On the occasion of the Olympic Torch Relay in Greece, the Embassy of France and the French Institute of Greece, in collaboration with Flux Laboratory, present "The Olympic Cypher", a dance performance conceived, choreographed and artistically edited by Ilias Hatzigeorgiou.

In order to honor breakdancing, a new sport of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, a series of performances will be organized from April 16 to 26, which will accompany the Olympic Flame from Ancient Olympia in Athens.

The course of the dance performances will follow that of the Olympic torch relay, making stops in certain cities: in Ancient Olympia on April 16, in the Municipal Theater Square in Piraeus on April 17, in Giali Mosque in Chania on April 18, in Volos Beach - University of Thessaly in Volos on April 20th, in Mavili Square in Ioannina on April 23rd, and then in Athens on April 26th for the Touching and Handing Over of the Olympic Flame Ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium.

Ilias Hatzigeorgiou and the team of dancers of The Olympic Cypher create a big dance circle in each city. Is it battle, performance or improvisation?

The dancers manage space, time and the number of people in the circle, sometimes improvising on common conceptual axes and sometimes through choreographed parts, each time interpreting a unique performance to the sounds of the original electronic music of Alexis Faladas.

The group meets on stage breakdancers from each city, who participate in the action representing the local dance community. Solos, duets, trios, quartets are momentarily created and lost again in this cycle that, at the end, opens up to the audience to participate with the dancers.

The Olympic Cypher program is based on the Olympic tradition of Greece and aims to highlight the relationship between art and sport as well as their shared values. At the same time, through The Olympic Cypher, breakdancing is highlighted as a new Olympic sport and the public is given the opportunity to join and participate in this unique festive and collective moment.

Coefficients:
Choreography: Ilias Hatzigeorgiou
Original music/Live performance: Alexis Falantas
Assistant Choreographer: 'Edi Ormeni
Lighting design: Nikos Vlasopoulos
Photography: Spyros Strogylis
Cinematography: Stefanos Hatzis
Costumes: Konstantinos Priovolos/VOID
Organization & production execution: Achilleas Stavrou (Goodheart Productions)
Production: French Institute of Greece / Flux Laboratory

Interpretation: Sevasti Zafira, Hara Kyriakaki, Pavlos Lykoudis, Sokratis Romphaias, Haris Hatziandreou, Aidy Ormeni, etc.