Dance Diptych
Dance Diptych
Prosxima Dance Company presents a Dance Diptych featuring dancers Vivi Christodoulopoulou and Demy Papathanasiou.
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. The use of two organic materials, clay and buckwheat, suggests a connection to the earth as well as an archetypical state of existence. The disabled female body of Vivi Christodoulopoulou dominates and influences the choreography with her unique perspective.
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, Athens, 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.C for Clay
Who am I today?
The choreographer Demy Papathanasiou explores the question of who we are today, focusing on the unique experiences of Crips and their mental health. 'As I enter the studio every day, the persistent question echoes in my mind: "Who am I today?" What can a Crip/different body do when it enters the stage space? Is a Crip person's mental health different from anyone else's? 'A performance about our collective or individual mental health, trauma, acceptance, discovery, and personal evolution.
Credits
Concept/Choreography/Performance: Demy Papathanasiou
Composer: Avgustinos Michalopoulos Stathopoulos
Artistic collaboration: Maria Viniaratou, Maria Koliopoulou
Choreography Consultant: Katerina Gevetzi
Lighting Consultant: Thomas Economacos
Video: Grigoris Stathopoulos
Residency Support: LIMINAL
Production: Prosxima Dance Company
Definition of Crip: A term historically used to stigmatize and oppress disabled individuals. It has been reclaimed by some disabled people. It should only be used with permission from the community or the individual to whom it refers; for the choreographer, it is a political statement of rejecting the normative.
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. Detailed information about the performance follows and at the 12th Mpart Festival in Larisa, on 11 September 2025.