A co-organisation of the Kalamata International Dance Festival with the French Institute of Greece, the French Institute of Cyprus, and the Accrorap company of choreographers Kader Attou and Sophie Bulbulyan.
“Smala” is a touring choreographic project developed since 2023 by Kader Attou and the Accrorap company, based at Friche La Belle de Mai in Marseille.
Its aim is to create spaces for encounter, exchange, and inspiration among artists and cultural organisations across the Mediterranean, using hip hop as a shared expressive language.
The workshop held from 21 to 30 October at the Kalamata International Dance Centre brought together dancers from Greece and Cyprus who had previously participated in the transmission programme of The Roots by Kader Attou in 2021, originally presented in Kalamata in 2019 as part of the opening of the 25th Kalamata International Dance Festival. Four years later, this new initiative seeks to engage artists in an ongoing process of creative continuity and intercultural dialogue through the language of dance and hip hop.
At the same time, strengthening the connection between the visiting artists and the local dance community, a two-day advanced dance workshop and an open rehearsal for the public were offered free of charge.
Following Kalamata, the “Smala” programme continued to two additional Mediterranean destinations: Limassol, in collaboration with the Limassol Contemporary Dance Centre, and Marseille, where it will conclude its cycle as part of Saison Méditerranée 2026.
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