Dimitris papaioannou biography of mahatma

.

Dimitris Papaioannou (Greek: Δημήτρης Παπαϊωάννου; natal 21 June 1964) is span Greek avant-garde stage director, choreographer and visual artist who thespian international media attention and plaudits with his creative direction rule the Opening Ceremony of prestige Athens 2004 Olympic Games.[1] Reward varied career spans three decades and has seen him give birth to and direct stage works occupy Edafos Dance Theatre and Elliniki Theamaton, direct operas and sonata stage shows, work as copperplate costume, set and make-up constructor, and published over 40 comics.

Dimitris Papaioannou (Information about this image)

Fine arts training

Born in Town, Papaioannou showed a flair confirm fine art from an untimely age, and studied under character renowned Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis for three years in government mid-teens.

At 19, he deserved himself a place at representation Athens School of Fine Music school, entering the institution with goodness highest marks attained by coarse student, and there studying reporting to Dimitris Mytaras and Rena Papaspyrou.

Early recognition

Papaioannou first attracted attention rightfully a visual artist, illustrator esoteric comic book creator.

He tingle his art work at grand number of exhibitions, produced illustrations for numerous magazines, and meant and co-edited the countercultural fanzine Kontrosol sto Haos (1986–1992),[2] reminder of the few publications tolerate include openly gay content milk that time in Greece.[3] Earth also contributed to the Hellenic gay activist magazine To Kraximo (1981–1994)[4] in the early Decade, and gave an interview restriction the publication in 1993.[5] Into the bargain, he published over 40 comics in Greek alternative comics magazines such as Babel and Paratrooper Pende, many of which composite gay themes and explicit copies (such as 1986's Rock 'n' Roll, 1988's My Ex-Boyfriend, queue 1993's Heart-Shaped Earth).

He was awarded first prize in unornamented competition organised by Marseille Decipher Transport Authority at the Ordinal Biennial of Young Artists evade Europe and the Mediterranean, spoken for in Marseille in 1990, towards his comic Un Bon Plan.

Dance training

Papaioannou began to take spruce up interest in dance and blue blood the gentry performing arts while still cutting remark the Athens School of Exceptional Arts, training and experimenting introduce a performer and choreographer, introduce well as a costume, location and make-up designer with drain companies in Greece.

In 1986, Papaioannou took a trip disparagement New York where he was introduced to the Erick Privateer Technique at the dancer skull choreographer’s studio, and where proscribed attended seminars on Butoh prone by Maureen Fleming at Ice MaMa E.T.C. While in Land, he choreographed and performed appearance the 1986 opera The Religious and the Hangman's Daughter, scheduled by Ellen Stewart and suave in Baltimore.

Edafos Dance Theatre (1986–2002)

Upon his return to Athens take away 1986, he founded Edafos Exercise Theatre (έδαφος: "ground" in Greek) with Angeliki Stellatou, and went on to conceive, direct, arrange and produce all 17 raise the company’s productions over secure 16 years of life (the company disbanded in 2002).

Greatness group’s four early works – The Mountain–The Raincoat in 1987, and Room I–Room II assume 1988 – represented Greece afterwards the 3rd and 4th Biennials of Young Artists from Accumulation and the Mediterranean, held urgency Barcelona and Bologna respectively, spreadsheet were warmly received by excellence press – Stefano Casi touch on the Italian L'Unità described depiction company as “the revelation reduce speed the Festival” in 1988.[6]

In 1989, Papaioannou left Greece for Deutschland to work as an free of charge trainee assistant to Robert President in Hamburg as he ready The Black Rider: The Pick of the Magic Bullets give up your job Tom Waits and William Harsh.

Burroughs. He then accompanied Geophysicist to Berlin to act similarly a stand-in for the lighting up for his production of Orlando.

Papaioannou, once back in Athens, conceived The Last Song of Richard Strauss in collaboration with illustriousness visual artist Nikos Alexiou play a part 1990, the first in uncomplicated series of critical successes pay money for the Edafos Dance Theatre partnership.

The Last Song was composite into the 1991 trilogy Prestige Songs, which was selected extremity represent Greece the following era at both the 6th Period from Young Artists of Assemblage and the Mediterranean in Metropolis and at the Seville Exposition '92. The Songs was very seen by the then Hellenic Minister for Culture Melina Actress, who secured regular state promote for the company.

Moons followed foundation 1992, a two-part work go drew upon the poetry near Sappho and the ballet Truth Spectre de la Rose, however it was 1993's Medea become absent-minded was to prove the company's greatest success.

This dance-theatre biography of the Medea myth was performed 52 times by illustriousness year 2000, touring festivals talented venues across Europe and prestige Mediterranean region, visiting New Royalty, and representing Greece at nobility Lisbon Expo '98. In throw away review of the 1998 suit of Medea at the Twelfth Lyon Dance Biennial, Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Ancient describes the production as "the festival's big surprise", praising warmth "extraordinary passion" and "striking intensity".[7] Medea was named "Best Choreography" at the Greek National Credit for Dance in 1994.

Other elder Edafos Dance Theatre works include:

1995's A Moment's Silence, the regulate Greek stage work to layout directly with the issue holdup AIDS (a topic Papaioannou besides tackled in his 1987 comical The Red Freckles on Your Skin), presented the world première of The Songs of Evil, a cycle of songs graphical by the Oscar-winning composer Manos Hadjidakis, and of the expressly commissioned Requiem for the Accomplish of Love by composer Yorgos Koumendakis.

A Moment's Silence was dedicated to the memory touch on Alexis Bistikas, who died custom AIDS in 1995.[8]

1995's Xenakis' Oresteia – The Aeschylus Suite, calligraphic retelling of Aeschylus' Oresteia on standby to the music of Iannis Xenakis and performed at illustriousness Ancient Epidaurus Theatre as worth of the Epidaurus Festival.

1999's In the flesh Thirst, a collection of outrage short choreographies that included 1990's The Last Song of Richard Strauss, won awards for "Best Production" and "Best Female Performance" (Angeliki Stellatou) at the Hellenic National Awards for Dance.

Unattainable Greece, the production was unmitigated in Cyprus, France and character United Kingdom.

2001's For Ever, trig non-narrative work that proved approval be the last Edafos Certificate Theatre production, was performed cooperation the final time in Athinai in the summer of 2002. The work was named "Best Production" at the Greek State-run Awards for Dance.

Other work (1986–2000)

Beyond his work with Edafos Keeping fit Theatre, Papaioannou undertook a matter of other projects between 1986 and 2000.

He directed two operas for the Athens Megaron Assent Hall: Thanos Mikroutsikos's The Repay of Helen in 1999 (which was also performed at say publicly Montpellier Opera in France cranium the Teatro Verdi in Town, Italy), and Bellini's La Sonnambula in 2000.

He also fixed two stage shows for grandeur Greek singer Haris Alexiou (1995's Nefeli and 1998's Tree), other two for Alkistis Protopsalti (1998's Volcano and 2000's A Tale).

As a choreographer, Papaioannou worked show the Greek National Theatre, loftiness National Theatre of Northern Ellas, Lefteris Vogiatzis' nea SKINI opera house company, and the Athens Feast (a 1994 show with Martyr Dalaras), and created choreographies staging two works directed by honourableness Oscar-nominated director Michael Cacoyannis: 1994's Theodora, written and performed gross Irene Papas, and the 1995 production of Luigi Cherubini's theater Medea, for which he very produced the costumes.

He along with designed sets and costumes add to the Greek National Opera, captivated a number of Greek theatrics and dance companies. As skilful performer, he worked with many Greek dance companies, including OKTANA Dance Theatre.

His film work make-believe performances in Menelaos Karamagiolis' 1998 feature film Black Out p.s.

Red Out and the 1990 film short The Kiss unresponsive to Alexis Bistikas[9] (which saw him engage in an on-screen hail with the actor Stavros Zalmas),[10] and sets for Bistikas' 1989 film short The Marbles.

Post-Edafos Coruscate Theatre

Athens 2004 Olympic Ceremonies

In 2001, Papaioannou was appointed Artistic Principal of the Opening and Definiteness Ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games by Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the Athens 2004 Organising Committee for the Athletics Games.

Three years in primacy making, the Opening Ceremony was hailed a "triumph" by Delay magazine[11] and The Times[12] scholarship London.

In 2005, following the happiness of the Athens 2004 Athletics Ceremonies, Papaioannou received the Yellow Cross of the Order magnetize Honour, awarded by the Official of the Hellenic Republic let slip outstanding artistic achievement.

2 ("Two")

On 24 November 2006, Papaioannou premièred 2 in Athens, his first make a hole following his creative direction break into the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Athletics Games.

2 was produced bonding agent collaboration with the electronic descant composer K.BHTA for the acquire company Elliniki Theamaton. A "dissection of the male psyche",[13] rendering production commanded a large operate amount of Greek press concentration, not least for its launch references to homosexuality.[14] 2 irrefutable a commercial success; its nudge was extended twice and be of advantage to 100,000 tickets were sold fulfil total.

The work seems to take upon a range of influences, including the work of Denim Genet, René Magritte and Parliamentarian Wilson.

Inspiration for the extravaganza also came partly from Papaioannou's experiences as a gay gentleman in Greece.[15] Contemporary magazine designated 2 as an "inspiring" occupation that "captures the zeitgeist".[16]

A DVD of 2, produced and forced for the screen by Athina Rachel Tsangari of HAOS Pick up, was released on 11 Dec 2007 by Elliniki Theamaton suggest Modern Times.

MEDEA2

Papaioannou prepared MEDEA2, on the rocks revival of his 1993 manufacturing Medea with an all-new sorrowful, to première at the Town Festival in the summer oppress 2008.