Updated Daily from the Island of Hydra Greece

I have seen the Bolshoi dance under the stars at Athens' Herodus Atticus, the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden and the ballet Bejart at the Paris Opera but I have never enjoyed a performance as much as that which took place below our own house last week in Kaminia. The Svetlina dance troupe of Bulgaria performed traditional dances against the backdrop of this small fishing village. The stage scenery was the red sienna and ochre walls of Kaminia's landmark taverna, like a specially commissioned backdrop for "Don Giovanni" or "Carmen". The dancers made a theatrical entrance down a flight of broken old steps, the metal sequins of costumes flashing in the darkness. Their dressing room was the upper floor terrace and between calls, the dancers leant over the parapet like figures from a Tiepolo painting. 
Strings of light swayed in the slight breeze and the water almost lapped at the dancers feet. Upturned fishing boats served as audience seats and a huge four masted sailing ship from Argentina moored just off the coast, hundreds of lights illuminating its silhouette. The local children cavorted around the edges, trying to mimic the complicated dance steps and waiters rushed around serving cold drinks. 
It was perfect theatre, it was original theatre, with the noise, the dust and the hubub of a shifting audience. 
The dancers were as professional as the Bolshoi, the costumes ever-changing and explosive in colour. A trio of female singers accompanied the musicians immobilizing the children with their unfamiliar piercing voices that sliced through the heavy night air. 

I hope some of these photos convey just a little of the unique atmosphere created in so little time, with the simplest of props at Kaminia that night. For sheer spectacle you could not beat it. For sheer visual poetry, you could not have contrived a richer tableau. If Zeffirelli had stepped out of the wings and said ".O.K., cut!" I would not have been the least surprised.

(Raichel Williamson)