“Rahokokkalia” Explores Density, Connection and the Human Body Through Dance

Choreographer Agni Papadeli Rossetou presents Rahokokkalia (“Backbone”), a new dance work inspired by the idea of density and the invisible forces that bind bodies, matter and communities together. The performance will be presented at FIAT in Athens from 17 to 21 June 2026.

The title refers to the backbone, but also evokes a range of interconnected images: a fishbone, a mountain ridge, the human spine, or the core strength of a group. Through these associations, the work examines processes of concentration and dispersal, solidity and fluidity, both in nature and in human relationships.

On stage, six dancers and two musicians function as a single interconnected organism. Moving through a series of evolving formations and states, they create fleeting images inspired by natural phenomena, organic systems and material transformations. Within these constantly shifting landscapes, moments of individuality emerge, revealing the performers’ humanity and their relationships to one another.

The work draws inspiration from Abacus (1983), a sculpture by the late Greek artist George Lappas. In his reflections on density, Lappas recalled the desert landscapes of the Sahara, where grains of sand could become a hill in one moment and a cloud in the next. This tension between the individual particle and the collective mass serves as a central metaphor for the performance.

Music plays a vital role in shaping the experience. The two performers’ voices act as additional bodies within the space, weaving through silence, rhythm and resonance, altering the audience’s perception of density and presence on stage.

Credits

Choreography: Agni Papadeli Rossetou
Performers: Manos Kotsaris, Vittoria Kotsalou, Ermis Malkotsis, Ino Riga, Marina Tsapekou, Agni Papadeli Rossetou
Composition & Sound Dramaturgy: Vassoula Delli
Vocals: Vassoula Delli, Roula Tsernou
Costume Design: Eleftheria Arapoglou
Dramaturgy Consultant: Bettina Panagiotara
Lighting Design: Tasos Palaioroutas