The Dance Days Chania festival takes place annually in Chania, Crete, a city renowned for its picturesque Venetian harbor, historic architecture, and Mediterranean cultural influences, providing a captivating setting for the festival. Founded in 2011 amidst significant socio-economic and cultural changes, the festival has grown into a prominent international event celebrating artistic expression.
Organized by the “Syn-Kinisi” Association of Expressive Dance, it attracts artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the globe. The festival’s rich program spans performances, workshops, video dance screenings, and lectures, offering something for every age and interest. It thrives on the passion of its volunteers and the spirit of co-creation, fostering an environment where dance enthusiasts and professionals alike can engage and grow.
This year’s festival, running from July 20th to July 31st, promises a dynamic lineup of events. The festival features acclaimed groups and artists such as Alvaro Silva, Anton Lachky Co., Barbara Bardaka, Baye & Asa, BODHI Project dance company, Compañía X, Despina Lloyd Goula, Dimitris Mytilinaios, Elisavet Pliakostathi, Ioanna Antonarou, Ioanna Paraskevopoulou, Ioulia Zacharaki, Lewis Cooke, Lívia Balážová, Lenio Kaklea, Los Informalls, Mairi Pardalaki, Polena Kolia Petersen, Satoshi Kudo, Sita Ostheimer, and Tási Dance Co., among others.
It is worth noting that Dance Days Chania continues to uphold its EFFE Label certification, a testament to its excellence in the European festival scene. The festival not only showcases the best in contemporary dance but also reinforces Chania’s role as a cultural crossroads where tradition and innovation meet.
Below you’ll find the event calendar with brief descriptions, showcasing dance performances, workshops, and more for your convenience. You can also visit the Dance Days Chania website for further details.
Dance Days Chania 2024: Event Calendar
Saturday, 20 July
Los Informalls -Master your Monster– Workshop
- Dates & Time: July 20-23, 10:00-13:00
- Location: Dance Days Chania
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Explore daring ideas and overcome fears through improvisation, dance, acrobatics, and more. Facilitated by Luis García and Pere Joseph, this workshop encourages participants to embrace creativity and spontaneity in a safe, judgment-free environment.
Polena Kolia’s achronic fracture –performance project with and for mature adults 65+
- Dates: July 20-27
- Location: Dance Days Chania
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Designed for mature adults (65+), this project focuses on exploring bodily transformation and resilience through movement workshops and choreographic composition. Led by Polena Kolia Petersen, participants will delve into anatomical awareness, creative expression, and autobiographical storytelling, culminating in a final dance performance.
Myrto Delimichali & Chrysanthi Fytiza – Locatropica – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: July 20, 19:00
- Location: Honolulu area
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Part of the “New Creators and Public Space” section, “Locatropica” is a site-specific performance by Myrto Delimichali and Chrysanthi Fytiza. It explores the historical significance and experiential impact of the former “Honolulu” entertainment center in Chalepa. The performance reconstructs the site’s history through dance and narrative, connecting past events to present experiences. This imaginative work transforms the space into a site of multiple narratives and spatial associations.
Compañía X – “And now what?” – Dance Performace
- Date & Time: July 20, 20:15
- Location: Saint Nicholas bastion (lighthouse), Chania
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Compañía X presents their piece “And now what?”, exploring themes of personal growth and uncertainty. Founded in 2018, the company has toured extensively in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama, and continues to create thought-provoking work supported by various cultural institutions. Choreographed and performed by Ada Continente, Saray Garzia, and Nadia Yagoubi, the performance invites audiences to reflect on life’s transitions and existential questions.
- Choreography, performance: Ada Continente, Saray Garzia and Nadia Yagoubi
Costume Designer: Compañía X
Supported by: Etxepare Institute & Instituto Cervantes Atenas
Jitsa Konstantoudaki – Contakids – Physical play and dance for parents and children 2-5 years old
- Dates & Times:
- July 20, 18:00 – 19:30
- July 21, 11:00 – 12:30
- Location: Dance Days Chania
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Contakids is a method integrating play, dance, and physical contact to enhance communication between children (2-5 years old) and their parents or caregivers. Developed by Itay Yatuv, Contakids focuses on building trust, mobility, and self-reliance in children through interactive exercises. Led by Jitsa Konstantoudaki, these workshops aim to foster a deeper connection and playful interaction between parent and child in a safe, supportive environment.
