NIF24 Parallel Program – “PROGRESSION” Greek National Opera Professional Dance School

More about the event:

For the anniversary performance of the GNO Professional Dance School, the internationally acclaimed and award-winning choreographer Russell Maliphant creates a new choreography titled "Verge", his first commission and collaboration with GNO. Maliphant notes for the new choreography, "It has been a pleasure and an honor to have the opportunity to work with dancers in the prime of their careers, in the art I have been involved with for many fruitful years”.

The students of the School will also present a study of the technique of the great Martha Graham titled "Exceedance", which has been choreographed by the School's teacher of Cypriot origin Olia Tornaritou, with original music composition, orchestration and performance by Giorgos Kontovas. In addition, from the classical repertoire, excerpts from the emblematic work "Giselle" will be presented, choreographed by the soloist of the Ballet of the GNO and professor at the School of Dance Fotis Diamantopoulos, based on the choreography of Jean Coralli, Jules Perrault and Marius Petipa and with music by Adolphe Adam.

The GNO Professional Dance School

It started its operation in 2004 under the direction of Anna Petrova and then Yannis Dontsakis, aiming to create professional staff that contribute to the development of the educational and artistic events of the GNO and the art of dance in general. Yorghos Matskaris took over in 2018/19 as Head of Studies and then as Director of Studies of the School. The study program helps participants to understand the technical and artistic forms of expression of classical ballet and other dance genres. The training emphasizes on the understanding of the history of dance and performing arts and their evolution through time.

Since 2017, when it moved to the state-of-the-art GNO facilities at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, the level of the GNO's Professional Dance School has risen dramatically. Today, renowned Greek and foreign artists and dance teachers collaborate with the School on a regular and seminar basis. The seminars include, among others, courses in classical ballet technique, contemporary dance, classical and contemporary repertoire, as well as choreography - composition. Inclusive dance seminars are also organized with the participation of young people with disabilities and students of the School. As part of their practical training, students participate in rehearsals and performances of the Ballet of the GNO.

The graduates of the GNO Professional Dance School join with great success the Ballet of GNO, after participating in an international audition process. The graduating students receive scholarships abroad for further training in the art of dance, thanks to the donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for the extroversion of the GNO. In recent years, the School's performances have included choreographies by Ohand Naharin, Haris Gekas, Athanasia Kanellopoulou, Myrto Grappa, Nancy Nerantzi, Yannis Tsigris, Christos Xyrafakis and others. The School's performances are shown free of charge, always within the educational framework of the GNO and with great response from the public, on the National Opera's new online television, GNO TV.

Contributors:

ZIZEL

Choreography: Fotis Diamantopoulos, inspired by the choreography of Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa. Lydia Kagiou, Eleni Kladou, Elizaveta Basova and Vassiliki Spyridonos assisted in teaching the choreography.

Music: Adolphe Adam

Lighting designer: Dimitris Koutas

EXCEEDANCE

Choreography: Olia Tornaritou

Original music composition, arrangement, performance: Giorgos Kontovas

Lighting designer: Dimitris Koutas

VERGE

Choreography: Russel Maliphant

Original music composition: Dana Fouras

Lighting projections: Panagiotis Tomaras

Sound design, technical support: Skarlatos Vassilopoulos

Rehearsal assistant: Christos Xyrafakis

Artistic Director: Yorghos Matskaris

Director of Studies at the GNO Professional Dance School 

Coordinator, rehearsal supervisors: Alkistis Lala, Zeta Theodorelou

Sound manager: Giorgos Rekoutis

Technical supervisor: Mary Lantavou

Costume coordination (costumes taken from the GNO’s wardrobe: Hera Karagkouni

Free admission, with tickets from www.soldoutticketbox.com.

Sponsors of the Greek National Opera:

Tour sponsor: PRODEA

Tour sponsor: Aegean Airlines

Major sponsor of the GNO & Performance sponsor: The Stavros Niarchos Foundation

Sponsors of Nicosia International Festival 2024:

Institutional sponsor: Deputy Ministry of Culture

Communication sponsor: LOVE FM 100,7

Photo Credits: Andreas Simopoulos and Giorgοs Kalkanidis