Bauhaus and Dance

The evening starts with a choreography by Arianna Economou, for which the Knot, a painting with gouache on paper by Anni Albers created in 1947, serves as the inspiration. In her choreographic interpretation of Albers artwork, she traces the movement of the 3 strings, in yellow, red and blue, “taking them for a walk”.

The film Triadic ballet by Oskar Schlemmer leads us directly into the world of Bauhaus and its famous ballet.

After the screening of the film, three dancers take to the stage, in their own self-designed triadic ballet reminiscent costumes. They present a new interpretation of Oskar Schlemmer’s work, almost 100 years after its premiere in 1922.

The costumes – body extensions – , which play a vital role in this dance performance, were created by students under the guidance of Melita Couta at the Department of Design and Multimedia (University of Nicosia).
This event is taking place in collaboration with Dance Gate Lefkosia.
Dance Gate Lefkosia would like to thank Dancehouse Lefkosia for collaboration.

Film screening: Das triadische Ballett (Triadic ballet) by Oskar Schlemmer (1922)
Screenplay and choreography: Margarete Hasting, Franz Schömbs, Georg Verden
Music: Erich Ferstl
Dancers: Edith Demharter, Ralph Smolik, Hannes Winkler

Dance performances: Choreography: Arianna Economou
Dancers: Arianna Marcoulides, Sotiris Sotiriou, Belinda Papavasileiou, Ianthe Economou
Assistants: Stephanie Pastella, Fivos Papacostas
Costume design: Chrysanthos Diamantakis, Kleantis Constantinou, Miriam Gatt, Christina Georgiadou, Elena Hadjigeorgiou, Nafsika Demetriou

Arianna Economou is a pioneer dance and interactive artist, activist in the community, founder of Echo Arts Living Arts Centre and Dance Gate Lefkosia Cyprus (EDN member), also founding and member organization of Dance House Lefkosia. Both as producer-manager and artist Arianna has been collaborating with many local and international artists in numerous creative inter-disciplinary and inter-communal projects towards the development of dance as an interactive art form. Arianna is the artistic director of the No_Body Dance & Performance Arts festival at DH Lefkosia and part of the research team towards the interdisciplinary training of the performer with Dorinda and Peter Hulton (UK). Her solo and group works participated in many festivals such as Pafos2017 ECoC, Wiesbaden Festival for New Plays in Europe and at Cairo Experimental Theatre Festival. Arianna Economou is the receiver of the Tefkros Anthias and Theodosis Pieridis Award (2005).

Melita Couta was born in Nicosia. She graduated from Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London with a BA in Fine Art – Sculpture and continued at the Slade School of Fine Art in London where she received a MFA in Sculpture. She has been working with sculpture, installation art, photography, drawing and collage.

Melita Couta has been working extensively in theatre and performing arts as a director, scenographer and project co-ordinator. Since 2006, she has been the co-founder of Paravan, an independent company who is focusing on experimental theatre, performance and curating. Since 2016, she has been teaching at the Nicosia University Fine Art Department.