Deborah Hay Tribute at Pireos 260: Two landmark works and a Lecture-Performance at the Athens Epidaurus Festival

As part of its 20th-anniversary celebrations at Pireos 260, the Athens Epidaurus Festival presents point Deborah Hay, a tribute dedicated to one of the most influential figures of American postmodern dance. On 17 and 18 July, audiences will have the opportunity to experience two landmark works by Deborah Hay–No Time to Fly and As Holy Sites Go-alongside a lecture-performance by Laurent Pichaud and Myrto Katsiki, offering an in-depth exploration of the choreographer’s artistic practice.

Associated with the legendary Judson Dance Theater, the collective that transformed contemporary dance in 1960s New York, Hay fundamentally redefined choreography by moving beyond fixed movement sequences. Instead, she developed written choreographic scores activated through hypothetical questions, turning the dancing body into a site of perception, attention, and continuous inquiry.

At the heart of the programme is No Time to Fly (2010), a solo choreographed and performed by Hay herself. Presented here in an updated version of its original written score, the work encapsulates the essential principles of her practice: heightened awareness, sustained attention, and the unfolding of experience in real time. It is followed by As Holy Sites Go (2011), performed by Jeanine Durning and Ros Warby, a duet based on the same score. By presenting two distinct interpretations of identical choreographic material, the programme offers a rare opportunity to witness how Hay’s open-ended scores generate unique performances while retaining their structural integrity.

The tribute extends beyond the stage through the No Time to Fly Documentation Center, an in situ installation conceived by Laurent Pichaud that invites audiences into Deborah Hay’s archival and textual universe. The programme also coincides with the publication of the first Greek edition of Hay’s Using the Sky. A Dance, translated and introduced by Myrto Katsiki, highlighting another key aspect of her artistic legacy: writing as a choreographic practice. Together with a dance workshop held earlier this month, the project offers a multifaceted introduction to an artist whose work continues to shape contemporary choreographic thought.

Prior to each performance, audiences may also attend a bilingual (Greek-English) lecture-performance by Laurent Pichaud and Myrto Katsiki, taking place within the Documentation Center. Combining archival material and audiovisual documentation, the event examines Deborah Hay’s use of language as a choreographic tool. Participation is limited and requires advance reservation after purchasing a performance ticket.