2017
The Revolutionary Dances of Isadora Duncan
Dance Seminar by Barbara Kane with Françoise Rageau and Sandra Voulgari
14.07.2017
| MESSENIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM | 10:00-12:00 (seminar)
Kalamata Castle | 19:30-21:00 (seminar)
15-18.07.2017
| MESSENIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM | 10:00-12:00 (seminar)
Zoumbouleio Megaron | 17:00-19:00 (seminar)
19.07.2017
| MESSENIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM | 9:30-11:30 (seminar)
Kalamata Castle | 19:30-21:30 (seminar)
20.7 Κalamata Castle (21:00) Public Presentation of B. Kane’s Evening Seminar.
21.7 Archaeological Museum of Messenia, Kalamata, The Museum is dancing,
Touring-Presentation of B. Kane’s Day Seminar.
The Revolutionary Dances of Isadora Duncan
throughout her creative and meaningful life
Barbara Kane's Dance Seminar
with Françoise Rageau and Sandra Voulgari
Ιn collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia, Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports
(General Co-ordinator and Management: Dr. Evangelia Militsi-Kechagia, Archaeologist, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia, Scientific Curator: Maria Tsoulakou, MSc Archaeologist, Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia)
Isadora Duncan was born with a purpose and thinking to express change in life and to challenge the norms of the 1900’s in Western thought. The philosophy of Ancient Greece informed her dance creations. As early as 1903 Isadora Duncan began creating dances that reflected societal conflict; she wanted the creation of a new world free of exploitation, poverty and war.
She danced the Revolution of a new age free from bodily restraint, dances that expressed sorrow and joy, dances that explored resistance and hope.
Barbara Kane's Seminar with Françoise Rageau and Sandra Voulgari will explore these dances from the early works about the sea/water to the later works about the people who become aware of their oppression and fought for their freedom. Themes that will be presented at the Archaeological Museum of Messenia, Kalamata: Water and our respect and how over many centuries the sea has destroyed
so many lives / given also toο many tο our lives. Themes for the Castle presentation reflect revolt, awareness of the oppression of life, combined with hope and a vision that we carry on into the 21st Century. Dances of Revolt and Hope, strength and sorrow, hope and confidence combined in movement expression via the Dance and technique of Isadora Duncan.
Οpen to dance students (7 years old and up) and dancers. Also available for anyone at any age (no dance experience needed).
Limit of participants: 18 people
Barbara Kane studied with pupils of Irma and Anna Duncan, Lillian Rosenberg (1969-1974), Julia Levien (1976-1998) and Hortense Kooluris (1976-1991). Performing with the Isadora Duncan Centenary Dance Company 1976 to 1979. In 1979 Barbara moved to England and in 1985 set up the Isadora Duncan Dance Group based in Gent, Belgium, Paris and London with the support of Jetty Roels and Françoise Rageau. Barbara had a curiosity for all Duncan Dance developments in Europe and sought out and took classes with pupils of Lisa Duncan (Madeleine Lytton and Odile Pyros), with pupils of the Elizabeth Duncan School and of the Duncan School in Moscow. Barbara has always felt that Duncan Dance belongs in the community and throughout her career has included Duncan classes for adults, children and elderly people with and without disabilities. Barbara has retired as a performer but continues to teach the Duncan Dance.
Participation fee: 70 €
Down payment: 20 €
Registration & Information: Sandra Voulgari
+30 6973 077 158
mail @ kalamatadancefestival.gr
* Reservation +30 6931 512 683
Working Bodies
The Dancer as Workforce | Workshop with Sophia Mavragani and Konstantina Bousmpoura
ΖΟUΜBΟULΕΙΟ MEGARON
15 - 17.07.2017 | 12:00 - 15:00
Working Bodies
The Dancer as Workforce
Workshop with Konstantina Bousmpoura
and Sofia Mavragani
Focused on the status of the dancer as an employee, Konstantina Bousmpoura (anthropologist/documentarist) and Sofia Mavragani (choreographer) create a workshop studying the meaning and the social dimensions of work (labour). The aim of the workshop is to provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and labour in the modern society: which is the anthropocentric aspect of labour?