Sunday, 21 July
Álvaro Silva – EURO – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: July 21, 19:45
- Location: Yiali Tzami sqr., Chania
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Álvaro Silva, a dancer from Andalusia living between Seville and Brussels, presents “EURO”, a contemporary dance piece exploring folk dances, partner dances, and acrobatics. Developed with influences from his mentors including David Zambrano, the performance invites audiences to a visceral and deep dialogue through physicality. The piece has been showcased at various international festivals and venues, emphasizing its personal and direct approach to dance.
- Choreography, performance: Alvaro Silva
Supported by: La PAD ( Asociación de Profesionales de la Danza de Andalucía), Tic Tac Art Centre.
Exhibition of Kids’ Creations – “My body “speaks“” – Exhibition
- Dates & Time: Sunday, 21 July – Wednesday, 31 July, 11:00 – 14:00 & 19:00 – 21:00
- Location: “Mikis Theodorakis” theatre / foyer
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: “My body ‘speaks'” is an educational exhibition showcasing the creative works of children who participated in an experiential program organized by DDC, the Primary Education Department of the Municipality of Chania, and the Municipality of Chania. The program ran from November 2023 to June 2024, involving 25 teachers and approximately 500 children from 15 school units. Through workshops that included words, emotional games, and movement exercises, children explored and expressed concepts such as love, acceptance, empathy, trust, and inclusion. The exhibition displays their individual and group creations, highlighting the impact of physicality on breaking down stereotypes and fostering positive behaviors.
- Opening: 21 July, 20:30
Monday, 22 July
Álvaro Silva – Flying Low & Passing Through – Workshop
- Date & Time: July 22, 13:30 – 16:30
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: This workshop, led by Álvaro Silva, focuses on the contemporary dance techniques of Flying Low and Passing Through, developed by David Zambrano. Participants will explore movement dynamics involving spirals, floor work, and improvisation techniques aimed at enhancing spatial awareness and physical expression.
“The Square as a Stage” – “Syn-Kinisi” Contemporary Dance Co. – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: July 22, 20:00
- Location: Katechaki Square
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: The performance transforms the square into a dynamic stage, exploring its role as a social and public space. Conceptualized and choreographed by Sofia Falierou, the dance weaves personal kinesthetic stories of the performers, creating connections with the space and the audience. The square is envisioned as a “breathing space” of the city, serving as a place for meeting, socialization, and the formation of social consciousness.
Anton Lachky co. – The Others – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: July 22, 21:00
- Location: Mikis Theodorakis theatre, Chania
- Tickets: Regular 12€, Student/unemployed 9€, Kids up to 6 years old 7€ (book your ticket)
- Description: Anton Lachky Company presents “The Others”, a dance performance for young audiences blending contemporary dance and theatre. The narrative explores a world isolated by translucent screens, where inhabitants find liberation through dance, passion, and a quest for life’s wonders. A performance for young audiences with a Greek narrative.With support from: La Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles et de la loterie National/FWB, et
Baye & Asa | Taste & Smell – Workshop
- Dates & Time: Monday, 22 – Thursday, 25 July, 16:00 – 19:00
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Workshop: Baye & Asa’s “Taste & Smell” workshop offers a unique approach to dance that integrates Hip Hop and West African dance influences into contemporary forms. Participants are encouraged to engage all five senses, particularly taste and smell, as sources of inspiration and embodiment in movement.
Tuesday, 23 July
Lewis Cooke – RelaxtoErupt – Workshop
- Date & Time: July 23-24, 13:30 – 16:00
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Lewis Cooke offers the RelaxtoErupt workshop, focusing on movement methodologies that encourage exploration of movement vocabulary, including acrobatics, floor work, and handstands. The workshop aims to create a safe and playful environment for participants to expand their movement capabilities.
Los Informalls – Informal Stage
- Date & Time: July 23, 20:00
- Location: Yali Tzami Square
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Join Los Informalls for an engaging and spontaneous evening at the Informal Stage. This event offers a dynamic space where audiences and performers alike can immerse themselves in improvisation and play. Luis and Pere create a welcoming environment encouraging participants to embrace the thrill and unpredictability of live performance. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional in the performing arts, come enjoy the show or take the stage yourself for an unforgettable experience. Free entrance.
Ioanna Paraskevopoulou – MOS – Dance Performance
- Date: 23 July, 21:30
- Location: Mikis Theodorakis Theatre
- Tickets: Regular 12€, Student/unemployed 9€ (book your ticket)
- Description: Explore “MOS,” a scenic game by Ioanna Paraskevopoulou that delves into the interplay between movement, sound, and image. Through a unique choreographic approach, performers Georgios Kotsifakis and Ioanna Paraskevopoulou navigate disparate images and materials, using them to create a dynamic sound experience. This innovative piece blurs the boundaries between archive and audience, inviting viewers to uncover new connections and narratives within its non-linear cinematic script. Presented with the support of Onassis STEGI’s “Outward Turn” Program and initially premiered at the Onassis New Choreographers Festival 9.
