Grigoris - G. Gaitanaros is the creator of Face the Fact Art & Research Co. (2012) and director of Face the Fact Studio (2016). Company's research purpose is the connection between visual and performing arts, as well as with philosophy, literature, psychology and politics with the focus in writing, cinema, and dancetheater.
He was born in 1984 in Athens (Greece). He graduated from the Democritus University (Faculty of Law, Greece, 2002 - 2007) and he is a member of Piraeus Bar Association since 2010. He studied dance at the Institut de Formation Professionnelle de danse Rick Odums (IFPRO - professional dance departement) to Paris (France, 2008-2009). He holds a Master’s degree (distinction) in design for performing & visual Arts at Middlesex University of London (UK, 2013 - 2014), as well as an ongoing Master’s degree in the interuniversity program of creative writing at the University of Western Macedonia in collaboration with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Open University (Greece, 2017).
He has attended professional long-term workshops of dance, theater and martial arts in CVN Kalari Nadakavu (Kerala - India, 2012), Nrityalya School for Classical Dance (Kerala - India, 2012), Juste Debout School (Paris - France, 2011), Jacob's Pillow School (Athens - Greece, 2010), Centre des Arts Vivants (Paris - France, 2008), El Timbal Performing Circus Arts (Barcelona - Spain, 2005), and master classes with Battery Dance Company (Athens - Greece, 2013), Akram Khan Company (Athens - Greece, 2012), Netherlands Dance Theater (The Hague - Netherlands, 2011). Ηe is also a certified stretching instructor by BFS Academy (2016). Furthermore, he has attended workshops of applied arts (graphic design & video editing) at ΑΚΤΟ College and InfoQuality Center (Athens - Greece, 2013).
He designs live performances and short films, participating in festivals, exhibitions and lectures in collaboration with cultural institutions, research groups or freelance artists. Additionally, he writes stories published in online magazines. He works as a director/choreographer in audiovisual and dancetheater productions, as a teacher of dance and theater in schools and dance studios, as well as a freelance legal advisor/lawyer. His work as a researcher and artist has been presented in Greece and abroad and is based on the process of synthesis, with a focus on social-self issues, and the innovation in educational methodologies and artistic creation.
WRITING
The Vow_short story
Μονόκλ - literary magazine, 2018
The Last Time_short story
Μονόκλ - literary magazine, 2018
Charlie_flash fiction
Φρέαρ - literary magazine, 2018
The Meaning of Education_article
Politisonline - journal, 2015
Art is Not a Luxury_article
Provocateur - journal, 2015
CINEMA
When One Faces Two_dance film / Script - Direction - Choreography - Edit
7th International Video Poetry Festival (Athens -Greece)
9th Athens Video Dance Project (Athens - Greece)
Politics_short doc / Script - Direction - Choreography
2nd Piraeus Film Festival, 2018 (Piraeus - Greece)
Soul Washer_short film / Script - Direction - Choreography
London Greek Film Festival, 2018 (London, UK)
8th Athens Video Dance Project, 2018 (Athens - Greece)
Kubrick Short Film Festival, 2018 (Athens - Greece)
Intermediaciones - Videoarte y Video Experimental Festival, 2017 (Medellin - Colombia)
Tipperary Dance Platform's International Dance Festival, 2017 (Tipperary - Ireland)
8th Bridges International Film Festival, 2017 (Peloponnese - Greece)
The Class_short doc / Script - Direction - Choreography
7th Athens Video Dance Project, 2017 (Athens - Greece)
Breath in. Wear it. Move it_spot / Script - Direction - Performance
Nike's competition / Best Video Award, Pansik Fashion School, 2016 (Athens - Greece)
Bankman_cinematic performance / Script - Direction - Performance
London Greek Film Festival, 2016 (London – UK)
On Performance Symposium, Michael Cacoyiannis Foundation, 2016 (Athens - Greece)
8th Performance Dinners by Chelsea college of Arts & Maria Paschalidou, 2015 (Athens - Greece)
Expanding the Rhythm - Lecture as Performance_dance film / Script - Direction - Performance
