Stella Zannou was born in Athens and has studied dance in London College of Dance, London Studio Centre, The American College of Greece (BA) and the Greek State School of Dance. She formed “Smack Dance Company” in Greece and is currently living in Berlin, working as a freelance dancer, teacher and choreographer. As a dancer she has worked amongst others with Johannes Wieland, Walter Bickmann, Maya Lipsker, Clint Lutes, Xaris Mandafounis, Thomas Mettler, Richard Siegal, Michael Klein. As a choreographer she has created work for Staatstheater Kassel, S.E.A.D. and Vienna Operahouse under the direction of Karoline Gruber and has presented her own productions for numerous theaters and festivals such as: One small step festival, Dock 11, 5th and 6th Athens International Festival, Gnarl Festival, No ballet festival. She is teaching at Staatstheater Braunschweig/ Kassel, S.E.A.D., cie Toula Limnaios, Coda International dance festival, Nachschub, Potsdamer Tanztage, B12, Hollins University, Anton Bruckner University, Lincoln University. Stella has won the price of the audience for the duet “We like men strong cause they last longer”, in Budapest in 2003 and was voted as “Dancer of the year” for the Ballet Tanz magazine by Katja Werner 2003 and Arnd Wesemann in 2010.
THE CLASS: My class is experimenting with different movement qualities, combining technique and different dynamics with personal interpretation and sensitivity. Through the use of a quite unique method – a kind of a game, emphasis is given on the realization of external stimuli and on the possibility to instantly switch between passive and active roles. To dance with passion, dynamics, fully engaged and at the same time to be fully aware of the environment, ready for action or ready to let go and with a sensitive “group feeling” is something that I consider rare in the dance world. I find this combination very challenging and that’s something I’m trying to work on in my classes. In general these will be dynamic classes that will help us at the same time build technique and physicality through an enjoyable way, with a lot of acrobatic influences and love for the floor.
at DancePAT April: 23.04. – 27.04.2018
previously: 03.10. – 07.10.2016