The workshop provokes questions and processes simulations of working situations conceptually as well as practically. The methodology used is based on observation and recording meanings and techniques drawn from anthropology as well as on bodily play techniques as they emerge through Sofia Mavragani’s research on the playful body.
The workshop draws upon the documentary Working Dancers which is based on the seven year ethnographic research of Konstantina Bousmpoura and records the struggle of a group of dancers from Buenos Aires for labour rights.
Οpen to working artists and non-artists, unemployed people and young people who are concerned about their working future.
Limit of participants: 15 people
A strict priority list will be kept.
Konstantina Bousmpoura studied Economic Science at the Athens University of Economics, and Social Anthropology at the University of Seville. She holds a diploma in Latin American Studies from the University of Salamanca. Since 2007 she has worked in filmic ethnography and direction of documentaries in Buenos Aires and Athens. Her research subject is dance, work and politics. In 2009 she won the first prize in Certamen de Creación Joven Sevilla, with the documentary Feeling from Outside, based on foreign flamenco dancers in Seville. The documentary was screened in many international festivals (XIV Βiennial of Young Αrtists from Europe and the Mediterranean, Skopje 2009, Festival de video y danza-Habana, Festival de video y danza -Ecuador, Anthropofest-Czech Republic, Ethnofest-Athens). Her last documentary Working Dancers (Argentine-Greece, 2016) screened in international and Greek festivals also participates in international academic projects (Political Imagination Laboratory-University of Perugia, Everyday Revolutions-University of Manchester). Her article “Working Dancers: Contemporary Dance Activism in Argentina” is included in the book artWork: Art, Labor and Activism (to be published in late 2017th). She is a member of ACÁ, an educational and artistic organization based in Buenos Aires. workingdancers.com, vimeo.com/12421171
Sofia Mavragani graduated from Athens School of Economics (BΑ in Business Administration, 2000) and from EDDC-European Dance Development Centre, ArtEZ-University of Arts, Arnhem, NL (Bachelor in Dance Making, 2005). Her works, known for their socio-political focus, have been presented at several festivals and venues in Greece and abroad: Athens & Epidaurus Festival, Megaron-The Athens Concert Hall, documenta 14, Kalamata International Dance Festival, Dimitria Festival (Thessaloniki), MIRfestival (Athens), Park your ID festival (Maastricht), Dance Days International Festival (Chania), State Theatre of Northern Greece, Apollon Theatre (Syros), Τeatro Belisario (Buenos Aires), Teatro Lagrada (Madrid), Cacoyannis Foundation (Athens) etc. Being fondly interested in the field of education and exchange, she develops experimental workshops on improvisation and composition, such as the overnight workshop Out of Order and the research project playforPLACE, which has been held in 17 cities in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Oceania. She is a founding member of FINGERSIX, an international artistic network, and of the non profit-organization FINGERSIX/Athens. sofiamavragani.com
17.7 Kalamata Dance Megaron - Forecourt (22:00) Screening of Working Dancers,
a film by Konstantina Bousmpoura and Julia Martinez Heimann.
Free participation
Reservation is required
Registration & Information: Νatassa Aretha
+30 6934 164 243
mail @ kalamatadancefestival.gr
Gaga
Dance Workshop with Andrea Costanzo Martini
19.07.2017
| ΖΟUΜBΟULΕΙΟ MEGARON | 12:00-13:30
20 - 22.07.2017
| ΖΟUΜBΟULΕΙΟ MEGARON | 10:00-11:30
Gaga
Dance Workshop with Andrea Costanzo Martini
Gaga is a movement language developed by Ohad Naharin over the course of many years and which is applied in daily practice and exercises by the Batsheva Dance Company members.
