En Dynamei Ensemble – Greece

En dynamei Ensemble is a collective of artists with and without disabilities. Through our activities, we propose a new model of art and life, where the “unfamiliar”, the “strange”, the “different” and the “foreign” are expressed through uniqueness and integrated into the whole, whilst strengthening it. Basic tools of this are Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, and Accessibility. Our work is based on equality amongst all our members, attempting to inspire other people to stop perceiving the social system in a
stereotypical way and conventional form. Using the research of new methods of communication and dialogue, as basic tools we organize and produce entire artistic proposals in the field of visual arts, theatre, music, and multi-media arts. We are in permanent collaboration with professionals from various artistic fields and actively participate in events and festivals in Greece and abroad. Under our artistic director Eleni Dimopoulou we work from our base in Thessaloniki.
Our aim is for the members of ‘En Dynamei Ensemble’ to acquire a variety of experiences that will give them the opportunity of socialization, recognition, and practical utilization of their abilities. Our belief is the idea of equal opportunities and equal treatment. For that, we develop our actions not based on the differences that distance us but taking into account the internal and external needs as well as the predispositions, inclinations, diversity, and interests of all team members. Through the almost
daily coexistence of the members of the Ensemble and the establishment of commonly accepted rules of that lifestyle, the improvement of the interpersonal relations is achieved as well as the cultivation and development of individual skills of all members that contribute to successful integration into society.
The group was founded in 2008 by Eleni Dimopoulou and Maria Ioannidou with the main intention of the significant and dignified integration of people with disabilities into society. The activities of the group began with the aim of creating, organizing, developing, and promoting various educational, sports, entertainment, social, artistic, and general cultural activities. Since the beginning we are in collaboration with various organizations in the city of Thessaloniki ie: “American School
of Agriculture”, “Mantoulidis Schools”, Theatrical workshop “Iris” of the Municipality of Pavlos Melas, the cultural center of the Municipality of Panorama, NGO “Raft in the City”, International Baccalaureate department of “Anatolia” College, percussion workshop “Kroustofono”, Theater School “Andreas Voutsinas”, Helexpo etc. In these last years, we have developed collaborations with regional institutions including: ‘Kivotos’ Rehabilitation Centre, Kozani, University of Western Macedonian,
The Regional Theatre of Veria. From the founding of the group until today, we organize artistic workshops that operate on an annual study cycle. Our permanent collaborators are renowned musicians, visual artists, gymnasts, actors, directors, cooks, gardeners, potters, and other professionals. The moral and material support of the group comes from the members, the friends
of the team, and those who wish to assist in achieving its goals.