Guiding principles
Dance House Lemesos is a non-profit cultural organisation based in Limassol, Cyprus, functioning as a home for the development of contemporary dance and performance. The organisation envisions itself as a roof for growth, exchange and innovation within the field of contemporary artistic creation. It creates structures and programmes that support professional artistic development, experimentation, research and the presentation of works focusing on body and movement as a means of provoking curiosity, dialogue and expression. At the centre of its mission lies the creation of appropriate working conditions that prioritise the well-being of the Cypriot artistic community.
At the same time, Dance House Lemesos functions as a roof for exchange and extroversion, connecting the local artistic community with the international scene through projects and collaborations. It cultivates a safe environment that encourages direct communication between artists and the local community through the lens of critical thinking, while continuously seeking innovative ways to make contemporary artistic creation visible and accessible.
As a roof for innovation and interdisciplinarity, DHL brings together artists and artistic mediums in order to exchange and activate new narratives, practices and methodologies around the body and the socio-political contexts that surround it. The organisation believes in the constant renegotiation of the creative process and resists stereotypical perspectives that frame contemporary creation, while continuously re-examining the role of art in society and its own role as an organisation within that landscape.
History
Dance House Lemesos, also known as Stegi, was established in 2007 by dance artists based in Limassol as a structure dedicated to supporting local artistic research and practice. Its development began in 2005 through an initiative by choreographer Lia Haraki, who invited the most active contemporary dance groups of Limassol to share a rehearsal space and host their artistic research. In 2007, driven by a common vision, the collectives pelma.lia haraki, Chorotheatro Omada Pente, En drasi, Interact Group and Solipsism came together to create Dance House Lemesos as an open, artist-run structure dedicated to the development of dance and the support of artistic potential on the island. The founding members formed the organisation’s first board of directors and invested their time, knowledge and experience in establishing its fundamental principles.
Today, after nineteen years of uninterrupted operation, DHL continues to be run by artists and remains a key reference point for the Cypriot choreographic community. As the first cultural organisation on the island dedicated to professional contemporary dance, it was recognised and funded by the Cultural Services of the former Ministry of Education and Culture. Currently, the organisation is funded by the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and is supported by the Municipality of Limassol.
Building and facilities
Over the past three years, Dance House Lemesos has been without a permanent physical home, following the loss of its space, operating from a small office. For the purposes of its activities is collaborating with multiple venues across the city. The organisation remains in constant search of a venue that can accommodate its needs and once again serve as a stable and long-term home for its activities and community.
