 1997, he established his own company, Perros en Danza. He has choreographed several works for the Danza Mobile company, such as Jaquelados, Descompasados, Sirena en tierra, and Encuentros y saludos. In 2018, he debuted as an actor in the film Jaulas by Nicolás Pacheco, receiving a nomination for Best New Actor at the Asecan Andalusian Cinema Awards. His accolades include the Maspalomas Choreography Contest (1999), multiple Lorca Awards—including Best Male Dancer in 2017 and 2023—and the Escenarios de Sevilla award (2014). He is currently a teacher at the Danza Mobile Creation Center in Seville.

Arturo Parrilla García-Pelayo

An Andalusian performer with a degree from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (ESAD) in Seville (1999–2003). He studied in Italy at the Scuola Internazionale dell’Attore Comico (under Antonio Fava) and the Scuola Experimentalle dell’Attore. He furthered his training with masters such as Roberta Carreri (ODIN Teatret) and Gabriela Carrizo (Peeping Tom). Since 2004, his work has been rooted in physical theater, gesture, and contemporary dance. He has collaborated with companies like the Centro Andaluz de Teatro, TNT, and La Tarasca, working with directors such as Alfonso Zurro and Manuel Cañadas. In 2009, he began creating his own projects under the name INcubo Teatro. He received the “Desencaja 2010” award for best show for his monologue Sueño… Luego Existo. He also won a Lorca Award for Best Choreography in 2017 for the piece En Vano. Since 2010, he has been a theater professor at the Danza Mobile Creation Center.

Esmeralda Valderrama Vega

Born in Madrid in 1958, she studied ballet at the Círculo de Bellas Artes and contemporary dance with Jesús López. She studied jazz and funky with Bob Niko and Giorgio Aresu and worked as a choreography assistant for Adolfo Marsillach and Skip Martinssen. She formed the contemporary dance company ASTARCON in Madrid (1984–1986). In 1996, she founded the Danza Mobile School, which later expanded into the Creation Center and the Danza Mobile Company. As a director and choreographer for Danza Mobile, she has created shows such as Figuras para un sueño (1998) and L’image (2003). She has served as assistant director or choreographer for more than 70 productions within the Danza Mobile Company.

Accessibility Information

– 4^th Elementary School of Ermoupolis
The venue is wheelchair accessible and includes an accessible restroom meeting disability access standards. (Entrance from G. Petritsi and Ploutarchou street)

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Diptych: Who am I today? | C for Clay – Prosxima Dance Company https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/diptyxo4-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 July 9, 2026

Diptych: Who am I today? | C for Clay – Prosxima Dance Company

Greece

After the performance, there will be an open discussion with the artists and the audience, with interpretation in Greek Sign Language (GSL) and, if needed, in International Sign or British Sign Language (BSL).

Who am I today?

Choreographer Demy Papathanassiou invites audiences into a deeply personal exploration of identity, drawing on the lived experiences of Crips and their relationship to mental health.
Each day in the studio begins with a question: “Who am I today?” From this starting point, the work asks what a Crip or different body can bring to the stage, and whether its mental health is experienced differently from others.
Through movement, reflection, and raw honesty, Who Am I Today? confronts themes of trauma, acceptance, discovery, and personal growth — offering a space for both individual and collective connection.

Duration: 27 minutes

Credits
Concept/choreography/performance: Demy Papathanassiou
Composer: Avgoustinos Michalopoulos Stathopoulos
Artistic collaboration: Maria Viniaratou, Maria Koliopoulou
Consultant choreographer: Katerina Gevetzi
Lighting consultant: Thomas Oikonomakos
Residency support: LIMINAL
Production: Prosxima Dance Company

Premiere: BeyondDisDance Festival, Synergio Venue, Limassol, January 13, 2024

*Definition of Crip: A term historically used to stigmatize and oppress disabled people. It has been reclaimed by some disabled people. It should only be used with permission from the community or individual to whom it refers. For the choreographer, it is a political statement rejecting the normative.

Accessibility: tactile navigation for people with visual impairments, as well as creative tools for deaf people and people with visual impairments.

C for Clay

A solo work choreographed for and with the performer Vivi Christodoulopoulou exploring notions of labor and action as two components of human existence and their interrelation towards a revelation and a human transformation.

