Age-Old Old Age in Ikaria

NEW ARTICLE on CNN by Bill Weir Profile

The island where people forget to die

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/08/travel/ikaria-bill-weir-twl/

(CNN) If I live to be 100, playing handball against the garage door, staying up until the wee hours, drinking the wine from my own grapes, I will have a nice Midwestern boy named Dan to thank.

See, back in my ABC days, I became obsessed with the soft science of happiness. How do you measure such a thing? Where are the happiest places in the world? What's their deal? These questions led me to an equally curious dude from the Twin Cities named Dan Buettner.

He is the kind of cat who spends his youth biking across Africa or down the Americas, from Alaska to Argentina. He's the sort who organizes expeditions to explore why the Mayans collapsed, whether Marco Polo really discovered linguine in China and where to find the happiest people on Earth (Aarhus, Denmark, much to my surprise).

We met in Minnesota to shoot my story, and one night over dinner, he described how, in the course of these curious adventures, he blundered across an interesting statistic from the World Health Organization. It claimed that Okinawa, Japan, had the longest disability-free life expectancy in the world. People on this little island were living a very long time and then dying quickly and relatively free of suffering.

"How could that be?" he wondered.

So he took a small team, did a little digging, put the results online and the web traffic exploded. Suddenly Dan had a new career path.

With a team of doctors and demographers, he then found a pocket of centenarian men on the Italian island of Sardinia, an impressive cluster of healthy 90-year-olds in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica and another zone (shockingly) tucked into the bustling Southern California suburbs.

With each discovery, they would circle the area on the map in blue ink. They became known as the blue zones.

When I started to build "The Wonder List," Dan was the first person I called. I begged him to adjust a summer vacation to meet me in his most recent Blue Zone discovery, a little Greek Island called Ikaria.

Thanks to squirrelly winds and no natural port, modern life had pretty much sailed on by this place. Meanwhile, its residents were outliving other Greeks, Europeans and Americans by almost a decade.

But social media, flat screen TVs and junk food were steadily creeping into this wonderful place, and some locals were worried that this generation of centenarians would be the last to live so long, so well.

"Life expectancy in America is about 79," Dan told me over Greek wine, with a sweeping view of the azure Adriatic. "We should be able to live to 92. Somewhere along the line, we're leaving 13 years on the table. So my quest is -- how do we get those extra 13 years? And how do we make those extra 13 years good years?"

Many in medical science believe that only 25% of your longevity is determined by your genetics. They think the other 75% comes down to how and where you live.

So last summer, we spent several magical days on Ikaria and saw firsthand the lifestyle secrets of 80- and 90-year-olds who experience Alzheimer's and dementia at a rate one-fifth of America's.

I can't wait to share them, and introduce you to my friend, Dan, as "The Wonder List" visits the island where people forget to die.

Why people on this island live past 100 (01:30)

 

ENJOY IKARIA FROM ABOVE !!!

IkariaDance 2015

 Η παρέα του IkariaDance Project αντάμωσε και φέτος στον Αρμενιστή Ικαρίας στις 23 – 31.8.2015 και συμμετείχε σε ένα πρόγραμμα χορού και πολιτισμού με την υποστήριξη του Γραφείου Τουρισμού Ιkaria – Holidays (http://ikaria-holidays.com) και του Cavos Bay Hotel (http://www.cavosbay.com.gr).

Το Project στήριξαν οι εκπαιδευτές ελληνικού χορού Χρήστος Θεολόγος (για τους χορούς της Μ. Ασίας), Χριστιάνα Κατσαρού (χοροί της Ικαρίας), Ευθύμιος Ευαγγέλου (Χοροί της Σάμου) και Γιάννης Πλαγιωτάκης - Νίκος Κουφάκης (χοροί της Κρήτης).

Η εξαιρετική τραγουδίστρια Καίτη Κουλλιά μάγεψε με τη φωνή της όλους τους συμμετέχοντες στα εργαστήρια τραγουδιού στα οποία έλαβαν μέρος χορευτές και μουσικοί από συλλόγους της Γαλλίας, της Ιταλίας, του Βελγίου, της Ισπανίας, της Δανίας, της Νορβηγίας, της Ουγγαρίας, του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου, των Η.Π.Α και της Αυστραλίας.

Τους εκπαιδευτές χορού και τα εργαστήρια τραγουδιού πλαισίωσαν φίλοι από την Ικαρία καθώς και χορευτές και μουσικοί από το Eργαστήρι Τέχνης και Πολιτισμού της Αθήνας (www.etepo.gr), από τον Χορευτικό Όμιλο Σάμου - ΧΟΡ.Ο.Σ. (http://www.choros-samos.webnode.gr), από το «Χορόσπιτο» του Ηρακλείου Κρήτης (www.xorospito.gr) και τον σύλλογο «Ξένια» από την Καλαμάτα. Ευχαριστούμε ιδιαίτερα τους Βασίλη Σκλαπάνη, Στέλιο Γιαννουλόπουλο, Μαρία Λαμπροπούλου, Έφη Ζουρουλίδου, Νίκο Πολίτη, Εμμανουέλα Καββαδά, Ξένια Γεωργάρα για τη βοήθειά τους σε όλο το Project!

