Kiki de Montparnasse & Colette, two iconic figures of the Parisian Belle Époque and the Années Folles of the 1920s, left an indelible mark as both artists and pioneering personalities. They lived during a time of artistic explosions and new ideas, moving forward with passion, dreams, and daring, leaving a lasting imprint on collective memory.
A century later, these two women serve as a source of inspiration for performers Aliki Germanou and Nikoleta Xeneriou, who create the Butoh dance-theater trilogy Kiki et Colette / The Age of Time. The work explores the concept of the eternal cycle of Time, the connection between past and present, and its reappearance as a new version.
In the first part, titled “The Illusion”, the two heroines meet for the first time in a house–stage, accompanied by ancestors, ghosts, and truths. In the second part, “The Dream”, they are willingly drawn into a shared subconscious, while in the third and final part, “The Gift”, they align completely in a groundbreaking drama set in present time.
Time, as a mysterious figure, runs through the entire trilogy—transforming from host–usher in the first part, to burglar–fish–gift-giver in the second, and finally into a strict, high-ranking divine entity in the third.
Butoh Trilogy :
Kiki et Colette The Age of Time
The work is grounded in the choreographic language of Butoh and utilizes tools from the Viewpoints technique. Sources of inspiration include alchemical psychology, the filmography of David Lynch, texts by T.S. Eliot, biographical elements of Kiki de Montparnasse & Colette, as well as personal experiences.
The performance is a continuous search for new choreographic structures and narrative modes. Time expands and floods the space. The shifting images create a surreal visual experience, while the sequence of scenes and their unpredictable juxtapositions compose a paradoxical narrative.
Scenography, soundscape, lighting, and video art function as organic elements of the dramaturgy, enhancing the overall experience of the performance.
May 2, 3, 4 & 9, 10, 11
To Mikro Studio, 5 Agiou Nikolaou Street, Aegina
Limited seating available Book your tickets at: kiki.et.colette@gmail.com
Duration: 80 minutes (with intermission) The performance is intended for an adult audience.
Contributors:
Concept / Choreography / Costume design / Performance: Aliki Germanou & Nikoleta Xenariou || Performance: Christos Karnakis || Scenography / Set design: Andreas Theodorou || Sound design / Video art / Photography / Technical support: Aris Michalopoulos || Lighting: Ioanna Athanasiou || Mask creation: Giorgos Gyparakis || Graphic design: Vagelis Phocas
Production Management & Execution: Common Era
