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OUR INSTRUCTORS
Vasilis Karfis, son of Konstantinos, comes from Dikastro, Fthiotida. He graduated from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA) in Athens in 1985 with a specialization in Greek Traditional Dance. He was appointed to the Primary Education sector in 1993. From 1996 to 2004 and from 2008 to 2012, he was also working the TEFAA in Athens. From 2017 to 2019, he was moved to the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science in Athens, where he taught courses primarily in the specialization of "Greek Traditional Dance" and the core course in the same field. He also taught these courses as a graduate student from 2004 to 2008, and during the academic years 2012-13 and 2013-14, as well as during the academic year 2019-20 as a Visiting Professor. Presently, he is a Doctor of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA).
In addition to his teaching, he has participated in International Folklore Conferences (UNESCO), International Physical Education and Athletic Conferences (Komotini, Thrace), PanHellenic Folklore Conferences and various educational workshops in the field of Physical Education and Sports.
Vasilis Karfis is the author of numerous scientific research publications. His most notable journals were published from 1997 to 2013. His first publication (1997) focused on the role of Folk Greek Dance during the Carnival in Hydra. In 2010, he published two papers. The first presented a structured and typological analysis of Cretan dances; the second presented the application of a structured methodological approach for the instruction of Greek Traditional Dances.
In 2012, in his latest publication, his study presented opposing shapes in Greek dance, specifically with dances from the regions of Drama and Serres in Macedonia. Vasilis Karfis is also the co-author of a book that is used as a reference guide by many instructors in the field of Greek Traditional Dance. In 2009, with Maria Ziaka, he co-authored “Greek Traditional Dance in Education: Teaching Methods”. In 2013 Vasili contributed to the books authored by Nikos Zournatzidis, “Συμβολή στην έρευνα των χορών του Πόντου -Λαογραφικά και Ιστορικά Στοιχεία της Περιοχής” in subsequently to the book “Μουσικοχορευτική παράδοση της Τερπνής” by Giannis Toulakis.
In his 40-year career, he has been recognized for many of his outstanding accomplishments: He has judged various student dance festivals in Greece, had an honorary participation with the Kallithea-based dance group during the Closing Ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games (2004) and has organized many cultural live and televised events, his most recent one being at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall in 2012. Since 2014, Vasilis along with his wife Maria and now his daughter have undertaken their own dance program with their dance group “Choropaideia”, continuing on the work of their life long passion.
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Maria Ziaka was born in Vasiliki, Trikala. In 1985, she obtained her Bachelor Degree, from the University of Athens, in Physical Education and Sports Science (TEFAA) with a Specialization in Greek Traditional Dance. In 1993, she was appointed as an Elementary School teacher and from 2003 to 2011, she was Responsible for Cultural Affairs and Public Art for Elementary Education in Athens.
In her professional career, she has participated in International Folklore Conferences (UNESCO), International Physical Education and Athletic Conferences (Komotini, Thrace), PanHellenic Folklore and Music Conferences and various educational workshops in the fields of Physical Education, Sports, Dance, Theatre and Music. In her music education, she has taken lessons with the late Domna Samiou and has been a long-standing member of the Traditional Music Choir of the “Thermofylakes of Paradosi” Association.
Maria Ziaka has published numerous scientific research papers. Her most notable journals were published from 1998 to 2012. Her first publication (1998) focused on the traditions and dances of her native village in Trikala. In 2010, she published two papers. The first presented a structured and typological analysis of Cretan dances; the second presented the application of a structured methodological approach for the instruction of Greek Traditional Dances. In 2011, in one of her most recent publications, she presented traditional stereotypes and creativity for the dance Baintouska.
Maria Ziaka is also the co-author of a book that is used as a reference guide by many instructors in the field of Greek Traditional Dance. In 2009, with Vasilis Karfis, she wrote: “Greek Traditional Dance in Education: Teaching Methods”.
In her 40 year career, she has taught traditional Greek dances to many groups, has judged in various student dance festivals and has presented in numerous educational music and dance conferences in Greece. As Responsible for Cultural Affairs, she has also organized many workshops and conferences in Athens. Since 2014, Maria along with her husband and most recently her daughter, have undertaken their own dance program with the founding of their dance group “Choropaideia”, continuing on the work of their life long passion.
Dimos Prantsidis was born in 1979 in Volos, Magnesia, and grew up in Aiginio, Pieria. He currently resides in Athens with his wife and their two daughters.
He holds a degree in Physical Education and Sports, specializing in traditional dances and winter sports. He has completed postgraduate studies in Sports Performance and Health, and he is a Doctor of Philosophy from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Postdoctoral researcher.
Dimos is a Physical Education teacher in secondary education and has been teaching traditional dances since 2000. He also works as a trainer in Public Vocational Training Institutes (DIEK) and collaborates with the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki as an instructor and external collaborator at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
He has worked with many cultural associations (““Anatoliki Romylia” of Aiginio, Lykeio Ellinidon of Katerini, “Anatoliki Romylia” of Skepastos Thessaloniki, “Aristotelis” of Koulafion, Dance Group of the Municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon, Thracian Estia of Thessaloniki, and the Lykeio Ellinidon of Kilkis). Since 2006, he has been teaching traditional dance seminars in Greece and abroad, having organized many of them.
