PROGRAMME - THEMES

Political body

Memory/ Body/ Image

In tune with the constant noise of the city, we often forget the meaning of a clear, silent body movement, a movement introducing an interrogation, a movement with an attitude, one that puts a full stop. We forget how important it is for a body charged with history and ideology to assume the responsibility to say what is to be said. This is not a matter of narratives; it's all about a movement coming out of the inner necessity to express what one thinks about what is happening around. The same applies to the camera: a clear movement, a clear look into the world transmits a clear idea of the point of view of the observer. The films presented in the Political body and Memory/ Body/ Image sections have been selected on the basis of these thoughts.

To be able to make this clear movement is a story of a long inner journey of searching - or of a single moment of discovery. A movement can reveal more clearly what we forget to see, or give a punch to the tranquility of our thoughts. It all started with performance: Steve Paxton, Yvonne Reiner, Lucinda Childs, Vito Acconci, Carolee Schneemann; in our days La Ribot and Vera Mantero. A movement linking thought with action.

The Mirror: Films by Maya Deren

Dancer, ethnographer, philosopher, and «visual poet» Maya Deren (1917-1961) gave birth to the American avant-garde film movement of the postwar era in America, and her work remains key to our understanding of the modern cinema.

This retrospective includes a nearly complete survey of Deren's completed work as well as a new feature-length portrait of the artist. For the first time in Greece after many years of silence on Maya Deren, her six edited films are presented in VideoDance2003 accompanied by live «imaginary soundtracks» by four young musicians of the new electronica scene: Coti, Lo-Fi, Paranormale, Voltnoi. There is nothing to add on the poetic, unexpected way she could look at things - besides a lot has been written. We have just tried to create the conditions in which her works can be presented as she would have liked to present them herself, in a poetic and innovative way.

Northern light

Scandinavian countries have contributed some of the greatest moments of dance and film to modern culture, and that is an undeniable fact. Names such as Mats Ek, Ingmar Bergman, and Lars von Trier are not in need of an introduction. Yet, the place of video dance in the world of arts has not been very prominent in this remote corner of Europe. The growing trend in the creation of dance films in recent years, thanks to ongoing efforts by private and public institutions and initiatives, has established a joint vehicle for an ever-growing number of filmmakers and choreographers to come up with new ideas.

Moving North is a project developed in the above described conditions, aiming to bring together filmmakers and choreographers from the five Scandinavian countries and to help promote the concept of video dance. The concept belongs to Magne Antonsen, artistic director of "Ultima Film - Dans for Kamera" dance film festival, who has been invited to present it to the Athenian audience.

ROSAS AS NEVER BEFORE

In 2001-2002 Rosas celebrated its 20th birthday. Many events took place in their hometown Brussels, : the "text pieces" were restaged, there was a festive Repertory Evening, repeat performances with live music of Drumming and Rain, and a big new creation: (but if a look should) April me. In November 2002, Anne Teresa De Keersamaeker danced a solo Once, set to Joan Baez's music. The festivities around twenty years of Rosas were concluded by a big retrospective exhibition in the Brussels Palais des Beaux-Arts. In 2003, the new group creation Bitches Brew / Tacoma Narrows was the first Rosas production based largely upon improvisation, to Miles Davis legendary album Bitches Brew.

FROM WEST TO EAST

Angelin Preljocaj is among the internationally recognized European choreographers, and his works are adapted for the greatest Ballets worldwide. Born to Albanian parents, Preljocaj started his career with classical dance, before turning to contemporary dance, which he studied in France and abroad with Karin Waehner, Zena Rommett and Merce Cunningham. The company is now composed of 25 dancers and Angelin has created 28 choreographies to this day. Eight of them are currently on the Ballet's repertoire, ranging from the duet to pieces for 12 dancers or more.

Danses Buissonières

Mixer