Wednesday, 24 July
Video Dance Selection DDC 2024
- Dates & Times: July 24, 21:00 – July 30, 21:00
- Location: 24 July: iP12ArtHouse (outdoors) – 30 July: Center of Mediterranean Architecture
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Enjoy an eclectic selection of video dance pieces curated for Dance Days Chania 2024. The screenings feature works by diverse artists exploring themes ranging from personal narratives to abstract visual experiences. Join us for an evening celebrating the fusion of dance and digital media.
Thursday, 25 July
Ioulia Zacharaki – RESET – Workshop
- Dates & Time: 25 July – 26 July, 13:30 – 15:30
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Join Ioulia Zacharaki in exploring the RESET method, an open-level movement practice integrating improvisational techniques. Rooted in her research, this workshop focuses on understanding the body’s structure, dynamics, and coordination. Participants will engage in partnered exercises to enhance interaction and communication, followed by autonomous exploration of rhythm, space, and direction. Through a non-prescriptive framework, attendees will discover and articulate their unique movement expressions, fostering a deeper connection to their bodies and personal creative processes.
Mairi Pardalaki – Dünya Maskara | Rewriting archives – Dance Performance
- Date: 25 July, Time: 20:00
- Location: Yali Tzami
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Experience “Dünya Maskara,” a Turkish-Greek performance inspired by 19th-century bilingual songs and funerary inscriptions from Istanbul, written in “karamanlidika.” Choreographer Mairi Pardalaki and poet Çağla Meknuze explore the historical linguistic connection between Greek and Turkish cultures, intertwining themes of love, death, religion, and women’s roles. The performance juxtaposes contemporary narratives with archival elements, accompanied by original and Byzantine-inspired music, costumes, and poetic texts. This innovative approach excavates and reinterprets cultural histories, fostering new dialogues and perspectives. With the kind support of: French Institute-Istanbul, French Institute-Athens, Istanbul Foundation for Culture & Arts (İKSV), Zografyon Lyceum-Istanbul, Kadiköy Rum Cemaati Vakfı.
Elisavet Pliakostathi – SCAPE – Dance Performance
- Date: 25 July, 21:30
- Venue: Mikis Theodorakis Theatre
- Tickets: Regular 12€, Student/unemployed 9€ (book your ticket)
- Description: “SCAPE” is a dance performance exploring human interactions and spatial dynamics, choreographed by Elisavet Pliakostathi. The piece invites the audience on a visual journey through kinetic assumptions, propositions, and reversals.
Friday, 26 July
Satoshi Kudo | Motion Qualia – Workshop
- Dates & Time: 26 July – 28 July, 16:00 – 19:00
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Workshop Description: Based on Satoshi Kudo’s “Motion Qualia” theory, participants explore deliberate imbalance and reflexive movement to stimulate the brain and provoke controlled falling. The workshop emphasizes constant awareness of reflexes and their manipulation into intentional movement flows, akin to a dancer’s controlled loss of control on stage.
Sita Ostheimer – Complex Simplicity – Workshop
- Dates & Time: 26 – 28 July, 10:00 – 13:00
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Explore authenticity in movement and presence with Sita Ostheimer’s workshop “Complex Simplicity.” Participants will delve into Sita’s improvisation technique, focusing on breaking unconscious movement habits and connecting with weight to enhance movement quality. This workshop aims to empower dancers to master their physical instrument creatively, technically, and emotionally. Sita’s choreographic style blends expressive, fluent, sensual, and earthy movements, enriched by her unique approach to rhythm and emotional dynamics. Supported by her extensive experience and the Sita Ostheimer Company, this workshop promises a transformative exploration of dance and self-expression.
Tasi dance co. – Jirito – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: 26 July, 19:30
- Location: Tampakaria area
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: Experience “Jirito,” a site-specific, multimedia promenade performance by Tási Dance Co. as part of the “New Creators and Public Space” initiative at Dance Days Chania. This performance invites the audience to explore Chania’s Tampakaria area through embodied narratives of the landscape and oral history. Four performers interact physically with the environment while listening to recorded narratives from local residents, highlighting their unique perspectives and histories often overlooked in official accounts. Immerse yourself in this innovative blend of dance, storytelling, and community history, designed to illuminate hidden voices and personal connections to the past. For optimal experience, use headphones connected to an internet-enabled device.
