The closing event of this year’s TANEC PRAHA festival will be a new work by Christos Papadopoulos, one of the most distinctive choreographers on today’s European scene. His work grows from the purest form of minimalism. From a gentle rhythm, movement gradually emerges, layering and unfolding canonically into a fascinating interplay – a euphoric celebration of life and togetherness.

Here, synchronization is not the goal but the result of shared movement: “We do not dance together because we are synchronized. We are synchronized because we dance together.” In a time when the world is sinking into uncertainty, wars, and political chaos, this work becomes for Papadopoulos a reminiscence of youth – a return to energy, courage, and faith.

A calming rhythm of steps sets in motion a group of masterfully attuned dancers who, on stage, transform into a single living organism. The metronomic precision of their micro-movements creates the illusion of a perfectly tuned system, fascinating in its unity. Yet each dancer stands out through their individuality and natural presence, accentuated by the casual simplicity of the costumes.

The choreography branches out, as rhythmic phrasing unfolds into a flowing stream of sounds and movements – from quiet footsteps to unified breaths and shouts reminiscent of martial arts. Gradually, individual musical instruments join in, and the movement builds through recurring patterns. At times, one dancer breaks away from the flow – not as an error, but as a deliberate disruption of order that paradoxically heightens the cohesion of the whole. Nothing is excessive; every gesture is precise in detail, retaining both simplicity and strength.

The work combines fluidity and plasticity with sharp, explosive turns, ultimately culminating in an energetic crescendo that ends in an ecstatic finale. Christos Papadopoulos creates an optimistic, extroverted, and captivating piece. My Fierce Ignorant Step is a choreographic meditation on the determination to live fully, on the pulse that holds us together. It evokes youth, courage, freedom, and vital energy – reminding us that in times of chaos and uncertainty, it is the shared rhythm that can restore our strength, joy, and faith.

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The work of Christos Papadopoulos is grounded in precision, detail, and the purest form of minimalism, through which he explores rhythm, breath, and the body’s relationship to space. As the founder of the group The Lion and the Wolf, he has developed a distinctive choreographic language that combines minimalist physicality with an intense collective energy. His early works were selected for Aerowaves and presented on major European stages. Although he collaborates with prestigious European companies, he continues to return to Athens and to his original group, where he seeks his most authentic artistic expression.

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