What to expect:

Opening Night at Hydrogoios, Sunday 5 July, 8 - 9 pm

We will present this year's artists with the help of our Hydra dance group and surprise performances. 

We will finish with a welcome toast. 

With Christine Bastin, Sigurd Blystad and Alice Kok and Evelina Giaka (to be confirmed). 

Music by José Manuel Pagan et Aro Tolkukhin, Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabate, Aukai and Richard Houghten, Zaliva-D.

Port performance, Wednesday 8 & Thursday 9 July, 1.00 -1.20 pm

You will see extracts from this year's performances of (in order of appearance): Danae & Dionysios, Alice Kok, Christine Bastin, Margot Covillers, Sigurd Blystad, Efi Farmaki Dance Company featring Yael Heynderickx.

Music by Aaron Martin and Christos Sakellaridis, Rone, Lhasa De Sela, New Order, Aukai and Richard Houghten, Spaccanapoli and Alexis Vanderhaegen (introduction and transitions). 

The Port performance on Wednesday will take place in front of the old bank with arches. 

The Port performance on Thursday will take place in front of Hotel Sophia. 

Dance evening at Hydrama Theatre, Thursday 9 July, 9.15 - 10.30

There is a free boat departing at 21 pm in front of the clocktower.

Full performances of all artists, aswell as the participation of the Hydra amateur group. 

Danae & Dionysios, Alice Kok, Christine Bastin, Sigurd Blystad, Margot Covillers, Efi Farmaki Dance Company, Compagnie Moveo.

Complete program on site. 

All events are free and open to all. No reservations needed — subject to availability

CHRISTINE BASTIN

With more than forty works performed around the world, Christine Bastin has established herself as one of France's most eminent choreographers. Her dance delves into the intimacy of matter and being, and her passion for literature and philosophy gives her work a singular depth and sensitivity. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with major figures in the dance world, including Christine Gérard and Paris Opera étoiles Jean Guizerix, Kader Belarbi, and Monique Loudières.

In 1986, she won First Prize at the International Choreography Competition of the City of Paris and founded her company, La Folia. Her contribution to French cultural life was rewarded by the titel Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture.

Christine Bastin will perform her solo "Femme," an excerpt from Gueule de loup.

SIGURD BLYSTAD

Sigurd Blystad began his dance training at the Ballet School of the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, before moving to London to complete his education at the prestigious Royal Ballet School.

In 2022, he was selected to perform during the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee — a milestone moment on the international stage. The following year, he co-choreographed a piece for the Royal Ballet School's choreography competition, which was then chosen to be presented at the John Neumeier Jubilee Gala in Hamburg — a remarkable recognition for an emerging choreographic voice. Sigurd Blystad will perform his solo “Subject to imitations”. 

DANAE & DIONYSIOS

 Danae and Dionysios have been collaborating as choreographers and artistic directors of Small Axe ΑΜΚΕ since 2015. Over the course of their partnership, they have built an impressive body of work — receiving commissions from Skånes Dansteater, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, and Staatstheater Braunschweig, while their company has produced six original pieces: MoJo, UNCIA, ATMA, Free At Last, Fάrιsa, and Napi, the girl and the bubble. Their choreographies UNCIA and Fάrιsa have earned them nine awards in total, and their work has toured extensively across Europe, Asia, Central America, and Africa.

As performers, both have danced with internationally acclaimed companies, including Akram Khan Company and Hellenic Dance Company among others. Danae & Dionysios will perform their duo Fάrιsa and an excerpt from Napi, the girl and the bubble.

EFI FARMAKI DANCE COMPANY AT HYDRA DANCE DAYS

Efi Farmaki is a Greek choreographer trained in dance and theater in Athens before settling in Paris in 2013, where she continues to develop her artistic practice. Her work stands at the crossroads of multiple influences: contemporary dance, Asian traditional dances (Indonesian, Japanese, Korean), butoh, tango… In her new creation "Shades of her self", Efi Farmaki ventures into new territory, weaving dance together with emerging technologies.

Yael Heynderickx is a multidisciplinary dancer, who has explored various dance styles from a young age, including contemporary dance, couple dances, traditional French and Italian dances, tap dance and physical theatre. She works as a performer with several dance companies such as Icaria.  She also teaches dance and Benesh notation. 