Duration: 20 minutes

Credits
Choreography: Maria Koliopoulou
Performer: Vivi Christodoulopoulou
Sound design: Yiannis Isidorou
Dramaturgy consultant: Betina Panagiotara
Artistic collaborator: Mariza Vinieratou
Light design: Thomas Economacos
Photo: Vicky Papaggeli
Production: Prosxima Dance Company

Premiere: Deree Black Box Theatre 2016, as part of the series of ONE-OFF DANCE[S] #2
Further presentations: Theater Aan Het Spui, Den Haag, Netherlands as part of Danceable#3, Holland Dance Festival 2019, where it has been supported by Onassis Stegi, in the context of the European network Europe Beyond Access, which is co-funded by the “Creative Europe” program.
The work is further developed and presented during the BeyondDisDance at Polychoros Synergeio, Limassol 8.12.2024. Creative Accessibility Tools Applied with the collaboration of Liminal.

Accessibility: tactile navigation for people with visual impairments, as well as creative tools for deaf people and people with visual impairments.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1121797360

The Dance Diptych was presented at the 1st Festival of the University of Patras’ Unit for Equal Access, “The Art of Diversity,” on May 27th at 18.30 in Amphitheater I4 of the Conference & Cultural Center of the University of Patras and at the 12th Mpart Festival in Larisa, on 11 September 2025.
Further presentations include on May 8th 2026 _ University of Crete, Rethimno, Greece as part of a broader initiative by Prosxima Dance Company, an artistic and educational research program, consisting of workshops, performances and lectures dedicated to disability and inclusion in Universities in Greece, supported by John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation in the framework of “Points of Support”.

Prosxima Dance Company

Prosxima Dance Company, under the artistic direction of choreographer M. Koliopoulou, works at the intersection of the performing arts and social engagement, collaborating with vulnerable communities to create accessible productions. The company presents work in Greece and internationally with mixed ensembles of dancers with and without disabilities. Their work has been commissioned by the: Athens Epidaurus Festival, Onassis Stegi, The Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica, Piraeus and Islands, ‘All of Greece One Culture’ programm, International Festival of Contemporary Dance in Algiers, Stopgap Dance Company.
Prosxima Dance Company is leading an artistic and educational research program consisting of workshops, performances and lectures dedicated to disability and inclusion in Universities in Greece with the support John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation in the framework of “Points of Support”. The program was hosted in 2024–2025 by the University of Patras, co-organized by the M.Sc. in Public Health and the Laboratory of Speech and Drama of the Department of Theatre Studies, as well as the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, co-organized by the Postgraduate Program “Greek and World Theatre: Dramaturgy, Performance, Education.” In 2026 the program is hosted by the Departments of Early Childhood Education at the Universities of Thessaly and Crete.
The company is regularly subsidised by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Accessibility Information

– 4^th Elementary School of Ermoupolis
The venue is wheelchair accessible and includes an accessible restroom meeting disability access standards. (Entrance from G. Petritsi and Ploutarchou street)

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

b(l)alloon – Blip | inclusive multisensory project https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/blallon2-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 July 9, 2026

b(l)alloon – Blip | inclusive multisensory project

Greece

After the performance, there will be an open discussion with the artists and the audience, with interpretation in Greek Sign Language (GSL) and, if needed, in International Sign or British Sign Language (BSL).

Choreographers Yiota Peklari and Vassia Zorbali, together with a mixed ensemble of performers with and without visual or hearing disabilities, explore the imprint of time through the materiality of the body, both organic and inorganic, moving toward the creation of a multisensory, accessible dance performance.

The performance b(l)alloon radically expands the boundaries of the stage experience, establishing a shared space between performers and audience, where sound, movement, and tactility coexist as a common language of perception and communication for both sighted and non-sighted, hearing and non-hearing audiences.

The aesthetics of accessibility are the creative principle of the group’s work. Breaking down stereotypes, the performance presents disabled and non-disabled performers on stage, conversing through a new way of artistic expression that does not rely on conventional accessibility tools (such as interpretation, audio description or technological aids), but discovers and cultivates innovative, alternative performative means of inclusion. Communication and coordination are based exclusively on movement, voice, rhythm and vibration — the fundamental expressive means of the performing art of dance.