The language of Gaga originated from the belief in the healing, dynamic, ever-changing power of movement continues to evolve today. Gaga is a new way of gaining knowledge and self-awareness through our body. Gaga provides a framework for discovering and strengthening our body and adding flexibility, stamina, and agility while lightening the senses and imagination. Gaga raises awareness of physical weaknesses, awakens numb areas, exposes physical fixations, and offers ways for their elimination.
The work combines conscious and unconscious movement, and it allows an individual to experience freedom and pleasure in a simple way, in a pleasant space, in comfortable clothes, accompanied by music, so that each one can be connected to himself and to others.
Open to professional dancers, graduates and students.
Andrea Costanzo Martini was born in Italy where he received his first education in contemporary dance and ballet. After a few years in Germany where he danced with the Aalto Theater Essen, he moved to Tel Aviv to join the Batsheva Young Ensemble and later the Batsheva Dance Company. Between 2010 and 2014 he danced with the Cullberg Ballet and the Inbal Pinto & A. Pollak Dance Company. Since 2013 he has been creating and performing his own works. He received the first prize for Dance and Choreography at the International Solo Tanz Competition in Stuttgart (2013) and was awarded several prizes for his two solo works What Happened in Torino and Occhio di bue. Andrea’s research in dance focuses in both extreme physicality and theatricality of the performance act and explores the power balance created during a show between the dancers and the spectators. Always filled with humor and supported by a wide range of skills, Martini’s work questions and plays with the expectations of the dance medium. Trained in both ballet and contemporary technique, since 2007 Andrea is also a Gaga instructor and leads dance workshops around the globe.
19 & 23.7 Kalamata Dance Megaron - Forecourt (22:00) Screening of Tomer Heymann’s Mr. Gaga,
a documentary on Ohad Naharin.
Participation fee: 60 €
Down payment: 20 €
Registration & Information: Νatassa Aretha
+30 6934 164 243
mail @ kalamatadancefestival.gr
apogee
Dance Masterclass with Polina Kremasta
KALAMATA DANCE MEGARON - STUDIO
20.07.2017 | 12:30-15:30
apogee
Dance Masterclass
with Polina Kremasta
In this workshop the choreographer will share the tools which arose and were used in the performance apogee, in addition to the basic methodology that the research has so far highlighted. Selected parts of the performance will be studied, reviewed and lead to new kinetic approaches and compositions. Through this path the participants will get a glimpse of the research behind the performance.
The research, conducted by the choreographer during the past three years, studies the connection between the Greek traditional dances and contemporary techniques, reveals the apogee (far from the earth: apogeios, apogaios [from apo- + gē, gaia=earth]) movement and creates a new kinetic proposal.
Open to professional dancers and amateur dancers with previous movement experience.
Polina Kremasta was born in Thessaloniki. She graduated with honors from the Professional Dance School “Rallou Manou”. She is also a graduate of Medicine Studies (University of Ioannina). She is currently a dancer and choreographer at the Creo dance company, having participated in several local and international dance festivals (Insoliti International Dance Festival, Turin, Italy / La Becquée, Brest, France / Sarajevo Winter, Bosnia and Herzegovina etc). Creo dance company has been awarded with the first prize “Silver Snowflake” at the Sarajevo Winter Festival for the performance GODOT (2012). Polina’s last performance apogee was chosen to participate at the Platform of Greek Contemporary Dance 2016 (Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall). For the past five years Polina has been coordinating,
in collaboration with Penelope Iliaskou, the educational program “Skytali” for dancers and public schools, instilling the love for movement into the community. For the past three years she has been working on a research project about the connection between the contemporary and traditional dance. She has been collaborating with many Greek theatres as movement director and choreographer. She has taught contemporary technique and improvisation in workshops and many dance studios in Greece, as well as at the Kalamata International Dance Festival and the International Dance Festival La Becquée in France.
She currently teaches contemporary dance and improvisation at the Professional Dance School “Rallou Manou”.
19.7 Kalamata Dance Megaron – Studio (20:00) Performance of Polina Kremasta’s apogee
by CREO Dance Company.
