Nicosia 2030 presents two evenings of ballet

Two nights of ballet await Nicosia audiences this week as acclaimed dancers from Greece take centre stage. In addition, free workshops will be held for dance students aged 12 and 18.

With education being one of the key pillars of Nicosia 2030, the organisation and the Nicosia International Festival are expanding their collaboration with the Greek National Opera on education issues. The festival presents the GNO Professional School of Dance in the Parallel Programme of the Nicosia International Festival for a series of performances and workshops this week. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the school presents the anniversary performance Progression, under the artistic curation of its Director of Studies Yorghos Matskaris, at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday.

For the anniversary performance of the GNO Professional Dance School, the internationally acclaimed and award-winning choreographer Russell Maliphant has created a new choreography titled Verge, his first commission and collaboration with GNO.

The students of the school will also present a study of the technique of the great Martha Graham titled Exceedance, which has been choreographed by the school’s teacher of Cypriot origin Olia Tornaritou, with original music composition, orchestration and performance by Giorgos Kontovas. In addition, from the classical repertoire, excerpts from the emblematic work Giselle will be presented, choreographed by the soloist of the GNO ballet and professor at the School of Dance Fotis Diamantopoulos, based on the choreography of Jean Coralli, Jules Perrault and Marius Petipa with music by Adolphe Adam.

Free workshops on classical ballet and contemporary dance will also be held this week for teenage dancers. Children interested in attending are to complete the Google Form as places are limited.

Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance

Performances by the Greek National Opera Professional Dance School. Part of the Nicosia International Festival’s parallel program. July 10-11. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. Free. Registration needed. www.soldoutticketbox.com