First Underwater Dance Performance Off Greek Shores Shines Light on Diversity

In a creative first, choreographers, composers, artists, snorkelers and divers, have all joined forces to convey the message that challenges are meant to be challenged — and where better to do this if not under the water.

Titled “The Underwater Heart of the Mediterranean”, the project brings together 14 artists from 10 countries who will be joined by physically challenged performers in “Drops of Breath”, the first ever underwater performance set to take place at Cape Sounion, on September 25-27, highlighting the values of equality, respect, transparency, clarity, simplicity, human rights and environmental protection.

An initiative of Greek choreographer Apostolia Papadamaki, her French colleague Sophie Bulbulyan and Cypriot Lia Haraki, “The Underwater Heart of the Mediterranean” is a multidisciplinary project featuring the active participation of physically challenged performers under the motto: “Everybody is equal under the water”.

Within the framework of EU’s Creative Europe, Horizon 2020 Program, the project includes the performance “Drops of Breath”, which will also be filmed into a documentary. (A teaser of the performance follows.)

“As a form of energy, a state of nature, water knows no frontiers, no borders, no politics, no religions,” the group says in its site, adding that, “as an element it bridges and unifies people, countries and cultures”.

The group’s other activities include site-specific dance performance “Drops of Peace”, “Eyes Wide Open” – a forum about the similarities between Mediterranean countries, the “Mediterranean Bodies” exhibition, as well as artistic and environmental workshops.

Past activities include artistic workshops at the Porta Anoikti school for disabled children together with the 6th Primary school of Iliopouli, experiential anatomy and dance improvisation workshops, diving sessions for the physically challenged as well as dance and percussion workshops at the School for the Deaf in Pefki together with the 3rd Gymnasium of Nea Smirni. Activities continue into April with artistic and dance workshops at inner city kindergartens and schools.