The “Robots” Strike Again at Beyond DisDance Festival!

“Do robots have emotions?”, the first performance choreographed in Greece by a person with learning disabilities and autism, is back! On Sunday, December 7, the Robots will come alive again at the fourth edition of Beyond DisDance Festival in Limassol, with liminal‘s support on the production execution.

In a space flooded with blue neon light reminiscent of a disco, eight people seem to be dancing. Some stand, while others sit in wheelchairs, wearing costumes that evoke a sci-fi movie, all appearing to surrender themselves to the rhythm of the music.

Beyond DisDance Festival

Beyond DisDance returns in Limassol for its fourth edition from 5 to 14 of December 2025, reaffirming its position as one of the Cyprus’s leading platforms for inclusive and access- driven performing arts.

Event poster on a white background. In the top left corner, a bold black “4” is displayed, with a black arrow pointing to the right side, where, both vertically and horizontally, bold black letters read: “4th Beyond DisDance Festival. Παραστατικές τέχνες μέσα από crip φακό. Performing arts through a crip lens.” In the bottom left corner, in bold black letters: “5–14.12.2025 Synergeio Performing Arts Centre.” Colorful graphics in soft shades of blue, purple, and yellow are placed in the center of the poster, serving as a background for the text.

This year’s festival builds on an extended programme that began in September 2025, including public presentations, inclusive movement jams, online talks, and in-person workshops, strengthening community engagement and deepening conversations around accessibility as a creative and political practice. With these preliminary activities now concluded, the festival moves into its main programme, presented in December.

👉 Read more about the fourth edition of Beyond DisDance Festival here.

The 2025 programme also introduces a fresh selection of international works, which embrace experimental formats that challenge normative expectations of the body and functionality, offering a crip-intersectional approach to disability. Among them is the work of Manolis Saridakis.

📌 Find this year’s program here.

The performance you will see is about robots. I chose this theme because sometimes I feel like a robot myself. I did an interview and did research to find out about robots. How do they move and how do they help people? I had some questions: Do robots have mechanical hearts? Do robots have a brain? Do robots do jobs without being bored? Do robots do what they want or what humans want? I hope you will feel happy when you see my performance.

-Manolis Saridakis

About the Performance

“Do robots have emotions?” by Manolis Saridakis was created as part of the Europe Beyond Access programme, commissioned and produced by Onassis Stegi.

By means of his disarmingly incisive concept, Manolis Saridakis touches upon the exceptionally timely topic of robots, weaving critical issues concerning control, as well as both artificial and emotional intelligence, into his own endeavors with regard to autonomy and freedom of expression.

A young dark-haired man in a black shirt stands in profile, his arms extended to the sides with palms open. Darkness surrounds him, and combined with his black clothing, it makes his hands and face stand out vividly.

Before the performance, an access tour will take place, where any audience member who wishes can become familiar with the set, props, and characters of the work. Through the tour, which includes tactile elements to touch, the audience will feel more comfortable and ready to explore the world of the performance.

The evening will conclude with an open discussion where the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions about the performance and the topics of the presentation.

Credits

Idea: Manolis Saridakis
Choreography: Manolis Saridakis, in collaboration with the dancers
Dancers: Olympia Antonena, Patricia Toska, Christos Christakopoulos, Manolis Saridakis
Dramatization – Mentoring: Medie Megas
Costumes: Marilena Kalaitzantonaki
Lighting: Konstantinos Bethanis
Original music: Christos Christakopoulos
The music track “Techno Eskalation!!!” by Max Minimal can also be heard.
Production execution: Christos Papamichael – liminal

Photographs: Pinelopi Gerasimou

Useful information

Date: Sunday, December 7 2025
Time: 20:00
Location: Synergeio Performing Arts Centre, Eleftherias Street 91β, 3042 Limassol, Cyprus
Duration: 20 minutes
Cost: 7€
Ticket reservation by phone: +357 96576522

Supported by Onassis Stegi’s Touring Program program