AEF2023: Isadora Duncan

It’s that time of the year again, when Athenians start planning their summer holidays around the programme of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The leading performing arts festival in Greece, and one of the oldest in Europe, returns between June 1st and August 26th for its 68th edition with a rich programme of events. As always, the main venues are the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the industrial complex of Pireos 260 and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Click here for our festival picks or head over to the official website for the full programme.

Contemporary dance owes a lot to Isadora Duncan. Hailed as the mother of modern choreography, Duncan was a self-taught and extremely influential dancer who travelled and performed all over the world. She wore her signature peplum as homage to ancient Greece and visited our parts several times, the first of which in 1903. The free-spirited dancer’s oeuvre is celebrated in this production that carries her name. Isidora Duncan is based on her choreography and is led by choreographer Jérôme Bel, who performs alongside Elisabeth Schwartz, Sheila Atala, and Chiara Gallerani. This is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Duncan’s legacy, which is nothing less than a joyful celebration of the human body.