The city of Kalamata from afar in "Mesa" by Dimitris Papaioannou, which concluded last year's Festival. The city of Kalamata and modern dance, a cult relationship that celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, showcasing more than any other year the city itself. Tonight the Kalamata Dance Hall will be packed for the premiere of the 20th Kalamata International Dance Festival (art direction: Vicky Marangopoulou), where the performance of the much loved in Greece Nederlands Dans Theater will be presented. From much earlier on the streets of the city, in the squares, at the port, around the beautiful neoclassical buildings of Kalamata, one of the two workshops of this year's festival entitled "On the road" will have started. A great opening to the city community that follows similar pioneering actions that have been taking place for years abroad. "We are talking about an absolutely young festival", the mayor of Kalamata Panagiotis Nikas tells me from the other end of the phone line, who speaking to "K" about the economic dimension as well as the cultural impact of the Festival in the city of Kalamata pointed out the huge participation of young people not only as spectators but also as volunteers ("an attendance so great that it cannot be satisfied"). A new hotel complex may not have been built to meet the needs of the Festival, Nevertheless, as Panagiotis Nikas pointed out, "every year the transformation of the coastal zone of Kalamata during the days of the Festival is impressive. Athenians, Europeans, artists and spectators of all ages change the rhythms of the city". That's right. Those who have come to Kalamata for the dance festival know this well. Increase in overnight stays in the city's hotels, mainly during the days of the Festival, as well as an increase in transactions in catering and entertainment shops, Panagiotis Nikas points out as "direct benefits to the economic life of the city". Another exciting Kalamata International Dance Festival is ready for action. We look forward to it! DAILY Print Newspaper
