NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE

Death is the ultimate theatrical act since it is the be-all and end-all of transformation. According to the confessions of some people that died for a while and returned to life, their near-death experiences describe a dimension that is so wonderful that it seems almost utopic. There is a paradox in this case since we humans are in general afraid of the ‘wonderful’, not wanting to give up the suffering of existence.

What if death is what we are experiencing now and life starts after we have left our mortal body?

In the piece, there is a reference to both realities as described through the physical body of the dancer on one hand and the invisible world as described by the audio confessions on the other. I am hoping that through the piece there is a possibility of considering that we should not be afraid of our final transformation but rather look forward to it. In the best-case scenario, we even feel inspired to bring some of the light described in reference to the afterlife, into our hearts and into our current reality.

Credits

Concept, Choreography: Lia Haraki

Dancer, Performer, Movement Collaborator: Rania Glymitsa

Music Composition, Sound Design: Stelios Antoniou

Set Design: Yiorgos Yiannou on a concept by Lia Haraki

Video, Promotional Image: Savvas Baltzis

Lighting Design: Alexander Jotovic

Photography: Pavlos Vrionides

Technical Management: Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Production: Pelma.Lia Haraki Funding: Department of Cultural Services -

Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, Dance House Lemesos

Performances 

Premiere: 3 March 2018, Cyprus Dance

Platform 2018, Rialto Theatre, Limassol, Cyprus

20 June 2018, European Dance Festival, Pallas Theatre, Nicosia, Cyprus