Zorba the Greek
ballet to the music of Mikis Theodorakis, choreographed by Konstantin Kostyukov

1946 – First edition of Nikos Kazantzakis’s novel Zorba the Greek
1957 – Nikos Kazantzakis nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature
1964 – Theodorakis composes the music for the film Zorba the Greek. The film wins 3 Oscars
The famous sirtaki dance did not exist before the film Zorba the Greek — although it contains elements of traditional Greek folk dances.
It gained cult status and became one of the most recognizable symbols of Greek culture.
1987 – Commissioned by the Verona Festival, Theodorakis composes the music for the Zorba the Greek ballet
1988 – Ballet premiere, choreographed by Lorca Massine, in the magnificent Verona Arena before 18,000 spectators. Mikis Theodorakis conducted.
1994 – Premiere of the Zorba the Greek ballet at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad. Mikis Theodorakis was the guest of honor.
1997–2013 – Konstantin Kostjukov performed Zorba the Greek nearly one hundred times

Synopsis

In the Greek port of Piraeus, a fateful encounter takes place between two completely different men: Nikos, a young Greek intellectual determined to change the course of his life, and Alexis Zorba, a tireless wanderer and miner. Nik is traveling to Crete, where he has rented an abandoned lignite mine. He wants to escape his former life, filled with spirituality and writing, hoping to discover new paths and find peace among ordinary people. Without realizing it, he meets on the ship the man who will become his new life teacher – Zorba, the embodiment of a person overflowing with passion and courage, qualities unknown to Nik. His world revolves around literature and philosophy, while Zorba will teach him how to break free from rigid patterns and experience all the passions of life in the present moment. Alexis Zorba loves women, music, and wine. He shows exceptional tenderness only toward his santouri, an instrument he respects as a living being and guards with ritual devotion. Zorba’s raw nature will profoundly influence Nik’s transformation.
*I realized that this Zorba was the man I had been searching for so long and could never find; a living heart, a warm voice, a great untamed soul that had not yet severed the umbilical cord from its mother, the Earth.
Upon arriving on the island, they are greeted by the beautiful Cretan landscape, the endless sea, and the vibrant local community. Life unfolds in the village square, pulsing with dance and music. Among the many villagers, special attention is drawn to Marina, a young widow – mysterious, beautiful, and desired by the men, yet she remains distant. Pavlis, the village elder’s son, is obsessed with her, but she rejects him, and his love soon turns into jealousy and despair. A quiet yet powerful attraction develops between Nik and Marina, something the villagers quickly notice. Their growing closeness awakens anger and resentment within the community, foreshadowing a tragic outcome. Nik is torn between his desires and his fears, but Zorba – his guide through life – encourages him to follow his heart.  Among the villagers is Madame Hortense, the first to welcome Nik and Zorba upon their arrival in Crete. Once a Parisian singer and dancer, now in her late years, she is weary from a turbulent life, many romances, and filled with nostalgia and unfulfilled dreams. She owns a modest boarding house where she lives surrounded by memories. Her encounter with Zorba rekindles in her a spark of passion and love. She gives herself to him completely, while his feelings toward her are a mixture of tenderness and a touch of pity.
When Zorba leaves on a short trip that unexpectedly becomes much longer, because he cannot resist his passions, he eventually returns to the village cheerful and smiling, bringing gifts for his friends, Madame Hortense and Nik, who is angry about Zorba’s long absence. Yet Zorba’s infectious energy disarms him, and especially delights Madame Hortense, who lives for the moment of his return. What follows are moments filled with love, celebration, and finally, their wedding. The joy does not last long. Young Pavlis, devastated by unrequited love, sinks into despair and takes his own life. This tragedy becomes the trigger for the villagers’ collective fury. The love between Nik and Marina becomes public, And fatal at the same time. The primitiveness and prejudice of the harsh villagers lead to brutal punishment, and the young woman is killed before Nik’s eyes. He remains a silent witness to the tragedy. At the same moment, Zorba’s world collapses as well. Madame Hortense, weakened by illness, dies in his arms.
Zorba’s unstoppable energy does not allow despair to prevail. Beside him stands Nik, who, despite the tragedy, has learned to embrace life fully. Nik and Zorba begin to dance, as an act of defiance against fate, a response to pain, a celebration of life itself, in spite of everything. And as their steps grow faster, it becomes clear that life and death are parts of the same whole.
* I saw Zorba dancing, and for the first time I felt the demonic rebellion of man – the urge to conquer weight and matter, that primordial curse. I was proud of his endurance, his strength, his fierce dignity; on the sandy shore, those aggressive yet artistic steps of Zorba traced the Luciferian history of humankind.

Brankica Knežević
Konstantin Kostjukov
*Nikos Kazancakis, GRK ZORBA – Život i narav Aleksisa Zorbe, Dereta, Belgrade, 2022
Translation from Modern Greek: dr Vladimir Bošković