The On Bodies dance festival returns

May is proving to be a busy month for the events world in Cyprus. The On Bodies Festival returns with dancing, performing and sharing as Dance House Lefkosia presents the works of Cyprus-based and international artists. Throughout three days, May 19, 20 and 21, the main stage and the garden of the Dance House will fill with performances. Selected works by young and established artists will present an insight into contemporary creation with current themes and practices.

Through a feminist lens, contemporary choreographic practices and performative processes, the festival creates a frame for an experiential journey through sensitivity, struggle and healing. The works embody moments of fragility, coming of age and dreamlike awakening, figures of women warriors and radical femininities, remnants of sound and loss, rhythmic explorations, interchanges with the other self and finally, states of quiet empowerment.

The festival will begin on May 19 with two performances, one by Zeo Georgalli and another by Eleftheria Socratous, Elena Socratous and Nayia T Karakosta. On May 20, Giorgos Bizios will present a 30-minute performance, followed by performances by Thomas Noone, Evgeniya Glazunova, Zone poeme and Aleks Borys. Opening the final day’s performances will be a piece by Charis Iacovou, then work by Alina Belyagina, followed by Korallia Stergides and finally by Anthi Kettirou.

In between the performances schedule, a series of parallel events will run throughout the weekend. On the Friday, the participants of More than Dancing (Zoe Georgalli, Eleftheria Socratous, Elena Socratous and Nayia T Karacosta) will give a presentation. On Saturday night, a party will be held at Dance House Lefkosia once the performances are over with music by PATSAS.

Finally, in the frame of Dance House Lefkosia’s events for the development of critical thinking, for this year’s festival the organisers will create a platform for online discussions and chatting. Using the Slack app, guided discussions will be held about the festival’s works as a way of better articulation and verbal communication for performance works. This programme will be facilitated and guided by Eleana Alexandrou and Dr Erika Charalambous and will be held from May 19 to 23.

On Bodies Festival

Contemporary performances. May 19-21. Dance House Lefkosia, Nicosia. 7pm. www.dancehouselefkosia.com