Kinitiras Omega (Ω) is a most unique group of people over 65 y.o. initiated by Kinitiras Artistic Network of Performing Arts in 2014. They are an amazing community of people of very varied backgrounds and one of the most informative and touching groups I have ever worked with. They take movement, dance, theatre and body/word Performance Writing yearly classes and masterclasses, often in groups of mixed ages. They have presented their work in Athens, Syros, Germany and Italy.
Antigone Gyra, Joanna Kampilafka, Aliki Avdelopoulou are their main teachers and I was honoured to be invited on board to the extended group of more significant artists of various fields, teaching and working with them in 2020. Our first collaboration was…online! With the amazing support of Kinitiras, during the first months of the pandemic we started exploring the corporealities of writing, its connection to dance and theatre. Beware their cheeky nature, discreet wisdom and high standards of collective aesthetic.
“Familiar Bodies” was a production reclaiming visibility and/in public spaces (photo) originally presented in Athens. It then travelled to the Akropoditi Dance Fest for a repertoire workshop for local people of 50+ and a performance in Ermoupolis, Syros.
Among the many amazing collaborations with Kinitiras Omega, “Maturing Korai” holds a special place. This was a KA2 Erasmus+ program, for women aged 50+, from different socio-economic backgrounds, reinventing themselves by exploring and developing their performing skills. It was an Erasmus+ program in the field of Adult Education designed by Kinitiras, held in collaboration with 2 more organisations, Fresh Target from Cyprus and Calypso from Italy, with the groups collaborating both in the flesh and online.
What we did was that we employed body/word Performance Writing principles and tools for the collective writing by the group: Manifesto for actively aging bodies is available in all three languages, inspiring and gently empowering people of all ages.
Collaborating with people up to 92 y.o., both in groups for 50+ or mixed ages, has been and still is one of the most inspiring experiences. Thank you EveryBody * ~
photo: Fanis Pavlopoulos, “Familiar Bodies”, Kinitiras Omega, public space performance 2023