Kalamata Dance Festival: A Celebration of Movement

By Xenia Georgiadou

“For us, dance is an absolute necessity.” This statement sets the tone for the International Dance Festival of Kalamata, which has placed Greece firmly on the global map of contemporary dance. Launched in 1995 under the guidance of Vicky Marangopoulou, who led the event for 21 years, the festival has become synonymous with groundbreaking and avant-garde dance performances. “I can’t believe that an institution with such a contemporary, innovative character, and an art form largely unknown to the wider public at the time, began in Kalamata,” Marangopoulou reflects. “It was a bold and original step.”

From its earliest days, the festival has hosted artists at the forefront of contemporary dance. The festival is committed to celebrating established pioneers while discovering the next generation of dance innovators. Legendary figures such as Trisha Brown, Twyla Tharp, Jérôme Bel, Jan Fabre, Ohad Naharin with their groups, and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker have performed in Kalamata, but the festival has also showcased emerging talent destined to shape the future of dance, including Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant, and Hofesh Shechter.

Since 2018, renowned dancer and choreographer Linda Kapetanea has been the artistic director. Under her leadership, the festival has introduced themed programming for each edition and expanded its presence by setting up a stage in Kalamata’s Central Square. “Contemporary dance is often seen as a challenging art form, so I wanted to bring it into the open space,” Kapetanea says. “This way, we can share stories and experiences with everyone. My goal is not just for people to passively watch; I want to spark their curiosity and create connections around a central theme.”

Embracing this spirit of openness, and with the support of the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, the festival has expanded its reach beyond Kalamata, initially to the region of Messinia as a whole and now to other cities in the Peloponnese, including Nafplio and Tripoli. This expansion reflects the festival’s commitment to acting as an artistic catalyst, enhancing appreciation for contemporary dance in diverse settings.

The 30th edition of the festival is dedicated “to the artists of movement, to those who work daily with their bodies and grapple with its limitations as well as its boundless and mysterious possibilities,” Kapetanea says. The program includes artists from previous editions, such as the Olivier Award-winning British choreographer Botis Seva; the acclaimed Serbian artist Josef Nadj; the Catalan choreographer Lali Ayguadé; Athanasia Kanellopoulou; and Patricia Apergi with the Aerites Dance Company.

Newcomers to the festival include the Hessian State Ballet, with “Midnight Raga” by the exceptional German choreographer Marco Goecke, and “I’m afraid to forget your smile” by the Dutch siblings Imre & Marne van Opstal. The internationally renowned choreographer and dancer Haris Gkekas is presenting the solo “Χίλια,” and Yoann Bourgeois is also performing, reminding us through his repetitive movements that life itself is a continuous effort, a delicate balance between rise and fall.

1. Iro Konti will perform “Modulus of Resilience,” a solo about the social role of women. Kalamata Central Square, on 20/07 and Navarino Agora on 21/07.
2. “Lighea,” the protagonist in Thomas Martino’s creation, is a sea creature. Half-woman, half-fish, she sings and moves with poignancy. Kalamata Central Square, on 20/07 and Navarino Agora on 21/07.

INFO: From the 12th to the 21st of July. www.kalamatadancefestival.gr

Families staying at Costa Navarino can participate in a dance workshop by dancer and choreographer Vitoria Kotsalou on July 14th, at Orion 2 Hall, House of Events, Navarino Dunes. On the same day and time, dance artist Penelope Morout is giving a dance workshop for adults aged 50 or over at the Eliopoulos Museum, Filiatra. On July 21st, Navarino Agora is hosting two dance performances, one by the Thomas Martino Group and another by Iro Konti.