Our Founder, Teacher & Facilitator

Apostolia Papadamaki

 

Apostolia is an internationally acclaimed choreographer/director and an Ancient Greek Wisdom Keeper. She is the creator of the ceremonial site-specific performances called  Anamnesis.  

She is also a mindfulness and embodied spirituality mentor, and the founder of The Happiness Retreat.

Her artistic work and teaching methods are inspired by her lifelong research on Ancient Greek Mythology, Rituals, Philosophy, Drama, and History, linked with archetypical themes. Her work has been presented in more than 15 Archeological sites of Greece and numerous festivals around the world.

She studied Sports Science at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dance at the State School of Dance of Greece, earned a BA in choreography in New York under scholarships of the Onassis Foundation and the Goulandris Foundation, as well as well-being modalities such as Meditation, Mindfulness, Yoga, and Breath-work.

Creative, Innovative, Hardworking, Visionary, and Collaborative, Apostolia has extensive experience in conceiving, choreographing, and directing large-scale artistic projects, corporate events, opera, and film.

Since 2010 she has developed a powerful holistic wellness technology combining all her skills, facilitating workshops, training, and retreats for individuals, groups, companies, and organizations.

Being a visionary artist, a polymath, and a humanitarian with outstanding organizational and administrative skills, she served as a Member of the Board of Directors at The Athens Concert Hall (2016-2019),  as the President of the Board of the State School of Dance (2004-2006). She has been leading several EU Creative Europe programs collaborating with many European countries. 

 

Apostolia Papadamaki From Darkness To Light Anamnesis Sleep and Dream Performance Temple of Apollo Epicurius Greece

Some of her Major artistic achievements include Drops of Breath /  the 1st underwater dance performance in the world Anamnesis method / a new model of participatory performance in archeological sights, and Paralympic Games opening ceremony / Athens 2004, broadcasted worldwide.

She created numerous corporate and tailor-made events, films, and commercials collaborating with:  SNFCC, Onassis Stegi, Ministry of Culture, GNTO, Sani Festival, The American College of Greece, Vodafone, Grecotel, Opel Hellas, PMI Greece ( Papastratos), Amanzoe Hotel, Avion Films, Stefi films a.o.

A lover of movement, healing arts, and nature, she also studied Water Healing Movement, Music, Voice, Physical Theater, AiKiDo, Scuba Diving, Craniosacral Therapy, and Rei-Ki collaborating with inspiring artists, musicians, and teachers in many lands.

Apostolia is a visionary multi-artist, creating a series of unique experiential performances, called Anamnesis and they are participatory with the audience. Presented in major archeological sacred sites of Greece, these performances are a call to the soul to remember who we are and where we come from, honoring the relationship between Humanity, Nature, and the Divine.

The Oracles of Water -site Specific Performance in Delphi, Greece

 

Endowed with a vast knowledge of many body-mind-soul modalities Apostolia founded The Happiness Retreat to share her knowledge, experience, and joy with other beautiful souls inviting them to transformational journeys in Greece and abroad.

Read Apostolia's Interview in Delphi Reclaimed

After 20 years of ongoing studies on embodied anatomy and research on human movement mechanics, she founded Biomatic Anatomy, a holistic method of applied human anatomy exercises, mindful breath & breath awareness that expands to her teachings in all the other modalities like Spirit Contact Dance, Water Healing Movement, Yoga, Breath, and Meditation.

She believes that everybody is a perfect human being, at any age and can find fulfillment by cultivating self-love, mindfulness, creativity, and a true connection with Nature.

She has been choreographing theater productions of Ancient Greek Tragedy for more than 15 years and she has deep knowledge of how to orchestrate Logos, Melos, and Orchesis ( Word, Music, Movement)

In 2004, she choreographed the 12th Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium of Athens, for 600 professional and amateur dancers, broadcast live worldwide. In 2015 she created Drops of Breath, the 1st Underwater Dance performance in the world, for 20 abled and disabled dancers.

 

Apostolia Papadamaki Spirit Contact Dance Apostolia Papadamaki The Happiness Retreat Dancing in Pori

In 2016 she launched the Anamnesis Sleep &  Dream project, a performance that lasts from 6-14 hours with the participation of the audience performing, dreaming, and sleeping on stage. Since 2018, Anamnesis has been presented in Greece's most significant archeological sites under the auspices of The Ministry of Culture & Tourism and other public and private organizations. 

She has been directing and choreographing Opera, Film, Corporate events, and tailor-made productions. 

She has contributed a lot to the development of contemporary performance in her country serving as a :

President, Board of Directors at the State School of Dance (2004-06)
Artistic Director of Dimitria International Festival in Thessaloniki for dance (2013)
Member of the Board, Centre for Ancient Greek Drama (2004-16)
Member of the Board International Institute for Theatre – Greek Department (2006-08)
Member, Board of Directors at The Athens Concert Hall (2016-2019)

She is collaborating with many artists, teachers, and healers in many lands.

 

Visit Apostolia's Artistic Website