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the AfroGreeks meet OMMA group – Performance and public discussion with Afro dancers for 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture
16/09/2021 Elefsina, Greece
The protagonists of the AfroGreeks were invited by Michail Marmarinos, the artistic director of 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture and by Aeschylia 2021 to act as an artistic “stanchion” to protect the dance performance “OMMA” against racist threats of extremist groups of the region.
Døcumatism organized an action where 33 protagonists of the project traveled to Elefsina by bus (especially for the action) and attended the performance. After the performance a public discussion was organized with the choreographer and the dancers of the OMMA group (originating from Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Congo – Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo). The discussion was moderated by dance anthropologist Natasha Martins and Afro-Greek anthropologist, performer Grace Nwoke, asking questions about how dance and movement – and any artistic approach – can become meaningful and effective tools of expression and a direct and concise way of communication that cancels out language limitations. Audience members actively participated in the discussion, which led dancers and audience to dance together in the theater’s courtyard.
