Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Myrto. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Myrto, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have worked on so far is the first piece I ever choreographed. It is an 8 minute piece set to 19 dancers, quite a challenge for someone who had never choreographed before. It was a piece inspired by the Maenads, who were the female followers of Dionysus, a group so powerful even though they were lost in a trance and they were descending into madness in a state of ecstatic frenzy through a combination of dancing and intoxication. They embody the “dangers” of uninhibited female rage and power which was completely unacceptable in the past, but is also still something we fight for in the present, as we, as women are expected to “behave”. It means so much to me because as a child who grew up with mythology, it was fascinating being able to incorporate my love for it in a dance that I made. Being able to share my culture through my art is vital for me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born and raised in Athens, Greece and I was immersed into art, books, records and travels by my parents. Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be on stage because of my grandparents, both actors, who inspired me. I practically grew up watching them performing or rehearsing. I started dancing, acting and singing at the age of six for fun and I fell in love with it. Since then, I haven’t stopped.
I was trained in classical ballet and contemporary dance at ‘Niki Kontaxaki’ Professional Dance Academy in Athens and at the same time, I earned a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Athens. After the pandemic, I was one of the first dancers to join ´ΜΑΖΊ´, a new contemporary dance and physical theatre company in Athens while I was also working as a dance teacher.
As I wanted to do musical theatre, explore more styles and find my own individual creative voice, I decided to move abroad to further explore the dance and musical theatre scene.
I was invited to audition and got accepted at Steps on Broadway Conservatory where my training was of the highest level, I explored various kinds of dance, singing and acting and I had the chance to work with well-known dancers and choreographers. I also performed in theatres I had only dreamed of like the Joyce, the Ailey Citigroup Theatre, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center and National Dance Institute to name a few. Studying in the Conservatory also introduced me to the magic of choreography. I presented my works, “Ode to the Raving Ones” and “Agonia” at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center and Steps on Broadway.
I am currently a student at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and the co-founder of Lucid Art Collective, a collective which provides space for dancers, choreographers and artists to explore and create. We debuted our first work, “Adeethaeseas” this March in Brooklyn at the ESTIA Variety Show.
I’m usually in class or in studio, training or composing a crazy idea I had on the street. I’m trying to be as versatile as I can, always being up to a new challenge. I adore merging classical and contemporary. I love experimenting with big groups of artists, their unique way of moving, their voice and expression, the form and shapes. What sets me apart is that my cultural heritage has proven to be a big part of who I am and what my work is about. Most of the themes I work with have to do with mythology, history, social roles, breaking the norm, rebellion and power. I keep working on independent projects involving dancing, singing, acting and choreographing, always eager to grow, share and expand my versatility.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I get to be part of an amazing and inspiring community. I interact with people who are happy to collaborate, to transcend ideas into art, bring a vision to life. I also love the various characters I get to portray through my work when I’m performing. Stepping into a character’s shoes, bringing a role to life is so interesting as you discover parts of yourself through this process. I would say that one of the most fulfilling aspects of being an artist is the fact that I’m constantly evolving.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

When I say I perform and create for a living, I have often heard the question “Okay but what is your real job?”. People who are not into performing arts often reject performing arts as a hobby and not real work.
They do not see how our job can be really hard and requires resilience and discipline. We are putting pieces of ourselves out into the world, we are training hard and all for a career that involves criticism, rejection and can be unpredictable. I feel that sometimes non-creatives fail to understand why we do what we do-since it is not a steady job and most of the times it is extremely hard to make a living out of it.
Another thing that non-creatives sometimes fail to understand is that our job is not glamorous. They tend to romanticize it or think it is easy which is a very common misconception.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myrtopanagakis.com/
• Instagram: @myrtoyall
• Facebook: Myrto Panagakis

Image Credits

Raquel Beauchamp
Brooke Allen
Kenneth Ruan
Jaqlin Medlock