Όλοι μαγεύτηκαν από την ατμόσφαιρα στα παραδοσιακά καριώτικα πανηγύρια στα χωριά Καστανιές και Βρακάδες! Ιδιαίτερη συγκίνηση και χαρά όμως ένιωσαν όλοι στο πανηγύρι του Αγίου Αλεξάνδρου, στο οποίο χόρεψαν με την ψυχή τους με τους ήχους του βιολιού του Λευτέρη Πούλη (Σκάντζακα) και της κομπανίας του. Ευχαριστούμε πολύ την οικογένεια του κυρίου Σταμάτη Γαγλία για την φιλοξενία τους!

Επίσης αξέχαστες θα μείνουν σε όλους οι μουσικές μας βραδιές- ανταμώματα με καριώτες μουσικούς και χορευτές: στον Να με τον Σταύρο Νικολαϊδη και τον Επαμεινώνδα Βαλσαμή καθώς και με την κομπανία του Λευτέρη Πούλη ή Σκάντζακα, τον Γιάννη Λούκο, Αλέξανδρο Spietzing και τη Μαρία Παντελάκη και στον Άγιο Πολύκαρπο με την κομπανία του Γώργου Στρούπα. Στο γλέντι μας στον Προφήτη Ηλία (εστιατόριο Άργιος) η αγαπημένη μας τραγουδίστρια Καίτη Κουλλιά μοιράστηκε μαζί μας πανέμορφες μουσικές συνοδευόμενη από τον Νίκο Φάκαρο και την κομπανία του αλλά και γαλλικές παραδοσιακές μελωδίες με τη φίλη βιολονίστρια Valerie Maindron. Η βραδιά αυτή ήταν αφιερωμένη στη μνήμη της Ιταλίδας φίλης του Project Νicoletta Batistella που έφυγε από την παρέα μας το 2015 αλλά θα μείνει πάντα στις ψυχές μας...

Μεγάλες ευχαριστίες στον Νίκο Κούβαρη και την Annick Van Steerteghem για τη συμβολή στα εργαστήρια χορού και στις γαστρονομικές εκπλήξεις που μας επεφύλαξαν! Για την παρουσίαση των χορών και των τραγουδιών της Σάμου ευχαριστούμε πολύ τον κύριο Φίλιππο Πυργιώτη, πρόεδρο του ΧΟΡ.Ο.Σ για τη βοήθειά του και για την παρουσίαση των χορών του Πόντου τον κ. Βαγγέλη Φραντζή. Ευχαριστούμε επίσης τη Ρωξάνη Αντωνιάδου για την ενθουσιώδη ξενάγησή της στο Λαογραφικό Μουσείο του Αγίου Κηρύκου και τη βοήθειά της στο Greek Language Cafe, το εργαστήριο ελληνικής γλώσσας που συντονίζει η φιλολογική ομάδα μας.

Ευχαριστίες στον Δημήτρη Μελή για τη διοργάνωση του προγράμματος περιηγήσεων, στον Δημήτρη Ρήγα και όλη την οικογένεια του Cavos Bay Hotel καθώς και σε όλους τους Καριώτες φίλους για την αμέριστη υποστήριξή τους! Όλοι οι συμμετέχοντες στο Project έγιναν μια "οικογένεια" που ανυπομονεί να ανταμώσει πάλι στην Νικαριά το επόμενο καλοκαίρι! ...
H παρέα του IkariaDance

www.ikariadance.blogspot.gr
www.ikariadance.com

 

Memories from IkariaDance Project 2015...

(both videos from Ikariaki Radiofonia YouTube Channel)

 

• "Argios" Restaurant 25 August 2015

 

• "Agios Alexandros" feast on 30 August 2015

 

 

 

Inclusion of Ikaria Dance on UNESCO List

Authorities and academics from the North Eastern Aegean island of Ikaria as well as Diaspora Ikariots are calling on the Greek culture ministry to apply to UNESCO for the inclusion of Ikaria’s traditional dance, the “Ikariotiko”, on its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In a letter sent last month to Deputy Culture Minister Nikos Xydakis, Ikariots are citing the example of Andalusia’s flamenco dance, which has already been placed on the list.

Known as “Kariotikos” by the locals, the three-part dance which gradually builds up pace, should, they say, be preserved and recognized as a property of the world and an integral part of Greek culture. Describing it as a cultural asset, the Ikariots are calling for the unique-to-Ikaria dance to be safeguarded.

UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage aim to ensure the protection of important oral and intangible cultural traditions worldwide, raising awareness of their significance.

Late last year, UNESCO placed the traditional harvesting and produce of mastic known as “mastiha Chiou” on its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage after the culture ministry’s application to UNESCO for the recognition of Chios’ traditional mastic practices.

Web source: http://news.gtp.gr/2015/05/05/authorities-call-on-culture-ministry-to-apply-for-inclusion-of-ikaria-dance-on-unesco-list/
Photo source: Visit Ikaria

1st Language and Culture Project in Ikaria

The 1st Language and Culture Project in Ikaria...

...with many ideas on various workshops on Greek language and Greek culture!

Ikaria Holidays with Christiana, Effi, Nikos, Antigoni, Layla propose a different way to learn the Greek language and come in touch with Greek and Ikarian culture and enjoy ones' holidays in the wonderful island of Ikaria.

The 1^st Ikaria Greek Language and Culture Project

“Love Greece

Learn Greek

                                                Live Greek culture”

Greek language and culture workshops in Ikaria

in the village of Armenistis

CAVOS BAY HOTEL (cavosbay.com.gr)

From 6 July 2015 up to 15 August 2015

Workshops’ Schedule:

The workshops can be one or two weeks long. The dates are:

July 2015: 6-10.7, 13-17.7, 20-24.7, 27-31.7

August 2015: 3-7.8, 10-14.8

 

TYPES OF WORKSHOPS

Type of Workshop	Duration	Hours per day	Total amount of hours of training
INTENSIVE Workshop	2 weeks, 5 days a week	4 hrs per day +  2 hrs. Culture workshop	Total hours: 60
REGULAR Workshop	2 weeks,  5 days a week	2 hrs per day + 2 hrs. Culture workshop	Total hours: 40
FLEXIBLE Workshop	1 week, 5 days a week	4 hrs per day + 2 hrs. Culture workshop	Total hours: 30
SHORT Workshop	1 week, 5 days a week	2 hrs. per day + 2 hrs. Culture  workshop	Total hours: 20
CULTURAL IMMERSION Workshop	1 week,  5 days a week	2 hrs. Culture workshop	Total hours: 10
PERSONALIZED Workshop	According to your needs

Greek Language & Culture Special Workshops

Greek for language professionals: participants with a professional interest in Greek such as translators, interpreters, academics shall develop their mastery of Greek according to their needs.

Greek literature: participants shall study texts of different periods of the Greek literature and poetry.

“Katharevousa” Workshop: participants shall study texts in “Katharevousa”, the form of the modern Greek language conceived in the early 19th century.  

Ancient Greek Language Workshop: participants shall study archaic and classical Greek texts (such as Xenophon, Plato, Herodotus, Sophocles). No previous knowledge of ancient Greek is required.

 “Tragoudo” Workshop - Greek through Greek songs: Studying Greek songs as literature texts and pieces of linguistic art and communication based on a new art based concept.

“Theatro” Workshop - Greek through Greek Theatre: Studying extracts of known Greek theatre plays pieces getting in depth of Greek history & sociology. Drama activities, work on Greek pronunciation and the proxemics of the language under an innovative art base concept.

“Ikaria” Workshop: Studying texts about Ikaria and its culture from historical, sociological, anthropological and literature resources.

Greek for Children: Greek through language games, creative arts, music, dances and playing outdoor games.

Greek Language & Culture Program Description

        

Our methodological orientation:

- Development of all four language skills with emphasis on speaking and listening

- Using of art and culture to consolidate vocabulary and grammar structures by singing songs, learning Greek dances etc.

 - Use of drama to promote language use

- Close involvement in the unique local culture and community in Ikaria

      - Intercultural activities between all participants to share cultures and experiences

Location / Accommodation

            Our workshops will shall take place in Armenistis, a picturesque village in North Ikaria, at Cavos Bay Hotel.

            Armenistis is a small village with a picturesque harbor, its parish church dedicated to Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of sailors. Armenistis is also the starting point for several hiking tours through the fantastic mountain villages all around. You can find 5-6 nice tavernas, a couple of cafe-bars, mini-markets, small shops, a small harbor with a nice quiet sandy beach, and a long golden beach 500m away named “Livadi”.  

    Cavos Bay shall be our proposition for your accommodation offering special prices for the participants of our workshops. It offers a high quality personal and friendly service. Its daily breakfast buffet served on a balcony with an amazing view is an unforgettable experience as well as its two swimming pools with fresh seawater. (access for disabled, free Wi-Fi: more for Cavos Bay features) For participants who would like to stay in other locations in Ikaria, like the close villages Nas or Yaliskari, contact us for info about accommodation. (ikaria-holidays.com/)

 

Greek Language & Culture Project: Our philosophy

         The ILCP Language program takes an innovative approach to learning languages and developing cultural awareness on the island of Ikaria, an Aegean island with a unique natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage.  