Credits
Conception, Choreography: Yiota Peklari, Vassia Zorbali
Visual installation: Vassia Zorbali
Acoustic design: Yiota Peklari
Assistant Choreographer: Natasha Chanta-Martin
Performed by: Vassia Zorbali, Yiota Peklari, Natasha Chanta-Martin, Olga Dalekou, Christos Koutsovasilis
Photos, Cinematography: Archlabirynth, Valeria Isaeva
Production: PLAYGROUND for the arts
With the support of the Greek Ministry of Culture

Duration: 30 min.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/928397109

The piece has already been presented at:
● Athens, Greece, February 2024: Presentation of a research excerpt, Emotional Intelligence Festival ART & SCIENCE MICROFORUM III, FLUX Laboratory Athens
● Athens, Greece, April 2024: ΠΛΥΦΑ (PLYFA), premiere
● Athens, Greece, November 2024: International Body Music Festival
● Athens, Greece, October 2025: Technopolis City of Athens, BRAINSHOT FESTIVAL
● Limassol, Cyprus, December 2025: Beyond DisDance Festival
● Athens, Greece, July 2026: Percussion Festival 2026, Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera
● Chania, Greece, July 2026: Dance Days Chania
● Quebec City, Canada, August 2026: International Body Music Festival
● Tinos, Greece, October 2026: TINOS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

Vassia Zorbali

Interdisciplinary artist, performer, practice-based researcher and educator in the field of movement. She holds a master’s degree with distinction in Visual Arts (Athens School of Fine Arts), a graduate with distinction from Rallou Manou Professional School of Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is active in the field of Culture as a performer since 2008 and as a creator and facilitator since 2014. She participates in exhibitions, conferences & workshops, textbook writing, as well as residencies in Greece and abroad.
https://vassiazorbali.wixsite.com/vassiazorbali

Yiota Peklari

Versatile dancer with MS and choreographer with interdisciplinary vocabulary who delves into the sonic and social dimension of the moving body. Co-founder of PLAYGROUND for the arts, a cultural organization based in Athens, Greece dedicated to fostering an international community of artists, students and audiences who share a deep interest in the performing arts, with a particular emphasis on the exploration and study of rhythm. Since 2018 she has taken on a pioneering role leading mixed groups of people with or without hearing and visual disabilities in the design and implementation of CONNECTING BODY workshops.
www.yiotapeklari.com

Accessibility Information

– 4^th Elementary School of Ermoupolis
The venue is wheelchair accessible and includes an accessible restroom meeting disability access standards. (Entrance from G. Petritsi and Ploutarchou street)

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Syndesi (Connection) – Douglas Comley https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/syndesis-3-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 July 9, 2026

Syndesi (Connection) – Douglas Comley

Malta

After the performance, there will be an open discussion with the artists and the audience, with interpretation in Greek Sign Language (GSL) and, if needed, in International Sign or British Sign Language (BSL).

Syndesi is an exploratory, interdisciplinary performance. It is led by Angela Bettoni, a performer and writer with Down Syndrome, together with Kaylie Magri, Luke Bugeja Gauci and Douglas Comley. The initial research stage in Malta included the participation of musician Noah Fabri as collaborator and was funded by Arts Council Malta.

The piece is based on writing by Angela and collaborators and explores intimacy in platonic friendships through dance and physical theatre, and audience response – especially to interactions between disabled and non-disabled performers. Research suggests attitudes are shaped by individual and societal values, and Syndesi aims to explore how Greek/international audiences perceive this through a site-responsive work. The work combines music, movement, dance, and physical theatre. The performance looks at how gesture, touch, and movement can communicate platonic affection on stage, and how audiences engage with these expressions.

Credits
Douglas Comley – choreographer
Angela Bettoni – writer and dancer
Luke Bugeja Gauci – dancer
Kaylie Magri – writer and music/physical theatre
The Malta project prior to the festival includes musician Noah Fabri.

Funded by VisitMalta with co-funding by Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha) and HelmsBriscoe.

Duration: 25 min.
Trailer:

Douglas Comley

Douglas Comley is an experienced performer, director, and choreographer whose career spans three decades across Malta, the UK, and Europe. As a performer, he has worked with a wide range of contemporary dance companies, including Theatre Anon Malta (2024), Bodies in Urban Spaces under Austrian director Willi Dorner (2012), Carlson Dance Company in Wales (2006), Welsh Independent Dance with Charlotte Vincent (2005), X-CELL Dance Company (2003), Vincent Dance Theatre (2000), Daghdha Dance Company in Ireland (1998), Diversions Dance Company for the television film Trodio Mesur Amser (1996), Attik Dance Company (1995), and Nexus Dance Company with choreographer Nigel Charnock (1995).
As a director and choreographer, Comley has led numerous long-term projects. He directed and choreographed integrated theatre productions for ŻiguŻajg in collaboration with Opening Doors between 2020 and 2025. He was the founding director of Dynion Male Dance (1996–2016) and led Fractal Dance Company (1996–2000), creating work for BBC Television with the National Orchestra of Wales and performing at Portugal’s Evento 98 festival. He also directed the County Youth Dance Company Wales from 2000 to 2015.
His large-scale choreography includes opening ceremonies for CHOGM Malta (2015), the World Gymnaestrada in Austria (2007), the Commonwealth Games in Manchester (2002), and the Rugby World Cup (1999).

