Speech Mrs Arianna Oikonomou
1st Festival of Dance, Movement & Performance Arts, NO_BODY
We are here today to present this Festival with the participation of 16 groups, and a total of around 70 artists from the field of dance, music, theatre, film, architecture and visual arts.
Through the dialogue and cooperation that has resulted, we present within this Festival, works that have their own identity and personal mark displaying the diversity and individuality of the contemporary artistic landscape of Cyprus. In fact, this is what has been one of the major objectives of our Festival.
The body remains the axis of our creative work.
Some of the artists involved here, have had a long experience, whilst others are new, and presenting their ideas and works, for the first time. Our common aim is to deepen the creative process and break new ground.
I wish all of the artists involved every success. I also hope that we shall very soon, have a permanent home, where interactive art forms will be able to experiment continuously.
The Dance Gate DanceHouse Lefkosia Cyprus is an associated partner of the European Dance House Network.
We hope that the First Dance Movement & Performance Arts Festival – NO BODY – will lead to creative exchanges and international cooperation with other Dance/Performing Arts centres throughout Europe, allowing the creative spirit and aspirations of our local artists to be known, not only on the island but abroad.
We would like to thank:
- Mrs Elsi Christofia, the wife of the president of the Republic of Cyprus, who placed the Festival under her auspices, thus recognising its significance in the artistic activity on the island.
- The Mayor of Nicosia, Mrs Eleni Mavrou and the Nicosia Municipal Council for their unreserved support in the organisation of the Festival and for offering the Pallas Theatre and the Melina Merkouri Hall, as venues.
- The Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the main financial pillar of the Festival.
- All the groups and artists who with their presence and generous participation, mark the creative character of this Festival and recognise its innovative significance
- The Governing Board of the Dance Gate Lefkosia Cyprus for their tireless efforts in the organisation of the Festival.
- The Nicosia University for the excellent cooperation within the Festival’s framework.
- The Cyprus Tourism Organisation for their significant financial support.
- The Cyprus Airways as the national air carrier.
- The Cyprus Electricity Authority.
Our Sponsors
Rainbow Artshop, Vassos Eliades Ltd, Eurofast Global Limited, Viewpoint focus on art, Echo Arts Living Arts Centre
and Media Sponsors
CyBC, Phileleftheros, Cyprus Weekly, Astra 92.8 FM Stereo
for widely advertising the Festival to the public.
Arianna Economou
Founding Member, Director Dance Gate Lefkosia Cyprus