Maria (Mantia) Papathanasiou is a Montréal-based contemporary dancer, choreographer, and coach who has called Québec home since 2015. As the founder of Contemporary Synchro Art (CsA), established in 2011, she merges the fluidity of contemporary dance with the principles of artistic swimming, creating a unique and evocative art form. Her work has been showcased across Europe, where she has also led internationally acclaimed workshops.
Since 2020, Maria has delved deeply into EauMotion, a poetic exploration of aquatic aesthetics, with the support of CALQ, CAC, and the Borough of Saint-Laurent. This journey has now evolved into tesserA, a creative experiment blending contemporary dance with aquatic performance, where the transformative power of water becomes both medium and muse.
In addition to her creative pursuits, Maria is an artistic coach specializing in artistic swimming, gymnastics, and her own innovative techniques that bridge the worlds of sports and the arts. Her methods integrate elements of ballet, contemporary dance, and advanced stretching practices, fostering both technical precision and creative expression.
Maria has received 4 grants for her projects eauMotion and tesserA in 2020 and 2023 from CALQ, CAC and the borough of St. Laurent. She is a member of RQD Regroupement Quebecois de la Dance and a member of Synchro Canada.
I have long dreamed of becoming a dancer and choreographer, collecting pictures, writing journals, teaching dance to the children in my neighbourhood. At age twelve I started swimming. Nine months later I was chosen for the synchronized swimming team, and then my life changed a lot. In the sports world I learned discipline and how to set goals. But I always had my own way of moving forward in life in view of a philosophy that, early on, became a way of life. My creative work is always of a philosophical character, dealing with the human predicament and issues such as life, death and happiness. My belief is that we have come into this world having a mission.
My key words: effort, change, freedom, creativity. I believe that life is a profound struggle to discover who we are and what position we have in the world.
I like change and questioning, and so I take risks and attempt to do what has not been done before. You can find me creating in the studio, and also on sidewalk, in the woods, and in fountains.
My creative process is something like this: a word comes to mind forming a multi-faceted title, a reflection of my current phase of life. Then I develop imagery that evokes movement exploration through improvisation.
I have experience the death of my loved ones many times, leading me to explore particular artistic ideas. It brought me to realize that if I wanted to do something about my future vision, I needed to begin immediately. Even at a later age, when many might not even think it a possibility, I began my formal study professional dance.
I have left behind me whatever was not a vital part of my life’s mission, and dedicated myself exclusively to making art. I created the artistic companies Ametakinit(R)o and Contemporary Synchro Art in 2011. Step by step. I had neither money nor other forms of support at the onset, and was armed with only a powerful will and my intense life experiences. I now have put my full attention towards the goal, leaving doubt behind. Here I am!
November 2021 – Present: Artistic Coach, Club Gymslic Saint-Laurent Inc.
September 2020 – 2022: EauMotion– Research and creation project exploring aquatic aesthetics, supported by CALQ, CAC, and the Borough of Saint-Laurent.
2020 – Present: tesserA– An evolving creative experiment blending contemporary dance with aquatic movement, exploring the transformative potential of water.
January 2018 – Present: StillMess– Documentary short film, screened at Athens Video Dance Film Festival and Danca de Almada, Portugal.
March 2016 – Present:StillMess– Collaboration with harpist Coralie Gauthier; Residency at Montréal Arts Interculturels (MAI).
2011 – Present: Founder and Artistic Director of Contemporary Synchro Art (CsA)– Developing and presenting interdisciplinary dance works integrating aquatic movement and contemporary dance across Europe and Canada.
2007 – 2009: National Team of Greece– Choreographer and Dance T eacher for the National Team of Greece.
October 2016 – February 2020: Coach and choreographer at Montreal Synchro Club.
October 2016 - February 2020: Intensive Choreographic Workshops at École de Ballet de Montréal.
August 2012: Choreographer for Choreographic Workshop in Italy– Directed and choreographed for the event.
June 2012: Cosmote Event – Olympic Games Guerilla, presented in Athens.
May 2011: The Temptation of Innocence– Duet presented at the 10th Athens Dance Festival, Greece.
Nov 2011 – July 2015: Dance piece “Seven plus aut minor Duo-BetWeeN” with Ametakinit(R)o Dance Team, performed at multiple international festivals in Athens, Greece, Northern Ireland, and Belgium.
Coaching
Since 2012: Artistic Swimming Coaching– Offering an innovative approach that combines stretching techniques from various sports, ballet, and contemporary dance, tailored to each individual’s needs.
January 2018 – June 2023: Creative body movement classes for CPE Foyer d’enfant Hellenique, and Vanier College, St. Laurent.
October 2016 – February 2020: Coach and choreographer at Montreal Synchro Club.
August 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023: Intensive Choreographic Workshops at École de Ballet de Montréal.
Education
2019: National Lifeguard Diploma, Qc – Certified for professional water safety.
October 2007 – October 2010: Three-year diploma in Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Niki Kontaxaki Professional Dance Academy, Athens.
2017: Level 2 Coach of Artistic Swimming, certified by Synchro Canada.
Ongoing: Dance workshops in Limon, Graham, Release, Flying Low, and Contemporary Ballet techniques with renowned instructors such as T ed Stoffer, ozef Frucek, Linda Kapetanea, and David Zambrano.
Dancer
February 2020 – April 2020: Des maux en hiver by Nina & Co.
June 2018 – June 2019: New creation by choreographer Martin Messier, Montréal, QC.
September 2017 & 2018: StillMess– Solo project screened at Athens Video Dance Film Festival and Quinzena de Almada, Portugal.
July 2014: BetWeeN– Solo performed at Akropoditi International Festival and Dance Days International Festival, Greece.
November 2011 – September 2012: 7-2– International performances with Ametakinit(R)o Dance Team.
Residencies & Awards
2015: 45-hour Residency at Montréal Arts Interculturels (MAI) for StillMess Project.
2014: One-month Residency at Akropoditi, Syros, Greece.
2011: Scholarship and Residency at Martha Graham Dance School, New York.
