Hydra Dance Days is a one-week festival with international artists sharing their work on the beautiful stage of Hydrama Theatre in Vlichos and in site-specific performances. All events are free and open to all. The event was created in 2024 by Swedish choreographer Michaela Meschke with the help of English visual artist Jacqueline Savidge.

The festival aims to showcase and support choreographers from Greece and other countries, to support women choreographers as well as dancers of all ages. Another feature is an invitation to all artists to co-create a site-specific piece. During the two first seasons, eleven companies from six countries participated. 

The annual workshops welcomes amateurs from the island, from 6 to 66 years, to participate in the event and learn a choreography. All the kids that participated in the first workshop continued in 2025. Hopefully a dance group has been created that can develop together in the future years.

The workshop for children and adults living on Hydra creates an opportunity that goes beyond dancing: to make new friends, practice languages and draw inspiration from international artists sharing their visions.

Hydra Dance Days is built on a core principle: dance can be enjoyed by anyone. It brings happiness and a sense of being together despite our differences.

“My family came to Hydra when I was two years-old. An arrow of love hit us! My father, a theatre director, wanted to give something back to the community and created an International Puppet Festival in partnership with Lakis Christidis, attracting artists and performers from around the world between 1984 to 2004.

I’m proud and happy to celebrate their legacy, in the field that is mine : dancing.”

Michaela Meschke