Dimos has made appearances on several television programs focused on the musical and dance traditions of Thrace, as well as many musical and dance performances, including notable ones at: Royal Theater of Thessaloniki, Moni Lazariston Thessaloniki, Dora Stratou Theater, Athens Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Herod Atticus Odeon (Tribute to Chronis Aidonidis), and the Herod Atticus Odeon (2017).
As part of his research pursuits, he has conducted recordings, research, presentations at scientific conferences, and publications in scientific journals related to sports science, culture, tradition, and folklore.
From a very young age, he experienced the authentic traditions of Northern Greece, particularly Thrace and his hometown (Aiginio, Pieria), where refugees from Kavakli and Ak Bunar of Northern Thrace reside. At the same time, he became involved with traditional music, playing percussion instruments and learning through the traditional practical method of teaching. The study of Thracian traditional songs is also one of his interests.
George Georgoudis was born in Athens and grew up on the island of Skyros until the age of 15, where his roots are from, before moving to Athens to continue high school and his studies.
He is a physical education teacher and a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science (S.E.F.A.A.) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Greek Traditional Dance, with a thesis titled "The 'Present' of the 'Past': The case of the carnival ritual 'Gerós and Korella' from Skyros."
Since 2014, George has been teaching traditional Greek dances to students of all ages in Skyros, first with the Skyros Dance Group and later, after the two groups merged, with the Cultural Association of Skyros "Anemoessa," where he has been serving as the president since 2020.
He is also responsible for teaching traditional Greek dances in Athens-based dance groups, such as the "Union of Arcadians of Ag. Dimitrios, Attiki" and "Philathlitikos Kallitheas."
George has been in charge of organizing numerous music and dance events, such as annual performances with dances from all regions of Greece (2015-2019, 2024), carnival performances featuring Greek dances, songs, and rituals (2020, 2022, 2024), events with songs and tunes of Skyros' table songs (2022, 2023), organizing traditional dance festivals "We Dance Together to the Rhythms of Anemoessa!" (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024), Clean Monday celebrations, and summer music and dance performances. He also organized and created two YouTube videos: "Skyros – Dance Crossroads" (2020) and "Freedom Requires Virtue and Courage" (2021). Finally, George participated in the shows "Kathe Topos Kai Tragoudi: Skyros, Anemoessa" (2020) and the "Alati Tis Gis: A Musical Journey in Skyros" (2022).
He has participated in events across Greece, including: the Alonissos Traditional Dance Festival (2016-2019), a music and dance performance in Orchomenos (2018), "Fly me to the Moon" – a presentation of Skyros dances for the promotion of Skyrian Carnival at Elef. Venizelos Airport (2019), the 52nd International "Karaiskakeia" Festival in Karditsa (2019), the 19th National Conference of the Lyceum of Greek Women in Volos, presenting Skyrian dances (2019), the 13th, 14th, and 15th International Rebetiko Seminar in Skyros (2022-2024), the "Fisherman's Festival" in Koufonisia (2023), and many music and dance events in collaboration with Nikos Skafidas in Skyros over the last 10 years.
George has also participated as a speaker, presenting Skyros dances, songs, and rituals in online seminars about "Skyrian Carnival" (2020, 2024), "Folk Dances in Rebetiko Songs" (2022, 2023), and "Skyrian Costumes" (2024) as part of the 13th, 14th, and 15th International Rebetiko Seminars in Skyros. He also presented at the 13th Traditional Dance Seminar in Lake Plastira (2023) with the topic "Dances, Songs, and Rituals of Skyros," "Domna’s Archive Travels to Skyros" (with: Katerina Papadopoulou, Stefanos Drombarakis, Nikos Skafidas, George Georgoudis) (2024), and at the 15th Traditional Dance Seminar of the Folklore Society of GEA Agrinio with the topic "Dances, Songs, and Rituals of Skyros" (2024).
Lastly, George has also been involved in coaching children's soccer, aerobic gymnastics classes, and Pilates lessons for adults.
Manolis Gyftos was born in 1973 in Karakovouni, Kynouria in the prefecture of Arkadia, Peloponnese. He completed his primary education in his village and completed his high school studies in Agios Andreas and subsequently in Astros.
He is a graduate of the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the National University of Athens with a specialization in Greek traditional dances.
After completing his studies, Manoli returned to his village where he lives permanently and collaborates with cultural organizations of Northern Kynouria and Argos as a teacher of Greek dances.
From a young age, Manoli experienced the festivals, religious and social events of the village, but also of the wider region firsthand.
Since 1997, he has been systematically involved in researching the dance phenomenon of the province of Kynouria and Argolida. In 1999, Manoli submitted his diploma thesis on Tsakonian dance to the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts of the National University of Athens after two years of field research in the villages of Tsakonia. He has presented at seminars and conferences on topics related to the dances and tradition of Kynouria as the DOLT conference on dance studies and at KEPEM in Athens. In addition to presenting his research in various forums Manoli has also directed a of number of thematic presentations including: the Traditional Wedding of Argilitsa Karyas, O Klidonas, The Traditional Games of the Tsakonians, and The Traditional Wedding in Karakovouni Kynouria among others.
Manoli is currently studying Folklore at postgraduate level and continues his twenty-five-year research in the villages of Kynouria on dance and music.
Since 2002, he has been working in primary education as a Physical Education teacher in schools of Kynouria.