31 dance-groups participating in this year’s Corfu Folklore Festival

This year there is a record number of participants, with dance-groups from 31 societies participating in the festival. They come from various places on the island: Agios Matheos, Arillas, Acharavi, Velonades, Vitalades, Gastouri, Yiannades, Gouvia, Doukades, Corfu Macedonians Club, Corfu Epirus Society, Corfu Iraklis, Kavallouri, Karousades, Kassiopi, Kastellani, Kato Garounas, Kontokali, Korakiana (Sp. Samaras), Krini, Lefkimmi (Phaethon), Nymfes, Pelekas, Perithia, Petriti, Corfu Pontic Greeks Club, Sinies, Strongili (Dimodokos), Synarades, Temploni, Chlomos (T. Paleologos) and of course the organizer LAODAMAS children’s dance-group. There is a strong presence of Corfu cultural elements and the organizers say it could be called ‘Corfu Traditional Folk Dancing’.

At a meeting following last year’s festival it was decided that the 21^st Festival should be take the form of a ‘Children’s Festival. So on Saturday 24^th and Saturday 25^th it will be mostly children’s dance-groups that will be performing at the Municipal Theatre, whereas on the opening day on Friday 23^rd there will be adult groups performing.

“In Corfu we celebrate a day like this in the most appropriate way - dancing, singing, wearing traditional costumes, many of which are relevant even today,” declared Laodamas President Dimitris Kantas.

Project coordinator, Nikos Perros, stressed about the value of this commemoration day: “It is well-known that the underlying consciousness that led to the Revolution had its roots as far back as the 1789 French revolution and the adoption of its ideals (freedom – equality – brotherhood) in the “Anonymous Greek with Greek Governance”, by Adamantios Korais and foremost by Rigas Fereos, who conceived of the idea of a complete Balkan Revolution. Despite the difficulties that were faced in the implementation of Rigas’ ideas, the Revolution went ahead. It had a nationalistic and also social character. The armed struggle achieved the foundation of the first liberated Greek national state. It was a leap forward in historical development, which also contributed to the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire”.

He went on to say that “The festival is an event that can justifiably claim to be the largest cultural gathering on the Island, since over 900 dancers along with dozens of musicians will perform at Corfu Municipal Theatre. Moreover, I doubt that there is a large event its kind anywhere else in Greece. We expect more than 2,500 Corfiots to attend!”

He thanked and congratulated the participating organizations: “…the coordination of 31 dance-groups is a difficult task that is possible only through understanding, a spirit of cooperation and the organized structure of the festival! This understanding and the inherent collaboration of more than 20 years is the spark that can lead to the coordination of all the Corfu dance-groups…and this is what we are aiming for.”

The Festival is co-organized by the Regional Corfu Administration and Corfu Municipal Culture, Sports and Environment Organization (DOPAP).