Baye & Asa – Hot House – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: 26 July, 19:30
- Location: Mikis Theodorakis Theatre
- Tickets: Regular 12€, Student/unemployed 9€ (book your ticket)
- Description: “Hot House” by Baye & Asa is a powerful commentary on confinement, reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 and exposing systemic failures within cultures and governments. Through choreography and performance, Baye & Asa explore themes of isolation and societal mythologies, offering a poignant visual and emotional experience. Commissioned by Pioneer Works and supported by Blacklight Summit, Bard College, Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Omomuki Foundation, this performance promises to provoke thought and evoke deep reflection on contemporary issues.
Saturday, 27 July (Tickets at 15€ (regular) and 12€ (student/unemployed) allow entry to both performances.)
Barbara Bardaka & Ioulia Zacharaki – «‘AMFI» – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: July 27, 21:30
- Venue: Mikis Theodorakis Theatre
- Tickets:Regular 15€, Student/unemployed 12€ (book your ticket)
- Description: Barbara Bardaka and Julia Zacharaki present their collaborative work “AMFI”. Both dancers bring diverse backgrounds: Barbara studied at SEAD, focusing on improvisation and choreographic research, while Julia graduated from the State School of Dance and collaborates with Anton Lachky’s group. Their work integrates movement exploration and personal observation, creating a space where unpredictability and interactivity prevail over conventional narrative. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, “AMFI” invites audiences to explore relationships beyond the obvious with sincerity, calmness, lightness, and humor. AMFI production is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture.
htmylh – Hard pop – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: 27 July, 22:30
- Location: Mikis Theodorakis Theatre
- Tickets:Regular 15€, Student/unemployed 12€ (book your ticket)
- Description: “Hard pop” by htmylh (howtomakeyourlifeharder), choreographed by Dimitris Mytilinaios, challenges classical ballet and pop culture dance forms by exploring rhythmic patterns and melodies from 20 pop songs. This performance features five dancers and one “non-dancer,” blending measured movement with deconstructed music to create a unique stage language. Focusing on concepts of extroversion, the choreography juxtaposes classical ballet’s technical en dehors with pop culture’s aggressive marketing strategies, offering a thought-provoking commentary on dance as both art form and cultural expression. Supported by the Greek Ministry of Culture, Polina Galopoulou Dance School, Metanira, and Dance Days Chania.
Sunday, 28 July
Dimitris Mytilinaios – The unintended use of ballet in choreographic thinking – Workshop
- Date & Time: July 28, 13:30-15:30
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Beginning with the presentation of the choreographer’s methodology, this masterclass is addressed to anyone interested in choreographic thinking and the analyzing tools that can be employed utilizing the main source of knowledge provided to us as trained dancers in the West, namely of classical ballet. We will examine how our technique is inextricably linked to our imagination and how highlighting our dance origins could be more creative and productive rather than restricting.
Open presentation of the achronic fracture project (65+) curated by Polena Kolia – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: 31 July, 21:30
- Location: Aqueduct sqr., side of St. Nicholas (Splantzia), Chania
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: The piece “achronic fractures” is a performance project involving 11 women aged 65+ from the local community of Chania. Over a 10-day artistic residency, these women collaborate with creator Polena Kolia Petersen to weave together movement material that explores memory and sensation in the maturing body.
Livia Balazova | “Behind the Scenes” – Workshop
- Dates & Times: July 28-29, 17:00 – 19:00
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: During this masterclass, Livia Balazova introduces participants to her latest creative process titled “Laboratory in the Shadow.” Drawing inspiration from the quote by Louise Bourgeois, “I do, I undo, I redo,” the workshop explores the cyclical nature of creation through the materialization, destruction, and remaking of artistic work. Participants will be challenged physically and conceptually, engaging in high-demand movement situations that aim to embody stillness through intense motion. Balazova, whose extensive training includes prestigious academies across Europe, brings a wealth of experience from her collaborations with renowned choreographers and her founding of the performing arts collective, Colectivo Priekopník Veverička.
Monday, 29 July
Despina Lloyd Goula, Ioanna Antonarou – SWELL – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: July 29, 20:00
- Venue: Dance Days Chania
- Admission: Free entrance
- Description: “Swell” uses vertical dance to mirror the movements of the ocean. Suspended on ropes, the dancers’ movements represent the connection to water and nature, with the rope symbolizing an umbilical cord and the architecture as the mother.
