IkariaDance Project 2013 - August 23-31 - latest info

Seminar of Traditional Greek Dances and Culture of the Islands and Asia-Minor.

To be held during the SUMMER HOLIDAYS with the kind support of Etepo , Cavos Bay Hotel and local cultural associations Friday afternoon, AUGUST 23  to Saturday morning , AUGUST 31, 2013 with Christiana Katsarou (Ikaria & Aegean islands)   Christos Theologos (Asia Minor & Cappadocia)  ELLI KAZAKOU (Ipirus & Ionian islands)  EFTHIMIOS EVANGELOU  (Samos)

Ikaria on the island of IKARIA, in the Aegean sea… … an island of unique natural beauty and a very interesting ancient and modern history. An island  strongly neglected by the official state for decades which nevertheless kept its spirit due to the community strong bonds that are still very much alive. Its festive life habits and  its rhythm of life respecting a more "humanistic" way of life characterized by a low sense of time urgency has made Ikaria known to many visitors inside and outside Greece as an alternative journey  to experience. Recently it has arisen the interest of many researchers as one the places with the highest rates of longevity in the world. Ikaria is on the crossroad of Kiklades, North Aegean islands, the Dodekanese and the Asia Minor, therefore the music and the dances have various and different influences from all regions. The local dance "Kariotikos", morphologically close to the dodecanese tradition of "soustas", is a dance with a rich tradition still alive today and the highest moment of the many and very special "glendia" and "panigiria" (community parties and feasts) that take place in Ikaria all year long.  Ikaria is  an  island of simple truths and secrets of life to explore... General program Friday afternoon (23 August): Welcome session ... registration, introductory information and short presentation on Ikaria, basic info on its history and anthropology. In the evening we share a traditional dinner and afterwards make a "glendi" (party) with our musicians and local friends. From Saturday (24 August) up to Friday (30 August):  We will have morning and afternoon lessons and extra workshops for 5 hours per day.  If necessary, there will be a level differenciation between intermediate dancers and more experienced-advanced for some hours every day with ‘specialty’ workshops in advance styling and rhythms for participants who have in-depth experience with the dances of Ikaria / the Islands, Asia Minor. There will also be special classes for absolute beginners. The lessons are in greek and english, but there is possibility of translation  in french, italian and german. The dance lessons mostly take place in the hotel's special seminar room and sometimes in natural surroundings. Additionally, we will have workshops with singing and rhythm sessions, lectures on customs/ traditions/costumes. In the evenings we dance local dances to live music (basically violin and accompanying instruments and "tsabounofylaka", the local bagpipe), whenever possible at village celebrations (“panigiria” or “choroesperides”) or in local tavernas  and  also we do dances from all around Greece at our own parties…. This year we shall have the joy to join the "paniyiri" of Aghios (Saint) Fanourios on the 27th of August as well as the paniyiri of Aghios Ioannis on the 29th August ... One day in the week an excursion to the wild and beautiful natural surroundings of Ikaria also is planned, giving us the possibility to enjoy the unspoiled  beauty of the island. On Friday (30 August) we will do the revision of the dances taught. A DVD with the seminar's dances are prepared for those interested upon demand.  On Saturday 31 August our checking out is at noon.  GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVELLING TO IKARIA Attention: Please check with your agency the information below as we are not responsible for any sudden or unknown changes and the definite time schedule. By AIRPLANE : - from Athens to Ikaria: contact Olympic Air http://www.olympicair.com/ FYI, Return airfare between Athens & Ikaria is currently at ~145 Euros. Current schedule : Friday 23/8 Athens - Ikaria   :departure at 12.05, arrival at 12.55 (flight OA016) Saturday 31/8 Ikaria - Athens : departure at 13.20 and arrival at 14.10 (flight OA017)                   - from Thesaloniki or Crete (Herakleion) or Limnos island, contact Sky Express http://www.skyexpress.gr/  - for charter or low cost flights to Samos island, contact your agency. Samos airport is the closest international airport with many flights per day. The ferry trip from Samos to Ikaria lasts around 3 hours.  By FERRY : Ferries connect Ikaria and Pireus port. Traveling by ferries from Pireus can take up to 9 hours depending on the company schedules. The schedules for that period are not announced yet, they are often announced in May. Actual info on boat schedules: at the moment a return ticket with Mytilene ferry from NEL lines costs around 60 euros.   Check the schedules and fares of NEL lines to Evdilos port of North Ikaria at:  http://www.nel.gr/routes/dromologia/en/peiraias-syros-ikaria-fournoi-samos_en.html  http://www.nel.gr/routes/dromologia/en/piraeus-eudilos-fournoi-karlovasi-vathy-chios-mytilene-lemnos-thessaloniki_en.html HOWEVER IN THE SUMMER TIME MORE FERRIES AND DIFFERENT SCHEDULES ARE USUALLY ANNOUNCED. WHEN WE HAVE THE INFO THAT THESE ARE ANNOUNCED BY FERRY COMPANIES, WE SHALL INFORM INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS TO BOOK THEIR FERRY TICKETS.  Taking a flight to Samos and then the ferry to Ikaria is also a practical solution as every day ferries connect the two islands.  Note that there are two ports in Ikaria: Evdilos and Agios Kirikos. Evdilos is the nearest port to Armenistis village where the seminar takes place. (20 min. by taxi), while Aghios Kirikos port is far away (1 hour and a half).  Information Ikaria Dance Project & Friends ikariadance@ikariadance.com http://www.ikariadance.com Contact in Greece CHRISTIANA KATSAROU (english, french, german) Tel. mob. +30 697 2424796 E-mail : Christiana Katsarou