ABOUT
Levantes Dance Theatre is an award winning performance company that has a constant enthusiasm for fusing artistic disciplines and indulging in vibrant aesthetics. Our performances for theatre venues and outdoor festivals and events are bold, bright and beautiful, inclusive and exploratory, scalable and commercial, with an original style that focuses on striking visuals, engaging characters and athletic movement.
Levantes Dance Theatre’s practice is made of three interconnecting stands.
we make high quality small to mid-scale productions. We produce daring performance, laced with humour, for black box theatre spaces that transcends dance and theatre conventions to offer new and intriguing experiences for audiences.
we produce charming and peculiar public intervention performance in the form of bite sized canapé routines; visual pieces of play that interact closely with audiences at indoor and outdoor events.
we provide fantastic education and skills development opportunities for communities, families, university students, young creatives and professionals.
The three strands collectively develop the company’s connection with audiences who are seeking something delectably different from the norm.
Levantes Dance Theatre is funded mostly through commissions, upon which we have developed a national reputation and track record of delivering high-quality successful productions.
HISTORY
Levantes Dance Theatre was formed by Greek born Eleni Edipidi and British born Bethanie Harrison in 2005, who attended Manchester Metropolitan University together, studying Dance & Visual Art Practices.
They became the creators, designers and performers of a series of award winning, physical, humorous and visually quirky duets. Continuing as sole Artistic Director after Bethanie’ s departure from the company in 2017; Eleni added in the company’s repertoire her love of movement in the air, whilst continuing developing Levantes’s strong and recognisable visual style.
Levantes Dance Theatre has created an international reputation for original conceptual productions and work with a number of exceptional collaborators on each new project.
Levantes Dance Theatre has worked with Jerwood Arts, National Centre for Circus Arts, Greenwich Dance, London Fashion Week, Crying Out Loud, Dance Umbrella, Sadler’s Wells, The Royal Opera House, the barbican, M&S and Selfridges amongst other venues, festivals and events; and have toured in France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the UK.
OUR MISSION
to bring stories of colour in a life that is sometimes grey
to fuse artistic disciplines and indulge in vibrant aesthetics
to bring unexpected and approachable performance to all
to amplify ordinary voices in spectacular ways
to collaborate with new and old creatives
to inspire others and get inspired
to move audiences
to open conversations
to keep bringing high production quality work to all
AWARDS & COMMISSIONS
2024 - Recipient of Circus Around And About 2 for ‘THE BAND’ (Take Art, Crying Out Loud)
2022 - Arts Council England Project Grant for Creation of ‘RUN RABBIT RUN’ & Company Development
2021 - Pop Up London Commission for ‘High Tea (with a twist)’ (Battersea Arts Centre, Found in Music, Mayor of London)
2021 - Flying Fantastic Creative Residency for ‘High Tea With A Twist’
2021 - Arts Council England Project Grant to tour ‘THE BAND’ & ‘CANAPE ART’
2020 - Jerwood Circus Residency for ‘RUN RABBIT RUN’ (Jerwood Space & National Centre for Circus Arts)
2020 - Seed Commission for ‘RUN RABBIT RUN’ (Harrogate Theatre)
2020 - Associate Artist (Any Stage Productions)
2019 - Arts Council England Project Grant to develop ‘RUN RABBIT RUN’
2019 - Clear Sky Residency (Irish Aerial CreationCentre)
2018 - Eleni Edipidi - ‘Develop your Creative Practice’ (Arts Council England)
2018 - Representation of UK Circus at Auch Fest with ‘THE BAND’ (Crying Out Loud, Spotlight UK)
2016 - Circulate Artists for outdoor work ‘Parlour’ (The Albany)
2016 - Eleni Edipidi - Choreographer ‘SOHO’ (National Centre for Circus Arts, The Peacock Theatre/ Sadler’s Wells)
2016 - Eleni Edipidi - Choreographer ‘Dancing Bear’, Jamie Fletcher (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Palace Theatre)
2015 - Commission for outdoor work ’Sun Kissed’ (Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre)
2013 - Choreography for Children's Award for ‘Duck Man’ (The Place, Sadler's Wells, Company of Angels)
2012 - Commission for ‘Canapé Art’ (The Royal Opera House)
2012 - 2020 - Associate Artist (Greenwich Dance)
2011 - Escalator Dance Artists (DepArts)
2011 - Method Lab Commission for ‘Two Peas without a Pod’ (greenroom)
2010 - Bonnie Bird New UK Choreography Award for ‘Two Peas without a Pod’ (Laban)
2009 - The Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award for ‘Room Temperature Romance’ (The Barbican)
2009 - Marion Mentoring Scheme Award (Laban)
PEOPLE
ELENI EDIPIDI
Artistic Director & founder
Eleni is a freelance performer, choreographer and teacher. She has collaborated and performed internationally with Stufish Productions, Upswing, Marie-Gabrielle Rotie, Protein Dance, Princess Drawing School, National Portrait Gallery, Retina Dance, CAMPO Victoria (Bel), Interkunst (Ger), Darkin Ensemble, EVERYBODY DANCE, Gossamer Thread Circus, Cirque Bijoux and Mandinga Arts amongst others. Eleni is an Associate artist for Anystage Productions since 2019 and a performer for Tmesis Theatre since 2015.
Originally from Athens, Greece, Eleni initially trained as a visual artist and dancer. She gained a BA in Visual Arts (2004, Manchester Metropolitan University) and an MA in European Dance Theatre Practice (2005, Laban). Her passion of marrying Visual Arts & Dance resulted in co-founding Levantes Dance Theatre in 2005.
