Graham Technique Masterclass with Penny Diamantopoulou

DETAILS

Biography

Ms. Diamantopoulou was born and raised in Athens, Greece, where she trained in Classical ballet and Modern dance. She graduated from the Anna Petrova Professional Dance School (1994) with a dancer’s and teacher’s degree, and from the University of Athens (French Language and Literature).

In 1995, she moved to New York on a scholarship to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, completing the Professional Trainee (1998) and Post Certificate programs (2000), along with teacher training.

She performed with the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble (Graham II) from 1996–2000 and was also a faculty member at the Martha Graham School. She has taught at leading institutions including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, SUNY Purchase, and The Neighborhood Playhouse, as well as delivering masterclasses across the US and internationally.

She has been a long-standing faculty member at the Greek National School of Dance and continues to teach, lead workshops, and stage Martha Graham repertory worldwide.

Ms. Diamantopoulou is the founder and artistic director of ARTHROSIS Dance Company (Athens) and serves as artistic advisor for Graham For Europe. She has also co-created the lecture-performance “Martha Graham and Greek Myth,” combining classical studies with live dance.

Class Description

“Attack & Sustain / Opposition & Shift”
Graham Technique Masterclass with Penny Diamantopoulou

This workshop explores Intermediate+ Graham Technique through longer, more complex movement phrases. Dancers will deepen their understanding of core principles, building strength, control, and clarity in the body.

The class includes floor work, standing and travelling combinations, as well as turns, jumps, and falls characteristic of the Graham style. Emphasis is placed on form, structure, musicality, and the relationship to space.

Participants will develop dynamics such as rhythm, speed, elasticity, and flow, while exploring breath as a driving force through contraction and release. Key elements include the use of the pelvis for weight shifts, spirals and twists from the torso, and opposition and focus to enhance expression.

The workshop encourages a visceral, torso-led physicality, stripping away decorative movement to help dancers reach a more powerful and expressive performance quality.