"Finding Freedom through the limitation"
Aimilios Arapoglou Is an amazing dancer and choreographer with an outstanding career, working and collaborating with great choreographers like Damien Jalet and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. He also was invited to take part in the project “Bolero” as an assistant choreographer to Sibi Larbi Cherkaoui, Damien Jalet, and the performance artist Marina Abramovic.
-You have an outstanding career: you worked with the greatest choreographers in the European and International scene. What do you think is the key to all your successes?
"Curiosity. Being curious: curious and humble. And also generous to each other. In the creation process of Skid, with the dance floor 34-degree incline as set design, every time someone discovered something new, it was a revelation and immediately the idea was shared with the group to move forward and reach different levels of letting go, discovering how gravity reacts to the body in that situation."
-How important for you is the process of researching before the creation of a piece?
"It is the ultimate pleasure in the journey. It is what you construct to reach. You may start from something really technical and you transform it. It is very important. Finding one element, one idea, and going deeper and deeper, pushing forward some tasks: this is what creates the final result, that you can also develop more. Limitations are challenging also in the process: you can find freedom through the limitation. It brings me further, physically, mentally. You challenge yourself through limitations."
-Your movements are pure. How did you arrive in this pureness in movements and dance?
"Surrounding by gravity, letting go, have a strong center and try to activate the peripheries, constantly play with the idea of being centered and being pushed by invisible forces, and of course and receiving all the energy from the ground. It is really interesting to discover how to use less effort possible while moving. After I researched my body and I went on stage, all the vocabulary you develop in the studio, researching, remains."
-You joined Eastman. How is working with Sidi Larbi? What fascinates you about his work?
"It always fascinated me how he organized movement in space, how he writes in space, how, from something very simple, he was able to create complexity. He is about “simplexity”. He is like a mathematician in space, it is very fascinating to watch. It is always fascinating to investigate the musicality that he always creates. It is a very interesting universe of music, cultures together, musicians, sounds from all around the world: an amazing performance."
-You are working a lot with Damien Jalet. What fascinates you about his work?
"The idea of growing from one creation to the other: keeping mostly the same vocabulary and principles of movements, but accumulating more and more new elements, and it is very interesting. It has been 7 years almost that we worked together and seeing the first creations in the past, it is interesting to see how the movement grows with the creations. After Skid I have new windows and doors open of movement.
In all his process it is interesting how in the end you become effortless and you construct something that helps you to pass to another level to not even thinking and not even counting, letting go and reach trans, with the help of music and set design. "
-You also participated in the Bolero as an assistant choreographer. How was working with Marina Abramovic, today an icon?
"It is so beautiful to meet people from different fields. I remember there was a day she started applying her practice to the ballet dancers, that was super interesting how they approached it, it was a pretty physical and vortex creation. When it starts it spreads all around. I was watching the dancers at the generals and I was admiring the way they kept on turning without losing the intention. "
-As a choreographer, what do you like about the process of creating?
"I am inspired by cinema. Reality and poetry exposed. The cinematography of a movie has always been something that caught my attention. All these images that come to life through movement and tell a story. It is very interesting how the plot and the anatomy of some films may initially confuse the viewer as if provoking him to compose a very difficult and complex puzzle, but then towards the end of a film, everything becomes linked and meaningful, complexity transform to “simplexity” and a complete or an incomplete final concept is created. Very similar to how I experience choreography.. The idea of writing in space, finding ways to make sense, apply your idea, and make sense in space. It is pretty challenging work, including all the elements of this time: politically, socially, spiritually."
-How can you define dance today? What is its purpose?
"The anatomy and the possibilities that are created in space and time through dance are fascinating. Searching always for that instant equilibrium while dancing, moving, shifting. Dance is a language that transcends. A field and an ocean of emotions. Dancing to keep strong and fight this unbelievable world pressure."
-You traveled a lot for performing. How important do you think is the culture in dance?
"I have been always traveling and while traveling dive into different cultures, being inspired by different rituals and countries. In every creation, there is a small or big reference to rituals. And it is a blessing to have the chance to explore and learn about different cultures and then apply them in the world. There is so much richness in every culture that can inspire you and it is also very interesting how you can be inspired by certain rituals and transform them into your own way, physically, conceptually."
-Describe yourself as an artist in three words
"Intuition, invisible force, and open book."
-Can you give some advice to young dancers?
"Stay curious and never doubt yourself. Always have an intention when doing things."
Thank you so much for this fascinating interview! We are so blessed by this chance!
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