Kaylie Magri

Kaylie Magri is a versatile Maltese performer whose work spans theatre, production management, and vocal performance. She developed her artistic practice through an Erasmus+ exchange at the University of Exeter, where she studied Drama and gained experience in contemporary theatre-making. During her time there, she served as Stage Manager for We Are Off to Find a Fairy, a puppetry production created within the Puppetry and Object Theatre module and assisted in production management for Kif Tgħallimt Insuq. She later continued this role with Dù Theatre’s 2025 staging of the same work.
Her training includes Studio18’s Acting Programme, Contemporary Theatre Making, and a Stanislavski workshop with Julian Jones. Alongside her theatre background, Kaylie has cultivated strong vocal foundations. She holds a Rockschool Trinity College Theory of Music Grade 3 (Distinction) and has studied singing since 2011, including ensemble work with Kor Għanja tal-Poplu, VocalBooth Choir, and harmony training with Joshua Alamu.
Her performance experience includes international competitions in Romania and Switzerland, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and the Ultimate Artists Gala Night in London. Most recently, she appeared as an ensemble member in Musical Matchup: The Who’s Who Cabaret?, continuing to expand her presence in Malta’s performance scene.

Angela Bettoni

Angela Bettoni is a performer, writer and advocate with Down Syndrome, whose work bridges artistic practice, disability advocacy, and international collaboration. She holds a BA in Creative Arts, where her dissertation examined how people with learning disabilities are represented within Malta’s performing arts landscape. She has an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (MCAST, Malta) and Diploma in Community Access for Disabled People (University of Malta). Her artistic development has been shaped by involvement with Opening Doors Association Malta, an organization that provides training in arts to disabled adults, and international training opportunities, including a five-week danceWEB scholarship to the ImpulsTanz Festival in Vienna, residencies and Erasmus programmes in Venice, London, Sweden and Greece, including with Skanes Dansteatre, and inclusive companies Chickenshed Theatre and Stopgap Dance Company, UK. Angela has performed in mixed-ability work across Malta, Italy, Germany, Sweden and Sri Lanka, appearing solo/duet/trio performances, and has performed at Dance Festival Malta and Venere in Teatro Dance Festival Italy. She received a University of Malta Social Commitment Award for contribution to the arts industry (2024) and a JCI Malta (Junior Chamber International) Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Award for her advocacy work on inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (2022).
www.angelabettoni.net

Luke Bugeja Gauci

Luke Bugeja Gauci is an artist driven by a simple but profound mission: to inspire, to comfort, and to make people feel less alone in a world that often feels overwhelming. For Luke, dance is more than movement, it’s a way of speaking to the heart, a way of opening conversations about who we are, where we’re headed, and how we treat the world around us. His work is about transformation. Every piece he creates aims to spark thought, stir emotion, and shine a light on urgent social and environmental issues. Whether in the intimate corners of a gallery, outside performance or on the wide stage, Luke pushes the boundaries of what performance can be, always searching for new ways to connect with audiences on a deeper level. His work has travelled across cities from Zurich, Rome, Lisbon and Malta and its true journey is in the minds and hearts of the people who experience it. Ultimately, Luke’s work is about connection between people, between stories, and between humanity and the planet we share. In every movement, there’s a quiet reminder: we are part of something larger, and we still have the power to protect it. Luke has toured his choreographies to Zurich, Lausanne, Malta, Rome, Siena and Lisbon. Winning awards such as Best Dance Film from Rome, and Best Sound from Malta Youth Film Festival as part of movingeedit Studio. Luke was also nominated for the Best Dance Production for Prempju Ghal-Arti 2025. In his dancing career, Luke worked with various companies and artists such as ZfinMalta, Marchepied Cie, Jasmin Vardimon, Sita Osthemier, Ihsan Rustem, Craig Davidson, Nadav Zelner, Dunja Jocic.

