The internationally awarded Department of Traditional Dances of the Municipality of Ioannina will close the calendar year of its 40th educational year with one more educational event and two performances with the representation of customs.
In particular, on Monday he organizes a Seminar on Traditional Continental Headbands, on the premises of the School, at the end of the Kurambas Park. The presentation and learning will be done by ladies from the regions, who will be part of the Seminar. Ms. Kiki Pantazi- Joka for Zagori, Ms. Niki Mavrioiorgou for Metsovo and Ms. Lefki Magou – Zaharis for Pogoni’s “boil”. This is the organization of the 14th “Traditional Seminar” of the Department, of which the 2nd one is for the Epirus Kefalodesmo. Due to limited space and the specific subject for practice, the relatively few places have been filled but the organizers intend to plan a similar event in the future for more interested parties.
The second event of the month concerns the reenactment of the custom of the “Sparganos of Christ” on Wednesday, December 20, at 12 noon, at the Castle of Ioannina (Matsa Square). This is a typical Christmas custom with many symbols. The creation of honeyed “teganites” in the traditional way, which represent the baby of Christ, on the heated stone slab, by the ladies of the 4th KAPI, will be followed by carols and Ioannitian songs from the Municipal Dance Group and an Epirotian feast with the musical accompaniment of Vassilis Papageorgiou, Giorgos Patsouras, Vassilis Tsikas and Diamantis Papanastasiou. It is the 3rd collaboration, regarding this custom, between the Department of Traditional Dances of the Municipality of Ioannina with the 4th KAPI (Kastro), OKPAPA and, from this year, with the Cultural Association “To Kastro”.
The third event, on the morning of Friday December 22nd, in the “spirit” of the days and following the Traditions, is dedicated to the Christmas Carols of the Dancers in City Hall, Region and Metropolis and to the presentation of a traditional music and dance program on the city’s sidewalks (Michael Angelou Street Contribution and Grigoriou Sakka), at 12 noon.
With these presentations, the Department of Traditional Dances of the Municipality of Ioannina, in its 40th anniversary year, continues its long-standing multifaceted activity in areas, among others, such as: the organization of themed music and dance events, themed concerts, traditional dance seminars, parallel thematic events, television presentations in Greece and abroad etc. For his action, he has been awarded with international distinctions while he is an “Ambassador of Culture” of the historical capital of Epirus through his hundreds of appearances in Greece and the world with special programs of dances, songs and customs of more than 50 regions of Epirus and the country.
General coordination – editing: Ilias Gartzonikas, Nikos Nousias, Vassilis Raptis (Traditional Dance Teachers – Physical Education Teachers)