Eleni has been teaching and devising work internationally for all ages and abilities since 2008.
Nathan Johnston
ASSOCIATE ARTIST/ performer
Nathan graduated from LCDS in 2010. He has choreographed and performed both nationally and internationally. Nathan's performance credits Include Jorge Crecis, Punchdrunk, Corey Baker Dance, Zoielogic Dance Theatre Upswing Aerial and Ockhams Razor.
Choreograpghic credits:
-Remount Choreographer - 'Nixon in China', Scottish Opera.
-Assistant Choreographer - 'Bridge', Corey Baker Dance
-Choreographic team for Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremony, Birmingham 2022.
Nathan has been an Associate Artist and performer for Levantes Dance Theatre since 2018.
Ivonne Kalter
Associate ARTIST/performer
Ivonne is originally from Germany, where she studied at Heinz Bosl Stiftung Ballet Academy and later on at the Iwanson School of Contemporary Dance. Ivonne received the Isadora Award in 2010 for the most promising young dancer. Ivonne is a dancer for CoisCeim Dance Theatre. She recently performed in the co-production ‘Body Language’ and ‘The Wolf and Peter’ by David Bolger in The Sydney Opera House.
Ivonne has been an Associate Artist for Levantes Dance Theatre since 2018.
Foteini Christofilopoulou
ASSOCIATE ARTIST/
Photographer
Greek born, London based photographer Foteini Christofilopoulou, specialises in portraiture, and the performing arts, where she focuses on dance, opera, theatre and creative learning. She is a regular contributor to the industry publication http://dancetabs.com and has a broad client base spanning organisations such as Dance Umbrella, the Royal Academy of Dance, Sadler's Wells, Etta Ermini Dance Theatre and many more.
Foteini’s more unusual work includes dance theatre shoots, which involves playing an active role in the creative process and subsequently in live performance.
Foteini has been capturing Levantes Dance Theatre with her camera since 2012.
GOPAN IYADURAI
Visual & Multimedia DIRECTOR
Gopan works as Levantes Dance Theatre’s Multimedia and Visual Director since its foundation in 2005. His role involves documenting the work through film, editing moving images and marketing material.
Gopan trained at Goldsmiths and gained an MSc in Computer Arts (2005), he has a BA in Visual Arts (2004, Manchester Metropolitan University). Gopan is also currently working full-time at Channel 4, The Production Centre as a Senior Video Editor.
Niki Edipidi
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Niki is a production stage manager with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment industry.
She has been working with Levantes Dance Theatre since its foundation in 2005. Since graduating with a BA in Performing Arts (2006, Roehampton University), Niki has been involved in projects such as Sochi 2014 Medals Plaza Winter Olympic Games, Expo 2016 Antalya and Africa Cup of Nations 2019.
Penny Cunningham
Stage manager
Penny is a touring Stage Manager and Technical Stage Manager from West Yorkshire. She has toured nationally and internationally with numerous small- to mid-scale companies including Filskit Theatre, Pauline Mayers Ensemble, Emma Serjeant Productions, and Images Ballet Company. Her work covers all genres of performance from theatre to dance and circus. She is also Technical Manager of Strange-Twig Theatre taking their performances to outdoor events and venues up and down the country.
Penny has been working regularly with Levantes Dance Theatre since 2013.
Sarah Trist
Tour Booker
Sarah Trist is the only dedicated tour booking agent for contemporary dance artists in the UK, connecting with presenters, communicating with audiences nationally and internationally and meeting a range of cultural objectives. She began her freelance career 30 years’ ago after working at Riverside Studios and Donmar Warehouse Theatre, and founded Sarah Trist Dance Management Agency in 2005. Sarah has worked with Protein Dance, Company Chameleon, Aakash Odedra Company, Didy Veldman, Vincent Dance Theatre, Sankalpam, Rafael Bonachela, Russell Maliphant, Wendy Houstoun and Willi Dorner, and provided training courses and consultancy for Dance City, South East Dance, Dance Northwest, Greenwich Dance, Hampshire Dance and London School of Contemporary Dance. She was a founding member of Independent Dance Managers Network and is a trustee of Pavilion Dance South West. Sarah has degrees in Music from Cardiff University and Psychology & Counselling from Roehampton University.
MATT LACKFORD
PART-TIME ADMINISTRATOR
Matt has 10 years experience as a self employed dance artist, lecturer and arts administrator.
Matt has worked as an administrator for London Contemporary Dance School, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Middlesex University and The Royal Ballet Company amongst others.
Matt joined Levantes Dance Theatre in 2020.
STEERING GROUP
VICKI AMEDUME ARTISTIC DIRECTOR UPSWING
PHIL HARGREAVES PRODUCER
DAVID HOYLE CABARET ARTIST
MELANIE PRECIOUS CEO GREENWICH DANCE
LOUISE RICHARDS FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MOTIONHOUSE
JOANNA RIDOUT CREATIVE CONSULTANT / FACILITATOR / TRAINER
HILARY WESTLAKE PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR
ABIGAIL YEATES SHOW DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER/ ANYSTAGE PRODUCTIONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOANNA RIDOUT CREATIVE CONSULTANT / FACILITATOR / TRAINER
CHRIS WILLIAMS JOINT DIRECTOR OF DRUNKEN CHORUS
NATHAN JOHNSTON FREELANCE PERFORMER/ CHOREOGRAPHER