            Ikaria has raised the global interest of anthropologists and sociologists due to its unique culture and high longevity rates. It belongs to one of the five so-called world “blue zones” where people age slowly thanks to various factors, among which are the strong social and cultural bonds of its people. Close contacts with this interesting culture are at the heart of our approach that involves meeting local people through conversations, common experiences and outdoor activities.

            The combination of Greek and Ikarian art and culture (music, songs, dance, theatre, traditions and feasts, local gastronomy) will help you learn in a culturally and artistic based environment and in a relaxed way. “To experience and learn through cultural adventure and real emotion”, this is the motto of our team.

 

Our team

Ikaria Holidays agency is organizing the project with the kind help of highly experienced specialist language teachers and cultural mediators, who shall help us get in the real adventure of exploring a language and its culture.

Christiana Katsarou shares three lifelong passions, Greek language, Greek dance and Ikaria: this Project promises that she combines them all!

She is an adult trainer of language and culture holding degrees in Greek philology, in Theatre Studies and a M.Sc. in Anthropology - Greek Culture and Folk Studies. She did her research on the feasts of Ikaria. As a dance trainer she has conducted many workshops in cultural associations including LIKEIO TON ELLINIDON IKARIAS and E.TE.PO in Greece and numerous cultural associations in Europe, Canada and Israel animating workshops on Greek dance culture. She has been a language trainer of Greek as L2, a researcher in EU funded language projects and currently a trainer of the Youth and Life Long Learning Foundation for Erasmus+ (National Agency of Greece). She is an examiner for the Greek language certification for immigrants (Greek General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning).

She is the cultural coordinator of Ikaria Holidays cultural projects: the IKARIADANCE PROJECT (www.ikariadance.blogspot.gr) and the Chorotragoudo Project. She speaks English, French and German.

Effie Stergiou is an enthusiastic and highly qualified  Greek language teacher and adult trainer!

 She received her degree in Greek philology from University of Crete and her M.Sc. in Adult Education from the Greek Open University. She is certified as an adult trainer by the Greek National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance and she has attended many specialized seminars about teaching Greek as a foreign language (L2).

Effie has gained a Grundtvig scholarship from the Greek Scholarship Foundation (IKY) and she has attended seminars in adult education in Malta and in Latvia. Over the last 10 years Effie has worked as Greek teacher to adults in private and public organizations and has also specialized in teaching ancient Greek and “Katharevousa”. Since 2009 she is examiner for the exams about the certification of knowledge of Greek language by immigrants organized by the Greek General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning. In addition to teaching, Effie has actively participated in many conferences on adult education and she is a member of Hellenic Adult Education Association (HAEA). She speaks English and Italian.   

 

Nikos Kouvaris originates from Karavostamo of Ikaria and is an enthusiast of his island’s culture. He holds degrees in electrical studies and in nursing and health studies. He has worked in the National Electricity Company and the Hospital of Ikaria. He loves greatly cooking, traditional dancing and nature. He has danced many years in the Likeio ton Hellinidon Ikarias and he belongs in the team of Ikaria Dance Project. He has also been involved in several projects of Ikaria-Holidays in the field of cultural tourism.

Αntigoni Riga is a young enthusiast of Drama in Education as well as her island of origin: Ikaria!

She holds degrees in Theatre Studies (Athens University) and in Acting and Performing Arts (Kimouli Drama School). She has also studied classical and modern dance in the Greek National School of Dance. As an actress and dancer she has participated in many theatre and dance performances (“Perses”, “Aloides”, “Romeo and Juliette” etc.) Since 2009 she is a member of the Zero Point Theatre Group. As a drama in education trainer she has worked in public schools and recently in the Athens University Museum’s educational projects. She speaks English and French.

Layla Luffman has moved from UK to Greece more than twenty years ago. She has lived on Ikaria for the last eight years and she loves it! She teaches English, Greek and Spanish to both children and adults. She is a linguist with a degree in language studies from the university of Cardiff and is currently studying for a Master degree in applied linguistics at the UK Open University. She enjoys teaching and she has almost twenty years of experience. She also works part time for the University of Cambridge as an oral examiner.

Her hobbies are collecting herbs and cooking. She has been running a ‘kantina’ on the lakeside in Fragma Mounte Ikarias for three years now where she enjoys cooking as well as running art workshops for children. She speaks English (native speaker), Greek, Spanish and Italian.

Information / Registration

For information upon fees and registration, please contact us at: 

ikariagreekproject@gmail.com