Efthimis Tsimageorgis
Twelve-year-old Efthimis Tsimageorgis signed up for a hiphop class through a classmate. Secretly.
"I have diabetes, so my parents didn't want me to do physically strenuous things." Even before the actual lesson, Efthimis is sold: "During the last regular school lesson of the day, I was already out of my mind. I was only thinking about the cool outfit I would wear to the hip-hop class." His parents eventually agreed to more classes. "I said: I have to move. If I don't, I'll be unhappy."
Video by Iris Hendriks // Special thanks to Maritiem Museum
Russian ballet teacher
The teachers recognised Efthimis's talent and soon he was taking modern dance classes and, to help a friend out of a jam, he became her Latin dance partner, which brought him awards. It was not until he was fifteen that he took his first ballet class. "The Russian teacher convinced me that ballet is the basis of everything. She was a good teacher, and I was a good student: I gave one hundred percent and dreamed of dancing in New York one day."
Because the costs of training at, for example, the American Juilliard are too high, he auditioned, on the advice of a fellow student, at Codarts Rotterdam. "I had no idea. In a blazing hot studio I recorded an improvisation video. I had never improvised before, knew nothing about editing, but miraculously I was accepted."
"At Scapino you are a person, not a 'dance machine'.
In his fourth year of study, he did an internship at Scapino. "I was overjoyed. On the very first day, I was allowed to learn a new work by Itamar Serussi. He has a unique dance language, and after the first rehearsals I couldn't walk because of the muscle aches." Ed Wubbe then gave him a role in Pas de deux. "That was also challenging, but more in a 'happy way'. Ed gives you all the space to explore new movements and make them your own."
After his internship year, there is no contract available, but Wubbe tells him, "I want to see you again in the future." Efthimis, laughing: "Only later did I discover that he really meant it."
Curriculum Vitae
Born
1994, Kavala, Greece
Education
- Dance Academy Kavala
- Codarts Rotterdam
Previously danced at
Saarländisches Staatstheater Saarbrücken, Duitsland
With Scapino since
2019 (and as a trainee in season2015/2016)
Performed in
Pas de deux, Holland & Le Chat Noir, Pearl, The Great Bean, The Blend, The end does not see, Rite Here Rite Now, Casablanca
Scholarships, awards and prizes
Beurs van de Kylián Foundation
"My ambition is: to stay with Scapino for the time being, to travel, and above all to be good to myself and others.
Total dedication
For three years he worked at the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, where he danced in works by artistic director Stijn Celis and well-known choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Alexander Ekman and Andonis Foniadakis. "In the third year, however, the repertoire became more and more classical. Scapino was going to start a second company, I sent some videos and was allowed to come back."
For him, he says, Scapino is "a house where everyone works with total dedication to keeping the art of dance alive". And a place where he is really seen as a human being, rather than as a 'dance machine'. His favourite production to date is the diptych Holland & Le Chat Noir. "Precisely because of the contrast: Holland is neoclassical and technically and physically challenging, in Le Chat Noir I could really indulge myself as a fierce macho and the dance language is very earthy."
Romance
The diptych also creates romance: after one of the performances, his current boyfriend, a Dutch dancer and choreographer, comes to compliment him. Their relationship and the bond with family and friends is very important to Efthimis. "I love it when you can say anything to people, and don't have to watch your words."
He also does everything he can to stay healthy and fit, and loves cooking and good food. "Fortunately, despite my diabetes, I can take a lot: I dance off a chocolate bar in no time."
Photography: Khalid Amakran | Interview: Astrid van Leeuwen
This season featuring in
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Cathedral
A wondrous journey into tomorrow's world and a search for what makes us human. A revival of the successful production by choreographer Marcos Morau.
Danced in a.o.
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Origin 2024
For Origin, Ed Wubbe brings two extraordinary, international choreographers to The Netherlands: Xingxing Gong and Lior Tavori. -
Song of the dark forest
A moving, compelling and comforting performance, performed by the complete group of dancers of Scapino, an opera singer and live music by the DoelenEnsemble. -
Two Tales
Young emerging dance makers tell poignant stories with solid roots in the lore and customs of their native land. -
Casablanca
Casablanca is a visual performance about passion, freedom and desire for a better world. -
Oscar
Carré en Scapino Ballet presenteren: Oscar, een hommage aan Oscar Carré met dans, theater, circus én live muziek van Blaudzun. Exclusief te zien in Carré. -
The Square2
Four young makers meet eachother in The Square2, a new full-length production of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. -
Duplicate of Casablanca
Casablanca is a visual performance about passion, freedom and desire for a better world. -
Made in Rotterdam
Scapino Ballet Rotterdam presents four new works, performed and created by Scapino dancers. -
Rite Here Rite Now
A unique collaboration of the New Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra, LantarenVenster and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. -
The Square Recordings
Young makers go on an adventure in this online edition of The Square. -
The Great Bean
Circus, illusionism, variety and dance: The Great Bean takes place in the atmosphere of the roaring twenties, the emergence of jazz, Hollywood and vaudeville. -
The Blend
Scapino starts the new season at the Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam icon and world heritage monument. -
Pearl
World class dance, stunning costumes and mesmerising music by composers like Vivaldi. -
Holland & Le Chat Noir
The superb, theatrical dance of this captivating diptych transports audiences to the Golden Age and the Paris Revue. Two iconic pieces by choreographer Ed Wubbe in one program.