Dancing with the five senses

The Proskairi Synthesi troupe in action

A DANCE-THEATRE performance especially adapted for the confined surroundings of a music stage instead of a conventional venue is quite a novel idea. With this in mind, the Proskairi Synthesi troupe will be presenting their latest modern dance production With the Five Senses at the Baraki tou Vassili on February 20, 27 and March 6. 

"The work's main concern is how the senses are associated with movement and dance, and, by extension, human relationships," Dorina Kalethrianou, the troupe's founder says. Besides choreographing, Kalethrianou also takes the floor along with the rest of the crew: Dora Dimopoulou, Elmina Anastasiou and Yiannis Danakos. 

"This production doesn't call for elaborate lighting or costumes. The dancers' movements are dictated by a choreography which doesn't exclude the element of improvisation, particularly when it comes to interacting with the audience," Kalethrianou says of the work's main aim, which is to go beyond the stage/audience dividing line. 

Musical selections - interspersed with fragments of speech - from Pink Martini, Ravi Shankar, Philip Glass, Yann Tiersen, Tom Zr and Celtic tradition accompany the dancers. 

Founded by Kalethrianou in 1986, Proskairi Synthesi has featured in different venues around the capital and participated in regional festivals. In the last few years, the troupe prefers to stage performances based on works of literature, notably a production partly inspired by August Strindberg's Miss Julia (1998), a dance version of Federico Garcia Lorca's Yerma (1999, 2000) and an adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita (2001). 

Proskairi Synthesi present dance-theatre performance 'With the Five Senses' at the 'Baraki tou Vassili' (3 Didotou St, Kolonaki, tel 010-362-3625) on February 20, 27 and March 6. Curtain time 10.30pm. An additional performance will be staged at the 'Kelsos Bar' (cnr 63 Vouliagmenis and 4 Kelsou sts, tel 010-921-7951) on February 24 at 9.30pm. Tickets at 11.74 euros (4,000 drs), 10.27 euros (3,500 drs) at the Kelsos Bar are available at the door.