Sita Ostheimer co. – The Inevitable and You – Dance Performance
- Date & Time: 29 July, 21:30
- Venue: Mikis Theodorakis theatre
- Tickets: Regular 12€, Student/unemployed 9€ (book your ticket)
- Description: “The Inevitable and You” takes viewers into a captivating world where movement replaces words, emotions collide in human encounters, and feelings evolve, break new ground, and transform continuously. The choreography explores the dynamism and power of interpersonal relationships, portraying a journey through complex, evolving connections amidst the chaos of life. It delves into existential challenges, instincts, fears, and the nuances of daily communication within modern society. Through a continuous flow of movement and dynamic choreographic architecture, the piece explores themes of emotional intimacy, distance, and the inner struggles inherent in being in relation.Choreography / Artistic Director: Sita Ostheimer. Music Composition: Adrien Casalis / Vimala. Light Design: Barnaby Booth. Costume: Sita Ostheimer Company. Performers: Attila Ronai, Elena Martello, Clemetine Herveux, Camilla Brachetti, Cameron Bennett. The rehearsal process was supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK – STEPPING OUT, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as part of the NEUSTART KULTUR and Dock ART Berlin.
Tuesday, 30 July
BODHI project dance company – Repertoire masterclass
- Date & Time: 30 July, 10:00 – 13:00
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: The Repertoire Masterclass offers participants an immersive experience into BODHI PROJECT‘s diverse choreographic and artistic processes. Led by members of the company, the workshop focuses on physical skills and repertoire, providing insights into their latest stage work, ‘Chemical Joy’, choreographed by Lenio Kaklea. The choreography blends pedestrian activities, pop music, and folklore dances, with a special emphasis on duets.
Livia Balazova – Camille (Laboratory in the Shadow)-Performance/movement installation
- Date & Time: 30 July, 19:30
- Location: Center of Mediterranean Architecture
- Tickets: 7€ (book your ticket)
- Description: “Camille (Laboratory in the Shadow)” is a performance and movement installation inspired by the life of Camille Claudel, a sculptor who lived during the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Claudel, who struggled for recognition in a male-dominated art world and faced personal tragedies including a mental breakdown, spent a significant portion of her life in a mental institution. This work-in-progress explores the themes of creation, destruction, and re-creation, mirroring Claudel’s tumultuous life and artistic journey. The performance delves into fragments of a woman, her body, and her work, reflecting the cyclical nature of creation as described by Louise Bourgeois: “I do, I undo, I redo.”
Despoina Lloyd Goula & Ioanna Antonarou – VERTICAL DANCE – Workshop
- Date & Time: 30 July, 17:00 – 19:30
- Registration: For information and registrations, email to: dd.ch.workshops@gmail.com
- Description: Vertical dance is an emerging contemporary artistic language that uses rock climbing equipment such as ropes, harnesses, and abseil devices to suspend dancers off the ground on vertical surfaces, effectively turning walls into dance floors. This workshop offers participants the opportunity to explore the unique sensation of dancing in the air. The session will start with a contemporary dance warm-up to root participants on the ground, followed by an introduction to the equipment, harness techniques, and spatial orientation. Participants will learn repertoire from the performance “Swell” and engage in guided improvisation to creatively explore the vertical space.
Wednesday, 31 July
BODHI PROJECT dance co./ Lenio Kaklea – Chemical Joy
- Date & Time: 29 July, 21:30
- Venue: Mikis Theodorakis theatre
- Tickets: Regular 12€, Student/unemployed 9€ (book your ticket)
- Description: “Chemical Joy” is the latest stage piece by BODHI PROJECT, created in collaboration with internationally renowned choreographer Lenio Kaklea. The piece features five dancers from BODHI PROJECT and explores the theme of youth, delving into the cultural and commercial influences that shape youthful identity today. Through a highly dynamic choreographic score, the work examines how pop music, social media, fashion, and other youth-oriented products and experiences impact the way young people perceive themselves and their world. Choreographer: Lenio Kaklea. Performers: Gorik Bellemans, Mira Huszár, Jaeger Wilkinson, Jeanne Procureur, Luisa Heilbron. Light Design: Frank Lischka. Costume Design: Olivier Mulin. Sound Design: Eric Yvelin. Co-Production: blackmountain, SZENE Salzburg. Residencies: SEAD/AT, SQfarm/DE, probehaus/AT. Supported by: Stadt Salzburg, Land Salzburg, Bundesministerium für Kunst, Kultur, öffentlichen Dienst und Sport, SEAD by and the Austrian Embassy in Athens.
