Papapostolou will present her work PANOPTICON—a fusion of street dance, ballroom Latin and physical theatre—on Nov. 14.

“I explore, through metaphor, how internalized surveillance and self-management shape our behaviour and that doesn’t apply only in life, but also on stage,” Papapostolou shares.

OURO Collective co-founder Cristina Bucci ‘s Project Inizi will also be presented on Nov. 14. The work explores themes of hierarchy, power and collective transformation. Both performances will be held at Massey Theatre.

Exploring surveillance

Papapostolou, who also goes by TARANTISM, sees her movement language as a “hybrid.” It is not a collage of different dance styles. Rather, her work allows different forms—including street dance, ballroom Latin and even physical theatre—to “coexist organically” within her body.

“When I move instinctively, my physicality is informed simultaneously by all the memories and experiences my body holds from these different trainings,” she shares. “It’s not about representing styles, but about allowing them to merge, dissolve and transform into a unique movement identity that supports the essence of the work.”

Blending contemporary and urban dance with physical theatre, PANOPTICON explores how the human psyche and body are affected by “surveillance, control and internalized expectations.” The piece also includes a short-film component.

“My red hands symbolize this internalized gaze, enforcing repetition and discipline, while my body oscillates between order and chaos, rigidity and instinct, questioning what it means to remain fully human in a mechanized, efficiency-driven future,” she shares.

The work draws on English philosopher Jeremy Bentham’s idea of the panopticon—an architectural design with a built-in system for control. Papapostolou’s work is also inspired by French philosopher Michel Foucault’s ideas of self-discipline.

“PANOPTICON explores how we become our own jailers, constrained by routines, societal norms and the fear of unpredictability,” the dancer shares. “Audiences may recognize aspects of their own lives and behaviors mirrored in the work, which creates a space for both observation and empathy, but also a playful questioning of control and autonomy.”

Drawn to the “unpredictability of performance,” Papapostolou looks forward to seeing the Vancouver audience’s response. For her, dancing is not a product. It is a process—one that is constantly evolving.

“Experiencing that dialogue with a new audience, and witnessing how the piece resonates across cultural contexts, is something I’m really interested in as a performer and choreographer,” she adds. “This openness keeps the work breathing and responsive to the present.”

Honouring Locking

Bucci’s work Project Inizi marks “a new chapter” in the Burnaby-based choreographer’s career. Its title refers to the Italian word for “beginnings,” highlighting Bucci’s turn to individual creation.  

“While I have built a rich, two-decade career in Vancouver’s dance community, my path as an independent choreographer only began in late 2022,” Bucci shares. “Project Inizi is the first creation to emerge from that transition.”

The work is inspired by Bucci’s commitment to promoting and preserving Locking—a form of street dance pioneered by Don “Campbellock” Campbell during the early 1970s. Its presentation at the OUROFEST will be a work-in-progress.

In 2007, Bucci trained with Greg Pope who further shaped and developed the style. Bucci recalls how Pope then entrusted her to help “keep the form alive.”

“This works honours that trust and reflects my desire to share Locking’s history, music, technique and cultural significance with dancers and audiences who may be encountering it for the first time,” she shares.

According to Bucci, the work incorporates “bold gestures, syncopated rhythms, theatricality.” It also brings what the dancer sees as the form’s “joyful energy.”

“I investigated Locking within a contemporary process, exploring the fusion and potential of both dance forms, sharing Locking’s rich history and technique while utilizing its expressive gestures to generate a new movement language,” Bucci shares of her research for the project. 

The creator adds that Project Inizi is a “rhythmically driven hybrid” of the dance styles that have embodied her career—including jazz, contemporary and other street dances.

The work was created for six contemporary dancers without prior experience in locking.

“Introducing them to this unfamiliar style allowed me to witness how each dancer would absorb, interpret and reimagine its vocabulary through their own voice,” Bucci adds.

Creating a legacy

Bucci and OURO Collective co-founder Rina Pellerin hope the festival will be a platform for artists to “share movement languages and cultural perspectives”—with the goal of enriching street dance.

“Having access to a technical team and a massive stage opens up infinite possibilities,” the co-founders add. “They can envision production elements from the beginning of their creative process to fully convey their story.”

The Collective also put out an open call for artists in the province, selecting emerging youth street dancers and artists at different stages of their career. They have witnessed the growth of street dance throughout the past decade. Changes include more street dancers applying for grants and creating interdisciplinary works.

“Everyone is celebrated for being exactly who they are,” the duo emphasizes. “In a world where ‘fitting in’ is highly desired, street dancers—true street dancers—fight against the current and carve their own path.”

For more information on the OUROFest, see https://www.masseytheatre.com/event/ourofest-night-1/.

For more information on the OURO Collective, see https://www.ourocollective.com/about.

For more information on Vasiliki Papapostolou, see https://www.tarantism.work/.