2025 Festival Instructors

Each year we hope to bring Instructors from various genre, locations and disciplines in order to share with our participants and audiences a wide range of works and practices!

Marianna Varviani

Marianna Varviani is a Greek dance theater artist currently based in Los Angeles, USA. She is the artistic director of Selcouth Dance Theater Company. With Selcouth, her works have been performed at: Highways Performance Space and the Odyssey Theatre, UCLA Kaufman Hall, 'Keshet Center for the Arts', am'The Other Art Fair', 'San Pedro Festival of the Arts', ‘Ebb and Flow Festival’ in the USA, 'Arc for Dance Festival', 'European Dance Network', and Festival of Rematia 'Our Festival' in Greece.

She has performed internationally in Greece, UK, Spain, Brazil and USA in projects by Salia Sanou, Friidom, Ghislain Grellier, Stella Spyrou, Ohi Paizoume, Brian Astbury, Uri Roodner, Ken Cambel, Ian Morgan, Tobby Clarke, Stella Spyrou, Murto Delimichali, ‘Ohi Paizoume’, Erin Cooney, ’Patari Project’ and others. She is the co-founder of 'Ha! Theatre Ensemble', 'LA Dance Calendar', and 'Global Choreographers'.

She is a member of the Krump Demolition Crew 100/ DCX, since 2021.

Marianna has a B.A. in Contemporary Theatre from E15/ University of Essex and an M.F.A. in Dance from UCLA.She has been teaching dance and theater internationally. She is currently a Lecturer at two Cal State Universities, Fullerton & Channel Islands.

Marianna will be teaching Contemporary Dance, Creation, Composition & Choreography.

Ilias Bageorgos

Ilias was born in Athens and has graduated from ‘Ballet of Thessaly’ professional dance school, under the mentoring of Gech Michov. He has expanded his educational background, studying in New York and Athens, with scholarships from Jacob’s Pillow Academy and the Greek National School of Dance. He has studied next to Ohad Naharin, participating in the GagaLab at Orsolina 28 foundation.
He has performed with iacclaimed choreographers and organisations (Russel Maliphant, National Ballet of Cuba, Sadler’s Wells, Orsolina 28, Fotis Nikolaou, Fenia Apostolou, Natassa Papmichail, Onassis Stegi, Stereo Nero) and others.

He is the founder and artistic director of Dance Athens, an artistic company that combines performing production and educational programs.

Ilias will be leading Contemporary Dance workshops and improvisation during this years festival.

Antonis Papazoglou

Antonis is a dancer, performer, and instructor of traditional dances and music rhythms from the regions of the Balkans and East Mediterranean. e.g. Pontus, Macedonia, Crete, Minor Asia, Aegean islands etc

He is a Member, dancer and musician of Seli Kanu African dancing group (2003-2011). Antonis is also a member of traditional dancing groups in Athens such as: Viotexnia Xorou, ELKELAM, Perperuna etc. (2002-Present). He has performed on shows in festivals in Greece and abroad, playing drums percussions anddancing choreographies of traditional West African Dances. As a dancer, instructor, and perfomer he has worked in residencies around Italy, project Butchers, based on the traditional dance of hasapiko, collaborating with the choreographer Gloria Dorgliguzzo (2024-2025). Antonis was also a perfomer on the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games of Athens 2004.

Antonis will be teaching Traditional Greek Dancers at this years festival!

Fotini Kardakou

Fotini Kardakou is a Ballet and Contemporary Dance Teacher, Reformer and Clinical Pilates instructor, from Athens.
She is the Founder of Aiorisis (Dance School) based in Ikaria island.

Fotini graduated from "Rallou Manou" Higher Professional Dance School. She studied in workshops under Chet Walker and Milton Myers (Jacob's Pillow), Mavin Khoo, Linda Kapetanea and Josef Frusek (Fighting Monkey/RootlessRoot), Dimitris Kaminaris, Markella Manoliadi, Andonis Foniadakis, Hermes Malkotsis Betty Dramisioti and Kiki Baka (Sinequanon dance company), Sofia Mavragani (Fingersix) and others.

She has performed in "Birthplace"of Dimitri Papaioannou in the Opening Ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Also at the 2nd Athens Biennale. In performances by Goerg Hobmeier with Kinitiras (artistic network), in the global interdisciplinary performance "Animal Kingdom" by Akram Khan X Numeridanse. In the film "Tsiou..." and in its theatrical adaptation "Tsiou...Live" by Makis Papadimitratos.
She is currently leading classes of Ballet, Contemporary Dance and Pilates.

Fotini will be teaching Contemporary Dance, Creation, Composition & Choreography.

Giorgos Mirror

Giorgos is a Physiotherapist, Acupuncturist, certified Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer. He is also a Capoeira Instructor practicing this art for over 17 years. Since 2008 he is teaching acrobatic movements to professional dancers and incorporates acrobatic and martial arts’ elements in choreographies.

Giorgos bridges acrobatics and dance through strength, control, and fluidity, drawing on biomechanics to ensure safe, efficient, and expressive movement.

Giorgos will be leading the Dynamic Floorwork, Acrobatics workshop. This is a dynamic class exploring the integration of acrobatic movement into dance. Through structured drills and guided improvisation, participants will build strength, coordination, and fluidity on the floor. Complex movements are broken down into accessible components in an effort to enhance proprioception, control, rhythm, and precision. Suitable for dancers and movers looking to expand their vocabulary with grounded, powerful, and expressive motion.