The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Renzo Piano Building Workshop and the Greek National Opera organized an original “dance” performance involving ten cranes at the still-under-construction Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). Though the SNFCC won’t officially be ready until 2016, a taste of things to come was offered last night by the innovative dance starring ten industrial cranes that turned into a corps de ballet at the hands of construction workers.

The highly innovative “dance” performance was set to the tune of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”, played live by the National Opera’s Orchestra, with Myronas Michailidis at the podium. Choreographer Renato Tzanella, director of the National Opera’s corps de ballet, worked with the construction workers who breathed life into the equipment, turning the rigid cranes and forklifts into willowy dance divas.

The “Dance of the Cranes” was the brainchild of the center’s architect Renzo Piano and proves that art is a matter of perspective. “The architect’s role is to rehearse in the future. That is why I believe that this work is of vital importance to the city of Athens,” said Mr. Piano. “The park, the National Opera building and the library are important to all citizens and I hope that they will be loved by all.”

This performance is the first presentation hosted at the new SNFCC and is a taste of the innovation that culture buffs can expect in the future. Culture Minister Kostas Tasoulas said that the new center will bring a “revolution” to Greek culture through its innovative construction, aesthetic appeal and operation.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni stated in the future Athens will look outwards and towards the sea rather than relying only on its past.

The new center will be ready at the start of 2016 said the President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Andreas Drakopoulos.

The event took place in the framework of the 3rd International Conference for Annual International Conference on Philanthropy that takes place today and tomorrow in an effort to examine the changing role and increased importance of philanthropy in the current global context.