Dance Days Festival to ‘Shake’ Chania, Crete, in July

Photo source: International Contemporary Dance Festival

The 14th International Contemporary Dance Festival “Dance Days Chania” will light up the summer vibe in Chania, Crete, with vibrant performances, workshops, video dance screenings, conferences, and events for all ages.

Dance Days Chania was founded in 2011 by “Syn-Kinisi” association of expressive dance during a socioeconomic and cultural crisis on Crete. The intention is to host artists, choreographers and dancers from all over the world.

This year, the festival aims to highlight diverse choreographic and creative approaches within the contemporary dance scene, offering a platform for both emerging and established artists.

From July 20 to 31, residents and visitors will experience performances throughout the city, while amateur and professional artists will have the opportunity to network through seminars and workshops led by prominent filmmakers.

Dance Days Chania – Program 

Photo source: International Contemporary Dance Festival

The Mikis Theodorakis Theater, the Center of Mediterranean Architecture, and various outdoor spaces will be transformed into improvised stages where artists will showcase their skills and captivate the audience with their rhythm.

The highlights of the program are:

– LocaTropica, July 20, 7pm, Honolulu Area: The site-specific performance “LocaTropica” retrieves the historicity of entertainment venues, focusing on the experiential impact they bring to a local community.

– Master your Monster, July 20 to 23, 10am to 1pm: With this workshop, the duo Los Informalls challenges dancers to confront their inner demons and step out of their comfort zone.

– Achronic fracture – performance project with and for mature adults 65+, July 20 to 27: The project achronic fractures takes its offset in the anatomical, biological and psychosocial transformations of the maturing body, to tangibly explore the notions of fracture and resilience.

– Exhibition of kids’ creations “My body “speaks””, July 21 to 31, “Mikis Theodorakis” theater / foyer, 11am to 2pm and 7pm to 9pm: This educational program led by teachers will introduce children to the concepts of as love, acceptance, empathy, trust and inclusion through words and emotion games.

Photo source: International Contemporary Dance Festival

– The others, July 22, 9pm, Mikis Theodorakis theater: “The others” is the story of four people who are living in a strangely isolated world. A living hell made out of plastic, entirely devoid of other living beings, and surrounded by impenetrable, translucent screens.

– RelaxtoErupt, July 23 to 24, 1.30pm to 4pm: RelaxtoErupt workshop has a focus on how disassociated and available the body can be whilst training complex movement patterns as well as exploring the possibilities within handstands & acrobatic work through daily exposure.

– Repertoire masterclass, July 30, 10am to 1pm: The workshop is based on physical skills and repertoire and allows participants to have the opportunity to experience the contemporary dance company’s BODHI PROJECT repertoire firsthand by working directly with the company members.

– Camille (Laboratory in the Shadow), July 30, 7.30, Center of Mediterranean Architecture: During the residency called “Laboratory in the Shadow” Livia Balazova is working with the materialization of the work and its destruction at the same time.

The event is supported by the Region of Crete and the Municipality of Chania. Some of the acts on the program are open to public after reservation while others require a ticket. More information about the event can be found at the website www.dancedays.gr.