The Dance Theatre of the NTNG is a prominent dance unit with a potential presence both in Greece and abroad It was founded in 1982, when with Daniel Lommel as an artistic director and choreographer, the group “Aenaon Dance Theatre” was incorporated in the theatre’s artistic manpower. Its intense activity in Thessaloniki and the rest of Northern Greece till 1988 included productions such as «Giorgos Seferis, or a flame that remembers right», «Spring Ritual», «The Ship of fools», «The Three Musketeers», «The drunken Boat».

In 1988 the group adopts the name «Thessaloniki Dance Theatre» and with artistic director Rene Cammer, followed by Dimitra Koronaiou, it collaborates till 1994 with a series of established Greek and foreign choreographers such as Lia Meletopoulou, Leonidas de Pian, Rene Kammer, Nicola Gabriel, Jan Venkler, Rallou Manou, Nana Vahla and others.

From 1994 to 1999, Anastasia Theofanidou takes over as artistic director making the choreographies for the plays «Transformations», «Peaks», «Verses», «Blood Wedding» and «Romeo and Juliet by two». In 1998 she invites Haris Mantafounis, who makes the choreography for the play «Excuse us, Mr. Shakespeare», and the next year she invites Konstantinos Rigos who makes the choreographies for the plays «Sleeping Beauty » and «Bluebeard».

In 2000 the group is renamed into “N.T.N.G. Dance Theatre”. The same year the Dance Evening «Invisible Cities» is held with the participation of four Greek Choreographers: A. Papadamaki, N. Nalmpantis P. Stamatopoulou and K. Rigos.

In 2001 Konstantinos Rigos takes over the artistic direction. The Dance Theatre’s repertoire includes choreographies by him, invited performances of Greek and foreign choreographers, collaborations and co-productions with dance groups from Greece and abroad, international tours and honorary awards.

Dancers Katerina Kervanidou and K.Gerardos win an interpretation prize for “Bluebeard”. The production “Boxing Ring” (a co-production with Oktana Dance Theatre) is awarded the National Choreography Prize. .

K.Rigos makes the choreographies of the performances ‘’Boxing Ring’’ (co-production with Oktana Dance Theatre), «Swan Lake City», «Mt Kithaeron» (co-production with Heidelberg’s Dance Theatre and Dell Arte group), «Winterreise Trip Edition», «Winterreise» (co-production with Oktana Dance theatre), «Igor’s Room: Les Noces & Spring Ritual», «White Noise», « Free Besieged».

At the same time he invites the choreographers Irina Pauls («Ariadne», co-production with Heidelberg’s Dance Theatre and Dell Arte group), A.Foniadaki, K.Micho («The Day of my Birthday I Took the Train to Thessaloniki», co-production with the group Lathos Kinisi ), S. Bertsato («Gioconda’s Enigmatic Smiles», co-production of the Dance Theatre with the Neuilly’s group) K. Papageorgiou, A. Bennett and Nigel Charnock.

NTNG Dance Theatre participates in the performances «Joan at the Stake» directed by Thomas Moschopoulos and choreographed by K.Rigos (co-production with Athens Concert Hall, Greek Festival and NTNG) as well as in the performance «Swallows seen… and Joyous Songs » directed and choreographed by K. Rigos (co-production of Athens Festival and NTNG.)

In Greece the group presents its productions in the International Dance Festival of Kalamata («Winterreise », 2004), as well as in the Festival of Modern Dance of Athens Municipality («Winterreise», 2004 and «Igor’s Room», 2005).

Abroad NTNG Dance Theatre represents Greece in major dance festivals. «Sleeping Beauty» is presented in Cairo. «Swan Lake City» participates in the Singapore International Arts Festival (Singapore, 2004), in 11th Biennale de la Dance Europa (Lyon, France, 2004), in Festival Mostra SESC de Artes 2005 (Sao Paolo, Brazil), in A sul Festival Internacional de Danca (Faro, Portugal, 2005), in Festival Oriente Occidente (Trento, Italy, 2005). «Winterreise » is presented in the National Theatre of Montenegro (Potgoritsa, 2003), in Belgrade Dance Festival (Belgrade, 2004), and in the Festival DanceEuropa (Tel Aviv, Israel, 2004). «Igor’s Room» participates in the XXII International Festival Serajevo 2006 (Serajevo).

In 2006 Dimitris Kyanidis is appointed artistic counselor of NTNG Dance Theatre. Dance Theatre presents «Mozart Triptych» in choreographies by G. Bagourdi, Cyril Griset, N. Xenariou and S. Mavraganni.

The Dance Theatre through its course has already acquired a multi-cultural core with participations and influences from countries as Albania, Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina and England.

Evolution & composition of the Dance Theatre:

Initially, the group was formed solely by dancers of Aenaon Dance Theatre. Later dancers from Octan Dance Theatre as well as foreign dancers were added. The group obtains thus a multicultural core with participations and influences from countries as Albania, Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, Switzerland, Spain, Argentina and England.

Co-operations:

Group Dell Arte from America, Heidelberg Dance Theatre, Group Lathos Kinisi (Wrong Move), Sinequanon dance comapy

NTNG Dance Theatre has invited notable choreographers to present their work such as Daniel Lommel, Lia Meletopoulou, Leonidas de Pian, Rene Kammer, Nicola Gabriel, Jan Venkler, Rallou Manou, N. Vachla, A. Papadamaki, N. Nalmpantis, P. Stamatopoulou, K. Rigos, Irina Pauls, Nigel Charnock, A. Foniadakis, K. Michos, A. Bennett, K. Papageorgiou, G. Bagourdi, D. Koronaiou, A. Theofanidou.