Efi Farmaki and Yael Heynderickx will perform their creation “Shades of her self”

ALICE KOK

South African-German choreographer Alice Kok brings a rich and far-reaching artistic background to her work, shaped by training across Los Angeles, Berlin, Paris, Johannesburg, and Cape Town.

A choreographer, dancer, and actress, she has collaborated on a wide range of projects — most recently alongside choreographer Julien Meyzendi. A certified yoga and Pilates instructor since 2010, she has built a parallel practice dedicated to movement education.

At the heart of her work lies a deep curiosity about the mind-body connection — each piece an invitation into authentic, grounded, and powerful movement. Alice Kok will perform her solo “Passage”. She will also give workshops on Sunday July 5. 

Hydra Dance Days is an annual dance festival on the island of Hydra, Greece. The festival aims to showcase choreographers from Greece and other countries, to support women choreographers as well as dancers of all ages. Another feature is an invitation to all artists to co-create a site-specific piece.

 
The workshops for the people on the island of all ages, allows the habitants to share the stage with the profesional dancers - a unique experiance. 

Hydra Dance Days was created in 2024 by Swedish French choreographer Michaela Meschke and English visual artist Jacqueline
Savidge.

A very big thank you to our partners :

Swedish Embassy in Greece

Hydrama Theatre

Hydrogoios

The Mayor of Hydra

Hydra Cinema Club

And a huge thank you to all private sponsors who are making this event possible ! 

Interested in our festival concept? We can adapt it to other cultural venues. Don't hesitate to reach out. 

Photo below : Danae & Dionysios. Photo by Pinelopi Gerasimou.

Une semaine de danse avec entrée libre pour contribuer à la vie culturelle de l'ïle de Hydra, Grèce.

A week of dancing, free for all, to contribute to the island of Hydra's cultural life.

Qui sommes-nous ?  / Who are we ? 

Michaela Meschke est une chorégraphe suédoise qui vit et travaille en France. Jacqueline Savidge est une artiste anglaise qui vit et travaille à Hydra, en Grèce. Elles ont décidé ensemble d'organiser Hydra Dance Days.

Michaela Meschke is a Swedish choreographer living and working in France. Jacqueline Savidge is an English artist living and working in Hydra, Greece. Together, they decided to organize the Hydra Dance Days. 

Notre projet / Our project

Une soirée de danse donnée par des artistes grecques et internationaux et des ateliers gratuits.

A dance performance with Greek and international artists aswell as workshops. Free entrance for all the events.

Artistes invités / Invited artists

Alex Cuadros Juglar and Silas Henriksen, dancers of the Norweigan National Ballet, Spain and Norway,

François Grolier, Compagnie Moveo, France

Cécile Lassonde et Mathilde Meritet, Compagnie Page 55, France

Lina Orologa, Greece

Pavlina Tsiatisou, Greece

Où et Quand ? / Where and When ? 

La soirée internationale de danse aura lieu le jeudi 11 juillet à l'Hydrama Theatre à Vlychos.

Michaela Meschke va donner des ateliers de danse du lundi 8 juillet au jeudi 11 juillet, de 10h à 12h dans le centre de Hydra.

Cécile Lassonde va donner des ateliers de danse du samedi 13 juillet au dimanche 14 juillet, de 19h à 20h30 dans le centre de Hydra.

The international evening performance evening will take place on Thursday 11 July at The Hydrama Theatre in Vlychos. 

Michaela Meschke will give dance workshops from Monday 8 July until Thursday 11 July, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in Hydra town.

Cécile Lassonde will give dance workshops from Saturday 13 July to Sunday 14 July, from 19:00 am to 20:30 pm in Hydra town.

Pour toute demande d'information, contactez [email protected] 

For further information, please contact [email protected]

Nous souhaitons remercier nos principaux soutiens financiers :

Helena et Xenia Orfanos, Marianna Gioka, Christophe Lavaud, Michael Meschke, Elise et Erwin Wurm, Heiner et Annette Georgsdorff.

We would like to express our gratitude to our main financial donators :

Helena and Xenia Orfanos, Christophe Lavaud, Marianna Gioka, Michael Meschke, Elise et Erwin Wurm, Heiner and Annette Georgsdorff.

Partenaires :

Hydrama Theatre, la Mairie d'Hydra, l'Ambassade de Suède, Athènes

Partners:

Hydrama Theatre, The Mayor of Hydra, Embassy of Sweden, Athens