CORYBANTES, by Studio Simkin Curated by Daniil Simkin

Creative Producer: Mariam Medvedeva

Produced and Commissioned by the Friends of the Eleutherna Archaeological Museum

On June 26 and 27, 2026, the ancient soil of Eleutherna will become the stage for CORYBANTES, an extraordinary site-specific dance production born from a unique collaboration between Professor Nikos Stampolidis for the Museum of ancient Eleutherna and Studio Simkin, the creative vehicle of internationally renowned dance star Daniil Simkin.

The centerpiece of the evening will be the world premiere of a contemporary ballet piece choreographed specifically for the occasion by the acclaimed dancemaker Andrey Kaidanovskiy. Performed outdoors on a specially constructed stage directly in front of the Museum, CORYBANTES will be brought to life by a stellar quartet of global ballet icons: Maria Kochetkova, Rebecca Horner, Tess Voelker, and Daniil Simkin. By staging a purposefully curated performance at the very geographic heart of the myth it seeks to re-envision, the program offers a rare, visceral connection to history through the universal language of human movement.

The Dialogue of the Ephemeral and the Enduring

CORYBANTES explores the profound tension between the fleeting nature of dance—an art form existing purely in the here and now—and the permanence of the Museum’s architecture and millennia-old collections. The evening is an exploration of what Professor Nikos Stampolidis describes as a deeply human-centric vision: a reminder that museums are ultimately built from the stories of people, not just stones.

In a poignant counterpoint to modern technology, Professor Stampolidis offers the concept of Ancestral Intelligence (AI)—a celebration of human heritage, memory, and creative continuity across generations, manifested here through the physical bodies and artistry of these four exceptional dancers.

A Harmony of Contrasts

At the core of this collaboration is the ancient Greek concept of Heraclitus’ Palintonos Harmonia—a harmony that thrives within opposing elements, unifying antiquity, contemporary design, and fluid motion. This creative tension is further elevated by the Greek idea of anthropocentric gods; by viewing the divine through the lens of human form, flaws, and passions, the ancient myth becomes startlingly contemporary.

This duality is beautifully captured in the production’s wardrobe, designed by the iconic Greek fashion house Zeus + Dione under the creative direction of Marios Schwab. Reflecting the brand’s core philosophy—the coexistence of structure and fluidity, strength and sensuality—the costumes feature clean, architectural lines tailored to act as a natural extension of the body, translating the dancers’ physical language into moving art.

A Masterful Program

In addition to the world premiere by Kaidanovskiy, the exceptionally curated evening features a breathtaking repertoire of masterworks and contemporary gems, including Benjamin Millepied’s Closer, Maurice Béjart’s Lohengrin, Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, Tess Voelker’s spurt, and Ben Van Cauwenbergh’s Les Bourgeois.

Together, these works transform the archaeological site into a living canvas, bridging the gap between what has been preserved in stone and what can be expressed in a single, breathless moment.