Dance shines in Kalamata
Featuring a sensational opening (a production by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker), a much-awaited finale (a lecture by Dimitris Papaioannou) and a main show that presents a variety of rising stars in the contemporary dance scene, the 11th International Kalamata Dance Festival begins tomorrow and runs to August 24. The festival’s creative soul is its artistic director, Vicky Maragopoulou. At a recent press conference, Deputy Culture Minister Petros Tatoulis affirmed the ministry’s willingness to support the event. «Our intention is to give the festival even more financial potential,» he said. Events in Kalamata kick off with the Greek debut of Belgian troupe «Rosas,» and De Keersmaeker’s «Rain,» both tomorrow and Saturday. Innovative Swiss-born and Berlin-based choreographer Anna Huber is next, presenting her solo performance «Unsichtbarst» on Saturday and Sunday. Three rising stars of Greek dance are performing on Sunday, July 18 and 20: Yiannis Mantafounis and Katerina Skiada co-star in «Provallontas ti Skia» (Projecting the Shadow), while Cypriot artist Lia Haraki will dance the solo «Eye to I.» The Sinequanon company will present the «Last Supper» on July 19 and Australian choreographer Prue Lang will present «Fiftyfourville,» inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s «Alphaville,» on July 21-23. Also coming are performances of «Bache» by «Les Ballets C. de la B,» July 22-23. The festival will conclude with a lecture by choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou, who will discuss how he developed the concept for the opening ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics. «It’s an opportunity to talk about the adventure I lived through,» said Papaioannou at the press conference. «I congratulate the Kalamata International Dance Festival for showing us each year not only the official language of contemporary dance but all that is bubbling in the international arena. Personally, having been immersed in this official language for the last three years, I believe that what is necessary for culture is the exact opposite.»