Accessibility Information

– Evantia Kairi Theatre
The venue is wheelchair accessible. An accessible restroom is available, though it does not fully meet disability access standards.

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Levitate – Petros Nikolidis & Stefanos Giakoumakis https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/levitate1-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 July 9, 2026

Levitate – Petros Nikolidis & Stefanos Giakoumakis

Greece

Festival Closing Night – Open JAM with live music
The performance Levitate brings this year’s festival to a close and leads into a sound and movement JAM –a closing celebration with live music and dance.
Join us in improvising and dancing together, as we conclude the 13^th Akropoditi DanceFest with a festive gathering and an exchange of experiences!

Levitate is a hybrid dance performance that combines live sound with physical expression, through the collaboration between choreographer–dancer Petros Nikolides and musician-composer Stefanos Giakoumakis. Based on a movement vocabulary that draws from street dance, contemporary dance, and live music production, the performance explores desire, inner conflict, obsession, and the moment of transcendence.
What is it that lifts us off the ground—and what pulls us back down again?
Through raw energy and sensitivity, the work invites the audience into an experience between collision and elevation—a ritual suspended between light and shadow.

Credits
Choreography, Concept & Performance: Petros Nikolides
Music Composition and Live Performance: Stefanos Giakoumakis
Dramaturgy: Andi Xhuma
Lighting Design: Maria Athanasopoulou

Duration: 17 min.
Trailer:

Petros Nikolidis

Petros Nikolidis is a dancer, choreographer, and performer based in Greece. He was born in 1997 in Thessaloniki and studied dance in Paris, where he primarily focused on street styles. He graduated from Juste Debout School in 2019 and returned to Athens due to the pandemic. Since then, among other projects, he has participated for four consecutive years in the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, collaborating with various choreographers and directors such as Dimitris Papaioannou, Antonis Foniadakis, Giannis Kakleas, Andi Xhuma, Anastasia Valsamaki, and Ilias Chatzigeorgiou. At the same time, he has created his own works, including the short dance film “AGKATHI”, which has competed in various festivals worldwide; the dance performance Levitate (2025, Dance Laboratory Rhodes, Embros Theatre, Roes Theatre); and the dance performance Kinèpha, which premiered at the 1st Urban Forest Jazz Festival (2025). He is also assistant choreographer and co-creator of the performance “CHRYSI EPOHI” by Konstantinos Rigos (2025). Throughout his career, he has received distinctions in Street Dance Battles in Greece and abroad. Petros strives to remain multidimensional and to expand his horizons across all aspects of art.

Stefanos Giakoumakis

Stefanos Giakoumakis is a musician, composer, and producer born in Athens in 1998. He studied at the Department of International, European and Regional Studies at Panteion University. In parallel, he completed his studies in modern jazz music and electric guitar, while also attending thematic courses in art history, music history, and composition. In recent years, he has been exploring the role of music as a narrative tool. He has composed original music for theatre performances, contemporary dance productions, and art installations, frequently performing his own works live. He has also served as Production Director of the contemporary dance festival Dance Laboratory Rhodes (2023, 2024, 2025), while participating as a producer in film shoots and live performances. His works have been presented, among others, at: Kalamata Dance Festival, Fringe Istanbul Festival, Patras Art Festival, Dance Laboratory Rhodes, Our Festival, Buzau International Arts Festival, Duets and others.

Accessibility Information

– Evantia Kairi Theatre
The venue is wheelchair accessible. An accessible restroom is available, though it does not fully meet disability access standards.

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

By:akropoditi13
March 26, 2026
0

Solar – En Dynamei Ensemble https://akropoditi.com/dancefest/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/solar3-819x1024.jpg 819 1024 akropoditi13 akropoditi13 https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8c0bbec426c2a2b97e3dec8d6a275dfea3590fd262e32ce0309bd47469e31a1e?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 26, 2026 July 9, 2026

Solar – En Dynamei Ensemble

Greece

After the performance, there will be an open discussion with the artists and the audience, with interpretation in Greek Sign Language (GSL) and, if needed, in International Sign or British Sign Language (BSL).