Participation fee: 15 €
Down payment: 10 €
Registration & Information: Νatassa Aretha
+30 6934 164 243
African Contemporary Dance Afrofusion
Moving Into Dance Mophatong Workshop
with Sunnyboy Motau and Oscar Buthelezi
ΖΟUΜBΟULΕΙΟ MEGARON
22.07.2017 | 12:00-14:00
African Contemporary Dance
Afrofusion / Zulu Dance & Pantsula
Moving Into Dance Mophatong Workshop
with Sunnyboy Motau and Oscar Buthelezi
Led by the experienced and expressive dancers from South Africa’s premiere contemporary dance company Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MID) Sunnyboy Motau and Oscar Buthelezi, the workshop is a unique experience focused on African dance techniques.
The participants will have a chance to gain knowledge in African Contemporary Dance, Zulu Dance, Pantsula and Afrofusion, an amalgamation of both indigenous and contemporary cross-cultural African and Western contemporary dance forms.
Drawing on some of the recent works in MID’s repertoire as well as excerpts from Jessica Nupen’s creation Romeo & Juliet / REBELLION & JOHANNESBURG, this is your opportunity to work in depth with South Africa’s most celebrated contemporary dance company.
Open to dance students and dancers. Also available for anyone with no previous dance experience.
Sunnyboy Motau began his training with a few community arts groups in Alexandra, Johannesburg, but in 2008 he joined MID as part of the Performing Arts Training Course (PATC). He was later selected to further his training, joined the professional dance company, and now dances with, and choreographs for MID’s professional dance company.
His performance history includes touring and performing nationally and internationally in different theatres and festivals with MID’s Company. He recently completed a collaborative choreography with British/Israeli choreographer Rachel Erdos, which premiered at the 2015 Dance Umbrella Festival and was named one of the top five works of the festival.
He is currently collaborating with Jessica Nupen on Romeo & Juliet / REBELLION & JOHANNESBURG. He continues teaching the MID first-years Afrofusion theory and practical and gives classes for the MID dance company. He also teaches at community groups and schools in Alexandra.
Oscar Buthelezi began dancing in 1998 with the group Via Vosloorus Mapantsula Youth Club. In 2003 he continued dancing with Dlala Mapantsula and started choreographing.
In 2006 he participated as a choreographer in TV productions such as YO TV Groove and Jika maJika and then joined Nkosinathi Cultural Productions, performing at festivals, such as the Dance Umbrella and National Arts Festival, also performing in France and Netherlands
in 2008. In 2010 he was accepted as a student on MID’s Performing Arts Training Course,
in 2011 as a course trainee, and is now a member of the professional dance company.
Oscar is currently working as a choreographic assistant to Jessica Nupen on the production Romeo & Juliet / REBELLION & JOHANNESBURG and has just won the prestigious Kurt Jooss Preis for choreography as well as the Αudience Choice Award for 2016.
21.7 Kalamata Dance Megaron - Main Hall (22:00) Performance of Jessica Nupen’s
Romeo & Juliet / REBELLION & JOHANNESBURG by Moving Into Dance Mophatong.
Participation fee: 15 €
Down payment: 10 €
Registration & Information: Νatassa Aretha
+30 6934 164 243
mail @ kalamatadancefestival.gr
Do You Speak Dance?
Masterclass on Verbal Communication of Choreographic Research and Creation
by Christos Polymenakos
ΖΟUΜBΟULΕΙΟ MEGARON
22.07.2017 | 16:00-19:00 & 23.7 |13:00-18:00
Do you Speak Dance?
Masterclass on Verbal Communication of Choreographic Research and Creation
by Christos Polymenakos
Can one translate movement into word?
How can I communicate my choreographic research or creation to the audience,
my collaborators, my sponsors?
How can I use words towards the development of my creative identity in choreography? How does dance “open up” to people from different fields and backgrounds?
