Contemporary Dance Performance: Common Bodies in a Space of Difference by Zoi Dimitriou (24 performers participating) and Open Discussion: Q&A Session

An interesting night for contemporary dance enthusiasts with a performance as well as an open discussion hosts the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation on Friday the 17th of February 2012 at 21:00, in the line of the Auditions in Europe 2012 (Greece), by the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (London – UK).

“Our own” talented choreographer Zoi Dimitriou will present a part from her new choreography “Common Bodies in a Space of Difference” , commissioned by the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with graduate students of the program BA (Hons) Dance Theatre.

An open discussion will follow (Questions & Answers Session) with the audience, the dancers and the instructors of that extraordinary English conservatoire which focus on the contemporary dance and the music.

The Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is the UK’s only conservatoire for higher education in the academic fields of music and contemporary dance. Leaders in music and contemporary dance education, its innovative course provision, exciting performances and groundbreaking education, community and social-inclusion work make Trinity Laban a leader in the advancement of creative artistic practice. The unequalled expertise and experience of its staff and its world class facilities are housed in landmark buildings in Greenwich and Creekside, South East London.

The choreographer Zoi Dimitriou returns at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation with a part from her extraordinary choreography which is inspired by a crucial concern of our times.

The idea in this piece stems from the question how is it possible in contemporary times to construct that which is “common” and can be shared, experienced and communicated. The conceptual basis for this work is very much influenced by Charlie Kaufman’s film “Synecdoche, New York”. It draws from some of the narrative structures used in the film, the notion of simulation and the concept of synecdoche as a means to produce a performative event whereby the line between the world of performance and that of reality is blurred; exposing perhaps that which is “common” to present itself in its representation.

Zoi Dimitriou
Zoi Dimitriou graduated from the Greek State School of Dance, (Honours), received the Onassis Foundation Scholarship to study at Trisha Brown’s Company in New York and completed her MA in European Dance Theatre Practice at the Laban Centre (Distinction) in London. She has danced with many contemporary companies in Athens such as Choreftes, Lathos Kinisi, The Melina Project, in New York with Kirstie Simson’s improvisation group Scratch 6, Yvonne Rainer, Felix Ruckert, and in London with Bedlam Dance (Yael Flexer), Blue White Dance Company (Melanie Clarke) and Siobhan Davies. She is currently based in London where she launched her choreographic career in 2006.

As an independent choreographer she has been commissioned to make Limen (2007) for The Greek National Ballet Company under the directorship of Lyn Seymour, You’re too short for that gesture (2007) for Shift Company (the Resident Youth Dance Company at The Place), Panthalassa (2008) for graduating students at LondonContemporary Dance School and If I told him (2009) for graduating students at Laban Centre.

In the recent years Zoi has been one of the chosen UK based choreographers to participate in various international research projects that challenge artistic practise, foster debate between artists and offer residencies, performance platforms and mentoring workshops. These have been: the 2007 Choreodrome season organised by The Place, the 2008 Choreoroam project, a joint research-based project between The Place (Great Britain), Dansateliers (Holland) and Operaestate Festival Veneto (Italy) with residencies and performances in each country and mentoring workshops with Jonathan Burrows, Yasmeen Godder and theatre director Lotte van den Berg, the 2009 Europe In Motion project in Bucharest, an international talent development programme for twelve up-and-coming choreographers, initiated between Dance4 (Great Britain), Springdance (Holland) and the Centrul National al Dansului (Romania), with guest moderators Peter Stamer and lke Bake and The Big Intensive 2010 organised by Sadler’s Wells.

Recently Zoi has been honoured with the 2010 CfC Award (Choreography for Children), a project between Sadler’s Wells, Company of Angels and London Contemporary Dance School for a new work to be premiered in February 2011 at Lilian Baylis and The Place. Zoi also offers workshops and master classes for various organisations such as in London: Laban, The Place, Independent Dance, Central School of Speech and Drama, and internationally: the Greek State School of Dance, Dance Cultural Centre in Athens, The Theatre Academy of Finland in Helsinki, Klassiski Listdansskolinn in Reykjavik, Semiramis Studio for Dance and Movement in Basel and others.