IOANNIS MANDAFOUNIS
Training: Ballet Class

10:30 – 12:30

Inspired by the “Budo” teachings of mr. Akira Hino and his experience with the Forsythe Company, Ioannis Mandafounis has developed a deep interest on the general body motricity and function. His teaching is based on simple classical (ballet) motion forms that allow the dancer to feel the movement and the natural anatomical laws in order to integrate and project a clear information.

Using torsion as his primary tool he tries to connect the upper and lower body motion through an organic experience and overcome in that way basic preconceived technical themes that dancers face every day.

Finally, the idea of expansion of possibilities and solutions in the dance practice is the last point that belongs to the experience of movement and the part where everybody’s own experience will be challenged.

Born in Athens in 1981, Ioannis Mandafounis studied dance at the National school 
of Athens and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris.
Before becoming a freelance Choreographer, he was part of the Gothenburg Opera Ballet, the Nederlands Dans Theater II and in 2005 became member of the Forsythe
company.


In 2004 he forms together with Katerina Skiada and Anastasis Gouliaris the “Lemurius company” with which they create, produce and presents several works in Athens and for festivals like "Kalamata International Festival” or the
“Athens Festival”.

10 years ago he started the collective group mamaza together with Fabrice Mazliah and May Zarhy and creates the following works: P.A.D. HUE, Z.E.R.O., Cover Up, PAUSING, The NIKEL project, Asingeline, Eifo Efi, etc..

These works are shown in venues and festival across Europe and Asia.

Ioannis Mandafounis was associated artist of deSingel theater in Antwerp for the season 2011-2012 with the trio MAMAZA and later was supported by the RESO Swiss for dance 2012-2013, the program Modul Dance (european program for dance) 2012-2013 and the Kultur Stiftung des Bundes, in residency at Kunstlerhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt Germany. Finally, Ioannis is Supported by the program Prairie from the Pourcent Culturel Migros /Switzerland since 2013.

Today Ioannis continues he's collaborative path with Elena Giannotti in ApersonA created in 2014. The performative instalation "One One One" with Aoife McAtamney, and a new piece in collaboration with Laurent Chétouane in 2015. And the creation "A Real Case Of Nothing" together with Bruce Myers, Elena Giannotti and Roberta Mosca in 2016.

Paralely he teaches improvisation and choreography from the point of view of an ancient form of martial art "Budo" as well as making works for other schools or companies like: Ballet Junior Genève, Palucca Schule Dresden, Hohschule Frankfurt, CFC Geneva, P.A.R.T.S. Bruxelles, la Manufacture Lausanne and others...