A meditation on the things that keep us on our feet, addressing the sublime feeling that the “real” movement of different bodies can convey in a state of transcendence.
“Solar” is air, it’s the here-and-now (in other words, the future), it’s a feast, the earthly touches that are nothing but accidental. “Solar” is joyful; a sun that can light up everything; something you’re doing for the first time.
“Solar” opens up a space for the collective and individual quest for common ground, fostering coexistence and the acceptance of the other, the different, the uncanny, and the incomprehensible. It is a collaborative, hands-on “study” of how acceptance affects our lives, relationships, and happiness – and vice versa.
Drawing material from the thirty members of the En Dynamei Ensemble, we create a score of movement. Building on the specificity of each participant and their diverse perceptions, we create a performance dedicated to existence, an awakening of the deepest life drive.
What is it that allows us to seek, claim, or offer in life?
Each existence has the need to interact, create relationships, move, or connect through a continuous rhythmic process. The world is organized as a complex nervous system with undivided qualities and textures. Every part of this nervous system stretches out toward more life. The world is in constant flux. The world is being created as we speak.

Credits
On Stage:
Michalis Dolopoulos, Alekos Hatsios, Stefanos Lentzis, Panos Mantziris, Christos Sioumis
Artistic Direction: Eleni Dimopoulou
Concept: Vitoria Kotsalou
Texts Creation / Writing: En Dynamei Ensemble
Choreography: Vitoria Kotsalou
Music: Anargyros Deniozos
Set Design: Richard Anthony
Lighting Design: Nysos Vassilopoulos
Text Editing: Vitoria Kotsalou, Sofia Bletsou, Eleni Dimopoulou
Assistant Choreographer: Aris Papadopoulos
Sound Design / Audio Editing: Tanya Jones
With the voices of :
Maria Dachlythra, Eleni Dimopoulos, Margarita Kainada, Theano Konta, Nikos Kyparissis, Dimitris Lyras, Thanos Nanasis, Panos Matziris, Giorgos-Zisis Bilionis, Theano Papavasileiou, Haris Serdari
Production: Onassis Stegi

The presentation of the Performance was supported by Onassis Stegi Touring Program

Duration: 50 min.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/840379796/1f2534edd2

Το έργο παρουσιάστηκε στο πλαίσιο Μ power festival του ιδρύματος Ωνάση το 2023.

En Dynamei Ensemble

En Dynamei Ensemble is a theater group comprised of young artists with and without disabilities, operating since 2008 as a non-profit entity led by artistic director Eleni Dimopoulou. The purpose of the group is to support and facilitate its members to join society as equals, using art as a means of integration. Using the research of new methods of communication as their main tool, the group organizes and presents fully developed artistic proposals in the fields of visual and media arts, theater, dance, and music. En Dynamei Ensemble maintains a collaboration with renowned art professionals and leading institutions in Greece and abroad. The group’s performances have received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, claiming a spot next to the most groundbreaking works of the Greek artistic production.
https://endynamei-ensemble.gr/

Vitoria Kotsalou

Vitoria Kotsalou is a psychologist, and a self-trained dancer, performer and choreographer based in Athens. Her eclectic training, not bound by one tradition, and constant research on many different disciplines carve out new fields of engagement for dance mediation. As a choreographer and artist, she perceives dance as a way of being, a means of thinking and interacting with the world, and as a tool of connection to the intelligence that governs nature. Vitoria is one of the founding members of the non-profit organization R.I.C.E. and the RSOD Dance School on the island of Hydra. She is a close collaborator of choreographer Michael Klien and a member of En Dynamei Ensemble since 2014. As a choreographer she has composed the works Day out of Time (2017), Mount (2019), Rite of Spring – A Map (2021), Solar (with the En Dynamei Ensemble – 2023), and Bare (2023). As a dancer she has made important collaborations with Androniki Marathaki, Mariella Nestora and Agni Papadeli Rossetou. She teaches dance to children, adults and mixed ability groups, and also choreographs theatre performances. Vitoria approaches dance as a phenomenon that is directly connected to every aspect of society. Her devotion to the possibility of dance as a force for change extends to thinking through movement and coming into contact with an intelligence that exists in (and connects) all living organisms. Drawing inspiration from the study of different artistic practices, philosophical approaches and collaborations, her thinking extends to social choreography through which she simultaneously observes the world and designs works that convey the possibility of changing or expanding our perception.

Accessibility Information

– Evantia Kairi Theatre
The venue is wheelchair accessible. An accessible restroom is available, though it does not fully meet disability access standards.

For further accessibility information, please contact us at: akropoditidancefest@gmail.com or by phone at +30 697 379 2685.

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