2026 Instructors

Samer Karaja is a Palestinian dancer and choreographer from Saffa, west of Ramallah. His work is deeply shaped by the rhythms of land, farming life, and the communal energy of village night weddings. He has a long-standing relationship with El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe, with whom he has performed and taught internationally.

Samer has taught workshops and classes across Europe and the United States, including Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and Ireland, as well as New York, Chicago, Austin, San Diego, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

Street Dabke is a project that introduces Palestinian folk dabke through simple, interactive workshops inspired by the atmosphere of weddings and social gatherings. It is a flexible and accessible practice that can take place anywhere — in studios, parks, streets, or public spaces — inviting people of all backgrounds to join, learn the rhythm, and experience the collective energy of the dance.

Samer is also a founding member of Ard El-Ya’s, a movement initiative exploring land, memory, and social transformation. In addition to his artistic practice, he is the co-owner of Ka2nu Beit, a community-oriented restaurant in Ramallah.

Maky Grochain is a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Kanak (Nouvelle-Calédonie) origin, currently based in Switzerland. He is the founder and artistic director of Compagnie KANE, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. 

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Trained in France at La Manufacture d’Aurillac and the Beaux-Arts de Toulouse, Maky Grochain holds a state diploma as a dance teacher. Since establishing Compagnie KANE, he has developed a body of choreographic work presented across Switzerland.

His creation L’Arbre qui danse (2023–2025)  has been performed at venues such as the Centre de culture ABC in La Chaux-de-Fonds, as well as within regional and national dance festivals.  S’enforester, was presented as part of Fête de la Danse Genève at the Maison des Arts du Grütli.

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Maky Grochain is active as a performer and collaborator, appearing in projects such as Cadeau at Théâtre du Loup in Geneva and L’Envol, working with artists from the Swiss and Franco-Swiss contemporary dance scene.  

He regularly teaches contemporary dance classes and leads workshops and intensives in Switzerland, notably in Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds. 

Marianna Varviani is a Greek dance theater artist currently based in Los Angeles, USA. She is the artistic director of Selcouth Dance Theater Company.

Marianna has a B.A. in Contemporary Theatre from E15/ University of Essex and an M.F.A. in Dance from UCLA.

With Selcouth, she has created works that were amongst others 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.​She  has been teaching dance and theater internationally. She is currently a Lecturer at two Cal State Universities, Fullerton & Channel Islands. 

Marianna is the co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Ikaria Dance Festival.​​

Bruno Catalano is a performer, choreographer, dance teacher and the artistic director of the Zürich-based company PiccoliProduction.

He graduated from ArtEZ University of the Arts in 2003 and choreographed for the youth theater group AG Theater Rämibühl in Zurich from 2010-2018. He also collaborated on two operas produced by the Opernverein Zürich and created a piece for the Zurich theatre company Hora.

PiccoliProduction has actively contributed to the cultural life of the city of Zürich for the last 15 years, presenting work in Gessnerallee, Rote Fabrik, Tanzhaus Zürich, Helmhaus, Kunstraum Walcheturm among others. In recent years, the company has also produced in an international context such as in Argentina and India. In 2024-2025, Bruno worked as a performing artist in Marina Abramovic’s retrospective at Kunsthaus Zurich.

He has been teaching for many years in Switzerland and abroad in academies and dance institutions such as HF Bühnentanz, Tanzhaus Zürich, Espacio LEM, Ecole des Sables, ArtEZ, SEAD, Iwanson International School of Contemporary Dance, Danscentrumjette, Iceland University of the Arts Reykjavik, DDDSK Danish National School of Performing Arts.

Fotini Kardakou is a Ballet and Contemporary Dance Teacher, Reformer and Clinical Pilates instructor, from Athens. She is also 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 is the co-founder & co-Artistic Director of Ikaria Dance Festival.

Antonis Papazoglou is a dancer  and instructor who has been actively involved in traditional festivities across Greece since 2002. His practice encompasses a wide and diverse range of traditional dances and musical rhythms from the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, including regions such as Pontus, Macedonia, Crete, Asia Minor, and the Aegean islands. 

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From 2003 to 2011, he was a member, dancer, and musician with the Seli Kanu African Dancing Group, performing in festivals in Greece and abroad. His work with the group focused on traditional West African dances, combining choreographed movement with live percussion and drumming. ​Antonis has participated as a dancer, performer, and instructor in residencies across Italy for the project Butchers, in collaboration with choreographer Gloria Dorgliguzzo. Earlier in his career, he also performed in the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.

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His education and training include long-term membership in traditional dance groups in Athens such as Viotexnia Xorou, ELKELAM, and Perperuna (2002–present), which focus on the preservation of Greek traditional dances and the organization of year-round communal festivities. He has further expanded his practice through seminars in Bamako, Mali (2009–2010), studying traditional West African dances with master teacher Mare Sanogo.

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