Over 1,000 dancers take part in 24th Corfu Folklore Festival
folklore
27 Mar 2023
/ 12:10
CORFU. According to the organisers, there were 3,000 attendees at the Municipal Theatre over the three days of the festival.
Three thousand people came to enjoy the 24th Corfu Folklore Festival over the three days 24-26 March, according to the organisers. The festival, which took place at the Municipal Theatre, was co-organised by Laodamas and the Ionian Islands Regional Administration.
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The following cultural groups and associations from throughout Corfu took part:
Agios Mathaios, Arillas, Afra, Acharavi, Velonades, Vitalades, Vouniatades, Gastouri, Yiannades, Gouvia, Doukades, Corfu Union of Macedonians, Epirus Association, Kavalouri, Karousades, Kastelanous, Kastelano Primary School, Kato Garouna, Kato Korakiana (Women's Society), Kompitsi, Korakiana (Spyros Samaras), Koryfo, Krini, Nymphes, Pagi, Pelekas, Perithia (Philipos Vlachos), Petriti, Pontian Club, Sgourades, Strongili (Dimodokos), Sinarades (Nikos Paktitis Folklore Company), Temploni, Phaethon Lefkimmi, Chlomos (Paleologos), Corfu Dance Group, Laodamas.
Kassiopi withdrew at the last minute due to a bereavement.
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Nikos Perros, one of the founders of Laodamas and responsible for the organisation of the festival, said: " Corfiots, both from the town and from every village participated in the festival with their dance groups. Over a thousand dancers from 41 dance groups, 18 dance instructors, and 15 musicians participated in the festival, making it the biggest cultural event on the island."
Marilena Kanta, a dance instructor and president of Laodamas said: "This year, apart from the large attendance at the event, with the collaboration of the associations and mainly the teachers, we significantly raised the quality standard of the event as the live music that accompanied the dance groups added value to the festival. Congratulations to the outstanding musicians and you will allow me to mention them by name: Apostolis Valsamis played oud, lute, and sang, and was also responsible for the orchestration. Elli Syrouchidou played percussion, Zacharias Hasanis played clarinet, Theodore Gotzis played violin, Theodoris Karydis played violin, Thomai Theocharopoulou played accordion, Kostas Petridis played lute and sang, Konstantina Houlaki sang, and Christina Livana played trumpet. It was a difficult undertaking but was a complete success."
"There are two people whose presence we miss," she added. "Nikos Trousas and, of course, Dimitris Kantas."
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Nikos Perros concluded the event with words of gratitude and special mentions to the Regional Administration for the co-organisation, to the management of the Municipal Theatre and its employees for their tireless support in the efforts of organisation and implementation, to Theodore Korakianitis, the sound engineer, to photographers Dora, Anastasia and Alexandra and to Antonis Karydis for the video recording.
"We particularly congratulate the administrations of the societies and associations that cultivate groups such as dance, theatre, choirs, painting, and books, because they make an enormous social contribution in difficult and barbaric times," said Nikos Perros. "Through their actions, they contribute to the formation of consciousness that can change things for the better. Culture is not just the "consumption" of events, but the substantial participation in events, in the struggle for modern needs, for everyday life, and for quality of life.
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The following were amongst those who attended the event: Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa; Deputy Regional Governor Kostas Zorbas and Regional Council President Nikos Mouzakitis; Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Mayor Meropi Ydraiou and Municipal Council President Dimitris Metallinos; Regional Councillors Alexandra Ballou, Babis Haralambous, Alekos Michalas, Tilemachos Gavalas; Municipal Councillors Nikiforos Zervos, Yiannis Borbotis, Mirsini Haralambous; Workers' Centre President Stamatis Pelais; the church was represented by the high priest Athanasios Kokkinopoulos.
The organisers called on them to present souvenirs to the participants.
Photos: Laodamas
The following cultural groups and associations from throughout Corfu took part:
Agios Mathaios, Arillas, Afra, Acharavi, Velonades, Vitalades, Vouniatades, Gastouri, Yiannades, Gouvia, Doukades, Corfu Union of Macedonians, Epirus Association, Kavalouri, Karousades, Kastelanous, Kastelano Primary School, Kato Garouna, Kato Korakiana (Women's Society), Kompitsi, Korakiana (Spyros Samaras), Koryfo, Krini, Nymphes, Pagi, Pelekas, Perithia (Philipos Vlachos), Petriti, Pontian Club, Sgourades, Strongili (Dimodokos), Sinarades (Nikos Paktitis Folklore Company), Temploni, Phaethon Lefkimmi, Chlomos (Paleologos), Corfu Dance Group, Laodamas.
Kassiopi withdrew at the last minute due to a bereavement.
Nikos Perros, one of the founders of Laodamas and responsible for the organisation of the festival, said: " Corfiots, both from the town and from every village participated in the festival with their dance groups. Over a thousand dancers from 41 dance groups, 18 dance instructors, and 15 musicians participated in the festival, making it the biggest cultural event on the island."
Marilena Kanta, a dance instructor and president of Laodamas said: "This year, apart from the large attendance at the event, with the collaboration of the associations and mainly the teachers, we significantly raised the quality standard of the event as the live music that accompanied the dance groups added value to the festival. Congratulations to the outstanding musicians and you will allow me to mention them by name: Apostolis Valsamis played oud, lute, and sang, and was also responsible for the orchestration. Elli Syrouchidou played percussion, Zacharias Hasanis played clarinet, Theodore Gotzis played violin, Theodoris Karydis played violin, Thomai Theocharopoulou played accordion, Kostas Petridis played lute and sang, Konstantina Houlaki sang, and Christina Livana played trumpet. It was a difficult undertaking but was a complete success."
"There are two people whose presence we miss," she added. "Nikos Trousas and, of course, Dimitris Kantas."
Nikos Perros concluded the event with words of gratitude and special mentions to the Regional Administration for the co-organisation, to the management of the Municipal Theatre and its employees for their tireless support in the efforts of organisation and implementation, to Theodore Korakianitis, the sound engineer, to photographers Dora, Anastasia and Alexandra and to Antonis Karydis for the video recording.
"We particularly congratulate the administrations of the societies and associations that cultivate groups such as dance, theatre, choirs, painting, and books, because they make an enormous social contribution in difficult and barbaric times," said Nikos Perros. "Through their actions, they contribute to the formation of consciousness that can change things for the better. Culture is not just the "consumption" of events, but the substantial participation in events, in the struggle for modern needs, for everyday life, and for quality of life.
"We congratulate and admire the unsung heroes of the Festival. The Teachers! Those who worked with their dance groups to produce this excellent result with zeal and sacrifices but with a lot of passion."
The following were amongst those who attended the event: Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa; Deputy Regional Governor Kostas Zorbas and Regional Council President Nikos Mouzakitis; Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Mayor Meropi Ydraiou and Municipal Council President Dimitris Metallinos; Regional Councillors Alexandra Ballou, Babis Haralambous, Alekos Michalas, Tilemachos Gavalas; Municipal Councillors Nikiforos Zervos, Yiannis Borbotis, Mirsini Haralambous; Workers' Centre President Stamatis Pelais; the church was represented by the high priest Athanasios Kokkinopoulos.
The organisers called on them to present souvenirs to the participants.
Photos: Laodamas
