Searching for Europa

We come from different shores of the Mediterranean Sea, from landscapes that chase each other like the waves, in a play of mirrors and resemblances.
In our journeys, we oscillate between East and West, between conflicts and hopes, between horror and beauty.

On the island of Cyprus, marked by war — where Nicosia stands, the last European capital divided by a wall, and where our research began — we also oscillate between South and North.
We cross the buffer zone that divides the two parts of the island, pass through the checkpoint controls, moving up and down, always in the endless search for Europa.
Oscillation seems to be the only possible movement in the Mediterranean Sea.

Sometimes we truly move, other times we remain still.
Sometimes we speak like old friends, and sometimes we kill each other.
We will never find Europa again — the beautiful Phoenician princess abducted by Zeus — but we will search for her nonetheless, and we will embrace this oscillation, without reservation.

Searching for Europa:
project and choreography: Giulio De Leo with Erika Guastamacchia | music: Vaggelis Gettos | lighting design: Antonio Longo | photos: Kyriakos Xristodoulides | co-production: Menhir/LE DANZATRICI en plein air 2024 (ITA) – ANTI-SKINO PERFORMING ARTS (CYP) | with the support of: Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus – Department of Contemporary Culture (CYP) | Center for Social Innovation CSI (CYP) | in collaboration with: project “alle S.E.R.R.E.” by Cooperativa Sociale ZORBA – Terlizzi (ITA) | TEX – Il teatro dell’Ex Fadda – San Vito dei Normanni (ITA) | thanks to: Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation (CYP) | exclusive owner of the rights to use photos and videos by Kyriakos Xristodoulides within FANEROMENI 24 ART FESTIVAL (CYP)