Tatiana Mamaki
Encyclopedia
Tatiana Varouti Mamaki was a notable Greek
dancer and choreographer.
at Raymons School and later in Poland
where she worked at the Warsaw Opera as a dancer ; in 1939 she returned to Athens
to work for the Greek National Opera
.
On 5 March 1940 the Greek National Opera
had its first official opening with the inaugurating Johann Strauss
operetta, Die Fledermaus
, in which Mamaki was Prima ballerina. She remained in this position for almost ten years, dancing in a long series of productions.
In 1949 Mamaki left for Paris
with a scholarship in choreography studies at the renowned Preobrazenski School, and on her return to Athens
was hired from the Greek National Opera
as choreographer.
In 1952 she was invited to attend advanced lessons of choreography at the Sadler's Wells Theatre
in London
.
Mamaki founded the Athens School of Ballet with Elen Tsoukala-Pfefer (1955–1958), with
some of her most unforgettable performances including those of Faust with Nikos Moschonas in Athens
and Norma
with Maria Callas
in Epidavrus during 1960.
She collaborated with the State Theatre of Northern Greece and the National Theatre of Cyprus, also acting as choreographer for a number of film productions.
She married the musician and composer Leonidas Zoras, and later Achilleas Mamakis. Following the death of the latter she continued his radio programme The theatre on the microphone at the National Radiophone Institute (EIR), later transferring it to television.
Greece awarded her the Koula Pratsika medal of honour for her lifetime contribution.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
dancer and choreographer.
Life and work
She studied dance in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
at Raymons School and later in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
where she worked at the Warsaw Opera as a dancer ; in 1939 she returned to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
to work for the Greek National Opera
Greek National Opera
The Greek National Opera is the country's state lyric opera company, located at 59 Akadimias Street in centralAthens. It is a public corporation under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture and administered by the Board of Trustees and its Artistic Director.The organization is responsible...
.
On 5 March 1940 the Greek National Opera
Greek National Opera
The Greek National Opera is the country's state lyric opera company, located at 59 Akadimias Street in centralAthens. It is a public corporation under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture and administered by the Board of Trustees and its Artistic Director.The organization is responsible...
had its first official opening with the inaugurating Johann Strauss
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
operetta, Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
, in which Mamaki was Prima ballerina. She remained in this position for almost ten years, dancing in a long series of productions.
In 1949 Mamaki left for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with a scholarship in choreography studies at the renowned Preobrazenski School, and on her return to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
was hired from the Greek National Opera
Greek National Opera
The Greek National Opera is the country's state lyric opera company, located at 59 Akadimias Street in centralAthens. It is a public corporation under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture and administered by the Board of Trustees and its Artistic Director.The organization is responsible...
as choreographer.
In 1952 she was invited to attend advanced lessons of choreography at the Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Mamaki founded the Athens School of Ballet with Elen Tsoukala-Pfefer (1955–1958), with
some of her most unforgettable performances including those of Faust with Nikos Moschonas in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and Norma
Norma (opera)
Norma is a tragedia lirica or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after Norma, ossia L'infanticidio by Alexandre Soumet. First produced at La Scala on December 26, 1831, it is generally regarded as an example of the supreme height of the bel canto tradition...
with Maria Callas
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
in Epidavrus during 1960.
She collaborated with the State Theatre of Northern Greece and the National Theatre of Cyprus, also acting as choreographer for a number of film productions.
She married the musician and composer Leonidas Zoras, and later Achilleas Mamakis. Following the death of the latter she continued his radio programme The theatre on the microphone at the National Radiophone Institute (EIR), later transferring it to television.
Legacy
Mamaki was the recipient of a French Government medal for contributions to Arts, Sciences and Letters.Greece awarded her the Koula Pratsika medal of honour for her lifetime contribution.