“Danses Grecques“ (1987) - Mikis Theodorakis / Lakis Karnezis, bouzouki - Maurice Béjart

Ballet film: Grand Pas on a White Night (1987) Original title: Гран па в белую ночь (1987)- фильм-балет Complete film: Film director: Maurice Béjart Choreographer: Maurice Béjart Principal dancers: Michel Gascard and Philippe Lizon Music: parts from “Seven Greek Dances“, “Sept Danses Grecques“ Composer: Mikis Theodorakis Bouzouki: Lakis Karnezis Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia Mikis Theodorakis’s The Seven Greek Dances (Επτά Ελληνικοί Χοροί) were choreographed by Maurice Béjart in 1968. Maurice Béjart: “When Theodorakis brought me this music, I was working on his Mediterranean suite called Thalassa. I welcomed it with enthusiasm, and it became the final part.” (Source: ) Béjart made choreographies inspired by Greek dances, while stating: “I am deeply immersed in the Greek soul, without touching what is called Greek tradition.“ I would never want my ballet corps to perform bold copies of traditional dances” (Source: ). The first performance - the creation of the show - took place in Brussels in 1982. The following videos were made in the 1980s and then in the 2000s. The Béjart Ballet Lausanne, which perpetuates the choreographer’s legacy, presented it from new to Versailles four years ago. Béjart has never kept his love for Greece hidden: “I fell in love with Greece with this passion that makes us fall in love without being able to explain why, knowing only that love is a huge and violent force“ (source: ). The Seven Greek Dances in St. Petersburg (1984), excerpt entitled: “Solo Papaioannou (Σόλο Παπαϊωάννου)“: Source: