27/1 19:00-22:00

28/1 11:00-14:00

29/1 11:00-14:00

In Dance Athens

Instructed by Penny Diamantopoulou & Rafael Molina

After a Graham technique warm-up, students will learn various sections of the Martha Graham repertory and work on classical partnering. The workshop will provide participants with dancing tools that are key to Martha Graham’s work and will focus on skills that can be used by performers in any production: presence, focus, abilities of expression, relationship to music and space. 

Penny and Rafael will work as a team to share their experience and to approach both the male and female perspectives.

For whom?

This workshop demands a certain level of basic dance training and experience. But it is open to dancers of all backgrounds and does not require a deep knowledge of Graham technique.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

PENNY DIAMANTOPOULOU was born and raised in Athens, Greece where she started her dance training in Classical ballet and Modern dance. She graduated from “Anna Petrova” Professional Dance School.

In 1995, after graduating from the Athens University (Department of French Language and Literature), she moved to NY to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance on a Demonstrator‘s scholarship. There she completed the Post Certificate Program, as well as her Teaching Training with Diane Gray and Joyce Herring.

She is a former member of the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble under the direction of Kazuko Hirabayashi, Joyce Herring and Kenneth Topping (1996-2000) and a Faculty member at the Martha Graham School (1998-2000).

She has been a Faculty member at the National School of Dance (2002-2021) and at “horohronos” Professional Dance School since 2017, where she teaches Graham Technique and Repertory. She also gives Workshops and Master classes to students and dancers of various ages and backgrounds in Greece and Cyprus. 

In collaboration with the Martha Graham Dance Company, she teaches, reconstructs and restages pieces or excerpts of the Graham Repertoire in New York (City Center), Greece (Herod Atticus Ancient Theatre, Athens Concert Hall, Athens Festival), France (Conservatoire de Paris), Bosnia (Tanzelarija/Sarajevo), Belgium, Hungary (Hungarian Dance University for the Budapest Dance Festival) and Turkey (Izmir International Festival).

In collaboration with Nina Papathanasopoulou Myers, she presents a lecture demonstration program on the connection between Martha Graham’s choreography and the ancient Greek Mythology (CYA, DEREE College, ACS, DANCE Athens, Poreia Theatre, Hellenic American Union, Corfu International Festival).

In August ’20 she started her collaboration with Movement Migration Nonprofit Organization, teaching virtual Intermediate/Advanced Graham Technique classes for dancers from Europe, Asia and the USA.

She is the founder, choreographer and artistic director of ARTHROSIS Dance Company (based in Athens) with which she presents her work since 2003.

RAFAEL MOLINA is a French Artist, and Graham technique teacher based in Paris. Trained at the Conservatoire National de Région de Saint-Etienne, Rafael graduated in classical ballet and contemporary dance. In his dance career, he performed both neoballet roles (Ballet Ethery Pagava, Paris Festival Ballet, Cie Mouvance d’Arts) and contemporary dance new works (Cie Polypous, Cie IFunamboli, Cie le temps d’une danse), touring in France, Spain, Israel and Singapore. Since 2017, Rafael has also been working as Assistant choreographer for Fabio Crestale, Artistic Director of Cie IFunamboli Paris.

He is the founder and Artistic Director of ‘Graham For Europe‘, a European network and platform dedicated to the work of Martha Graham. He graduated from Sciences Po Paris and the Martha Graham School in New York City, where he performed the Graham repertory with Graham 2.

In 2019, Rafael was funded by the Centre National de la Danse for the research project on Graham educational practices. Therefore, he traveled around the globe and interviewed more than 30 Graham technique instructors and Masters about Graham fundamental principles and concepts. 

Rafael teaches Graham principles through technique, repertory, and composition in various institutions all over Europe. He believes in a modern and innovative pedagogy. His teaching approach respects individual specificities (bodies, histories, abilities) and encourages autonomy. He creates a safe space for his students to explore their singularities as individuals/artists, in order to unlock possibilities for artistic interpretation.

***Full scholarship opportunities

According to the level and motivation of students, 1 or 2 full scholarships will be granted to dancers who will have the opportunity to study in Paris in a Graham For Europe event at some point between March and June 2023 (monthly cross-practice week-end or Spring intensive).

During the weekends, the Graham technique is studied in combination with another discipline. In a dialogue with what is perceived and experienced as other, Graham reveals itself: https://www.grahamforeurope.com/crosspractice

Graham & Pilates (March 11-12)

Graham & Gyrokinesis (April 8-9)

Graham & Duncan (May6-7)

Graham & Gaga (June 17-18)

The Spring Intensive will offer a study of Graham & Limón, technique as well as repertory. Spring intensive faculty includes guests from New York City, Blakeley White-Mcguire and Daniel Fetecua, former members of the Graham & Limón Company (May1-5). For more information: grahamforeurope.com/spring-intensive