Do you Speak Dance? is specialized in promoting Verbal Communication of Choreographic Research and Creation, applying the body/word method. It is based on an original template for dramaturgical analysis which in turn has been developed through years of theoretical and practical research on dramaturgy, creation and communication of choreographic research and creation. Practical exercises and theoretical contextualization cultivate the ability to translate into words the ephemeral and elusive art of dance in different stages of both research and creation. Additionally, dramaturgy is proposed as a bespoke multimodal function which can ignite imagination and emotions by putting in use tools handpicked from different fields of scientific and artistic research. The specific masterclass is introductory to the method. It was presented by the Dance House Lefkosia, Cyprus, in March 2015 in the frame of an Artistic Residency program. The Kalamata International Dance Festival holds its official premier in Greece.
Working language: Greek, with parts of bibliography in English.
Open to professionals, students and amateurs coming from any field dealing with dance and the body in the mindset of open doors policy, be them theorists and choreographers, dramaturgs, directors, dancers, doctors, physical education instructors, arts managers, journalists, programmers, performance artists and writers, or other.
Christos Polymenakos has been developing and applying his method, body/word, in the frame of Performance Writing, since 2010 in creation and dramaturgy, in teaching performance writing, improvisation, acting, dramaturgy, critical analysis and feedback for professionals, amateurs and students. His creations and workshops have been hosted by State and Private Institutions and Festivals in Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Finland, the United Kingdom and France. He was the Chief Dance Editor for highlights, Arts and Culture Magazine and a Member of the Greek Ministry of Culture’s Committee for State Subsidies for Dance. Christos has worked as a dramaturg in dance productions for stage and film,
as a performer in dancetheatre, contact improvisation, experimental, children’s and youth theatre in Greece and abroad. Articles, essays and interviews Christos has conducted have been published in journals, magazines, newspapers and yearbooks in Greece, France, Germany, Portugal, Cyprus and online. He has been working as workshop facilitator at the Onassis Cultural Centre since 2015.
16.7 Kalamata Central Square (20:00) Performance of Antigone Gyra’s Unsuspected Time
(inspired by Christos Polymenakos’ poem with the same title) by ΚΙΝITIRAS Dance Company.
Participation fee: 20 €
Down payment: 10 €
Registration & Information: Νatassa Aretha
+30 6934 164 243
mail @ kalamatadancefestival.gr
Hold it and Let it Go
Therapeutic Dance Workshop with Sofia Droumpali
KEFIAP - Centre of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
23.07.2017 | 10:00-13:00
Hold it and Let it Go
Therapeutic Dance Workshop with Sofia Droumpali
Dance Movement Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Dance are based in the holistic nature of the human being’s approach through sensory, emotional, and cognitive stimulation. In the workshop, the principles and the application of movement practice that allow the bodily-emotional communication will be approached through a one hour interactive presentation in which the structure of the Therapeutic Dance lessons will also be displayed. The central point of the workshop is the application of the above movement practices by teachers and dancing teachers who are interested to work in the field of Special Education Needs (SEN), and by the parents/carers of people with Special Needs. The participants will have the opportunity to experience the value of Therapeutic Dance as way of expression and communication through the experiential lesson in which people with Special Needs and their carers will participate.
The first part of the workshop is open to teachers, dancers, dance teachers and parents/carers of people with Special Needs. The second part (experiential lesson) is open and to people with Special Needs.
Sofia F. Droumpali was born in Kalamata. She studied contemporary dance and ballet at the pre-professional class of the Municipal Artistic Dance School of Pharis. She graduated from the Professional Dance School “Rallou Manou” (2014) and from the Department of the Primary Education at University of Patra (2013). She specialized in Dance Movement Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths University of London (2017). She has worked as dance teacher, primary school teacher, and member of artistic and educational organizations in Athens and Patras. For the past two years, she has worked in London, as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist with people with Special Needs, psychological difficulties, and refugees.
The workshop will be hosted at the Centre of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ΚΕFIAP), Messenia (Eastern Gateway Camp, Kalamata)
Registration: Olga Malama, +30 6931512683