Point of No Return

Point of No Return
Ioannis Mandafounis

Available for on-demand streaming from 15 May
on https://tv.nationalopera.gr/

Ticket: 5€

Part of the Human Behaviour triptych

In Point of No Return, the internationally recognised dancer and choreographer Ioannis Mandafounis composes a modern piece out of dance elements deeply rooted in the tradition of classical ballet. In tune with the music of Giorgos Koumendakis, the GNO Ballet dancers focus on the transparency and authenticity of their moves via the arsenal of classical ballet steps. Although the group experience of their bodies reveals an extremely classical choreographical approach, one may discern the personal identity of the performers as well as a particularly modern treatment of presence and interpretation of movement - obvious elements that indicate the choreographer's regular touch. "Guided by the title Point of No Return, this dance piece highlights classical technique as performed by a dancer of today, without falsifying it. Joy, communication, complex choreography and performing immediacy are some of the elements presented by the dancers and shared with the public", according to Ioannis Mandafounis. Giorgos Koumendakis' music, both in Point of No Return for string quartet (2008, dedicated to the Kronos Quartet) and in Typewriter Tune for violin solo (2004), follows the example of the "anonymous" folksong creators, "recasting or recomposing traditional musical themes while retaining their energy and subtlety, the authenticity of their primordial model, their pulse and their soul".

Point of No Return is part of the Human Behaviour triptych, presented from 24/3/2021 to 31/12/2021 and filmed at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the SNFCC on 7th and 9th of February 2021.

Choreographer, costume supervisor Ioannis Mandafounis

Music Giorgos Koumendakis

Lighting designer Christos Tziogkas

Cast Jovanka Zarić, Elena Kekkou, Margarita Kostoglou, Anna-Maria Markopoulou, Ayuka Nitta, Rina Shimada, Eleftheria Stamou, Rea Tsantouri ,Stelios Katopodis, Yannis Gantsios, Cristian Luce, Ángel Martínez Sánchez, Yannis Mitrakis, Giordano Bozza, Elton Dimroci, George Hadjopoulos

Antonis Sousamoglou (violin I, solo violin)

David Bogorad (violin II)

Athanassios Sourgounis (viola)

Yannis Stefos (cello)Film production company DK Films