T wo Greek dancers -- Dafni Pantazopoulou and Florin Hoffmeier -- were in the city for a dance workshop at Shoonya - Centre for Art and Somatic Practices recently. The duo talked about what dance means to them and their workshop titled Synaesthetic Movement – that focussed on Body Tickle and Physical Capoeira and Acrobatics.
Dafni, who is 26, has studied dance, history and archaeology and “wanted a balance between education and dance”. She adds that she started dancing classical ballet but switched to contemporary dance as she believes ballet belongs to the past and contemporary to the present.“I say so as ballet has techniques which belong to the past. It also has a structure and a form that is characterised by medieval times. Everything has to be perfect and beautiful in ballet.” She credits credits ballet for forming the foundations of her contemporary dance vocabulary.
“It has taught me elegance and has given me a good dance education,” says Dafni. She adds, , “As dance is connected to the economy, politics, and society, it gives me a chance to experience history and culture in a different way as a performer and an artiste,” she observes.
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Florian is also a double graduate -- he has studied medicine and is also involved in dance and martial arts. “I was interested in Capoeira as it combines fighting and dance.”
He adds that he has been exploring different movement forms such as the Brazilian dance-fight, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu.
“Making a living only through dance is difficult . That is why I studied medicine and connected it with movement. I believe one has to educate oneself andfollow their heart to take up creative work.”
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The duo is promoting somatic practise in a “very simple way.
“ Soma means body in the Greek language. It means every kind of practise connected to the body. Be it movement, dance or a treatment class,” explains Dafni. Florian adds: “For me it is more about creating body awareness. By mixing styles and movements one is able to allow students to create new pathways for themselves through and think out side of a rigid pattern.”
He adds that even though they had dancers from a staunch classical background for their workshop here, they were open to learning new techniques. Dafni was amused when she gave a task to the dancers with only footwork. “They wondered what to do with their hands! In Greece we don’t do much with our hands while dancing,” she smiles.
Florian was all praise for Shoonya and says that it is an important part for dancers as it provides movement education and healing process .