Renowned Greek dance theatre director Dimitris Papaioannou will bring his dance work "The Great Tamer" to Hong Kong for its local debut in June. The work, through unique choreography and visual arts, presents the relationship aroused in the context of life and death.
In 2017, Papaioannou staged his first internationally co-commissioned work "The Great Tamer". This dreamlike production focuses on ancient and modern myths, conjuring a masterpiece of visual art based on the most powerful of creators: death. It features 10 performers whose flawless collaboration looks into the deepest, darkest parts of the human soul. This presentation is part an international tour which also includes the famed Festival d'Avignon in the south of France.
Born in Athens, Greece, Papaioannou gained early recognition as a painter and comic artist before shifting his focus to the performing arts. He is a director, choreographer and performer as well as a designer of sets, costumes, make-up and lighting.
Papaioannou was a student of iconic Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis before studying at the Athens School of Fine Arts. He formed the Edafos Dance Theatre in 1986 as an initial vehicle for his original stage productions, which are hybrids of physical theatre, experimental dance and performance arts. Originating in the underground scene, the company challenged the perceptions of the time. "Medea" (1993) marked the company's transition to more prestigious theatres and is considered its iconic work.
Papaioannou became more widely known as the director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Refocusing on dance theatre in 2006 with his production "2", he found himself in the odd position of creating avant-garde works for major theatres in Athens. In 2009, he began using this platform to create theatrical experiments on a large scale, including "Nowhere" (2009) for the inauguration of the renovated National Theatre of Greece and "Inside" (2011) for the Pallas Theatre.
"The Great Tamer" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The performances will be staged at 7.45pm on June 14 (Friday) and 15 (Saturday) at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets, priced from $200 to $580, are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999.
For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_732.html. Please note that the programme contains loud noise and nudity scenes and is recommended for people aged 16 and above.
Post-performance talk to be conducted in English will be held on June 14 (Friday) with Dimitris Papaioannou as the speaker. Members of the audience are welcome to stay behind for the session.
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