6th Athens Video Dance Project, 2016 (Athens - Greece)
Expanding the Rhythm - Everyday Movement_dance film / Script - Direction - Performance
5th Athens Video Dance Project, 2015 (Athens - Greece)
Butterfly Fly_video clip / Performance
Melina Mercouri Foundation, 2012 (Athens - Greece)
DANCETHEATER
Aliss at the Fire (Jon Fosse) / Choreography & Performance
Semio theater, 2014-5, (Athens - Greece)
Museum of Human Behaviour / Choreography & Performance
Athens & Epidaurus Festival 2013, Benaki Museum (Athens – Greece)
I Saw you / Choreography & Performance
In Progress/Feedback Festival 2013, Kinitiras Theater (Athens - Greece)
Expanding the Rhythm / Direction - Choreography - Performance
Semio Theater, 2013 (Athens - Greece)
Quasi Studio, 2013 (Athens - Greece)
Vyrsodepsio Theater, 2012 (Athens - Greece)
The Pathless Land / Direction - Performance
Page 31 Festival 2012 (Spring), Contemporary Art Meeting Point (Athens – Greece)
Analysis Project / Co-Direction - Performance
Page 31 Festival 2012 (Fall), Contemporary Art Meeting Point (Athens - Greece)
Billie Holiday / Direction - Choreography
Acropol theater, 2012 (Athens – Greece)
Kappa Theater, 2011 (Athens - Greece)
All is Full of Love / Choreography - Performance
Beton7 Theater, 2011 - 12 (Athens - Greece)
Eros Iros (Alexandros Papadiamantis) / Choreography
Philippi Festival/Thassos 2011, Municipal Theater of Kavala (Kavala - Greece)
Se Dialoguer / Choreography - Performance
Avlea Theater, 2011 (Athens - Greece)
Delos Project / Choreography - Performance
Six Dogs Stage, 2011 (Athens - Greece)
Les 6 Eluards / Choreography - Performance
Six Dogs Stage, 2011 (Athens - Greece)
Trio Project / Performance
10th Festival of Greek Choreographers, Roes Theater, 2011 (Athens - Greece)
Street Philosophy / Performance
9th Festival of Greek Choreographers 2010, PK Theater (Athens - Greece)
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The Third Bell (3rd high school of Nikaia) | Wet Dreams (Giorgos Maniotis) | Teaching - Adaptation - Direction - Choreography
Piraeus Municipal Theater, 2017 (Athens - Greece)
The Third Bell (1rst professional high school of Piraeus) | The Class | Teaching - Text - Direction - Choreography
Piraeus Municipal Theater, 2016 (Athens - Greece)
LECTURES
Us -and- the Others / VideoDance as an expressive & educational tool
Athens School of Fine Arts, 7thAthens Video Dance Project 2017 (Athens - Greece)
Performance & Politics / Is performance making anti-capitalist way of production (and if so, how)?
MCF, On Performance Symposium 2016 (Athens - Greece)
Research Design Concepts
AKTO Art & Design College - MA in Design 2015 (Athens - Greece)
TEACHINGS
Contempo-Jazz_dance (classes&workshops)
Face the Fact Studio 2016-19, (Athens - Greece)
Dance In Studio 2013-14, (Athens - Greece)
Rhythmphrenia_dance (workshop)
Face the Fact Studio 2017, (Athens - Greece)
360 Training_body conditioning (classes)
Face the Fact Studio 2016, (Athens - Greece)
Kalaripayattu_martial art (classes&workshops)
Husky martial arts academy 2016, (Athens - Greece)
Swaha Yoga Center 2015-16, (Athens - Greece)
Studio floor barre 2015, (N. Makri/Attiki - Greece)
Eagle Claw Kung Fu 2014, (Athens - Greece)
Lalo Studio 2013, (Athens - Greece)
Stretching - Flexibility_body conditioning (classes)
Face the Fact Studio 2016, (Athens - Greece)
Jazz Hop_dance (classes)
Playground for the Arts 2015, (Athens - Greece)
Expanding the Rhythm_dancetheater (workshops)
Semio Theater 2013-14, (Athens – Greece)
Dance In Studio 2013, (Athens – Greece)
Vyrsodepsio Theater 2012, (Athens – Greece)
Meditating the Dance_dancetheater (classes)
Quasi Studio 2013, (Athens - Greece)
Kivotos tou Kosmou 2012, (Athens - Greece)
Experimental Jazz_dance (classes)
Playground for the Arts 2012, (Athens - Greece)
Citizens Theater 2012, (Kavala – Greece)
Street Modern Jazz_dance (classes&workshops)
Echoes & Footprints 2011 - 12, (Athens – Greece)
Danzarin 2010, (Athens - Greece)
Jazz_dance (classes)
Centre d'Alesia 2009, (Paris - France)
TV ADS
Jumbo spot
Easter campaign (2011) / Choreography
Jumbo spot
Summer campaign (2011) / Choreography