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existence. Both of these actions are nourished
by our thoughts, by our experiences and our
memories. In the background of every challenge,
a hidden dark ego exists. It is waiting to throw
us back into the abyss from which we came…
It enjoys whispering hurtful thoughts; or at least
what we perceive as hurtful. Get to know it; it is
the only way to face it. Look at it, love it, because
you will live with it forever. Only then you will
stare at darkness with a fearless eye…
Transfiguratio is the transformation in Latin (trans-
figura). The name of the group is based on the
idea that anything that moves, can change and be
transformed. The group was founded in 2007 by
dancer Nicolaou Alexia aiming at the exploration
of personal movement and language. Projects
presented: 2007
M’akous 2010 In five minutes
(Contemporary Dance Platform Cyprus), 2011
Internal Pier
(DanceWaves Festival), 2013
Silence
of the mind
(for the International Dance Day,
organised by the Cyprus Centre of International
Theatre Institute), 2014
He alone, with her
(for the
International Dance Day, organised by the Cyprus
Centre of International Theatre Institute)
For more information:
Diluted Intensions
with Alexander Michael
(18’)
Choreographer: Alexander Michael
Dancers: Julia Brendle, Rania Glymitsa, Dara
Milovanovic-Michael,Alexia Perdikakis Lighting:
Alexander Jotovic
Music: Tim Hecker (abused & manipulated by
Panos Bartzis)
The artist, who aims to create a work that reflects
society, must embark on a creative process during
which the artist, being open to intuitive choices,
inevitably discovers new intentions during this
process, thus altering the preconceived outcome
of the work, resulting in a Diluted Intention.
The confines of the funding application process
influenced the framework of this work’s intention.
Alexander Michael is a Lecturer in the Dance
Department of the University of Nicosia. He holds
an MSc in Dance Science from the University of
Wolverhampton. In 1994, he began his formal
dance training at the School of Toronto Dance
Theatre. Later on, he continued his dance training
at the acclaimed Martha Graham School of
Contemporary Dance with a full scholarship. He
has had an extensive performing career in Canada
(David Earle, Darryl Hoskins, and Patricia Beatty),
the US (Martha Graham Ensemble as a principal
dancer) and Cyprus.
For more information:
Happiness
with
Μilena
Ugren
Κoulas
(15’)
Choreographer/dancer: Milena Ugren Koulas
Music: George Koulas
Costumes: Ase Lazarou
Light design: Aleksandar Jotovic
According to Aristotle: Happiness is the ultimate
end and purpose of human existence. Happiness
is not pleasure, nor is it virtue. It is the exercise
of virtue. Happiness cannot be achieved until
the end of one’s life. Hence it is a goal and not a
temporary state.
It reveals the richness of creativity, imagination
and determination of the choreographers, as well
as the hard work and skills of the dancers all of
which enable Cyprus Dance to succeed and
prosper. The institution opens, at the same time,
a window of opportunity for both creators and
dancers to overcome linguistic and geographical
boundaries and become ambassadors in the
International Cultural scene.
Cyprus Contemporary Dance Platform is hosted
and co-organised by the Rialto Theatre in
Limassol. The first event was organised in March
2001 under the name “Dance Encounters”, and
included the participation of four groups. The first
five Platforms were competitive with a 1
st
and a
2
nd
prize, as well as special recommendations.
In 2007, an effort to enrich the Platform was
initiated with the organisation of parallel events
such as a photo exhibition and projections of
dance performances. The effort to further develop
the Platform continued in 2008 and for the first
time, the event “Dance Throughout the Year” was
presented at Dance House Lemesos, which started
to actively participate in the organisation of the
Platform. Starting with the 10
th
Contemporary
Dance Platform in 2010, three groups which
excelled at the Dance Platform were selected
to represent Cyprus at the 13
th
European Dance
Festival which took place in Limassol and Nicosia
in June of the same year.
Dancer/choreographer Milena Ugren Koulas and musician George Koulas have been collaborating
for the last 10 years. They both graduated from the Codarts Academy in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
They presented their work in different venues in Cyprus and abroad, in Croatia, Czech Republic,
Poland, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Germany, France, Serbia. In 2007, the piece While Walking was
awarded at the New Europe Festival in Prague, Czech Republic. In 2012, their choreography House
of Heaven II was nominated at the International Choreographic Competitions in Hanover and No-
Ballet was selected in Ludwigshaven, Germany. Manlike has been selected as one of theAerowaves
priority works for 2015.
For more information:
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Τhe Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture had the initiative to introduce and
establish “Dance Platform- Dance Encounters” as an institution in 2001. The Platformhas contributed
enormously to the advancement of dance in Cyprus by exposing works by artists and different dance
groups in the field of contemporary dance.
About the Cyprus Contemporary Dance Platform
Diluted Intentions - Photo by Arsham Rafiei
Happiness - Photo by Arsham Rafiei
