Ikaria is an island of the East Aegean Sea near the islands Samos, Chios, Mykonos. An island of a unique nature, a fascinating history and living traditions to explore.
The traditional local feasts (“paniyiria”), involve in a remarkable way all generations and still remain the centre of the social and cultural life in Ikaria. Recent research on the high longevity rates of the island (Blue Zones) reveals to the rest of the world what all Ikarians have known for centuries: music, dance and life with strong family and community bonds help you enjoy real life and live longer… IKARIADANCE project aims to connect dance friends from all around the world with the Ikarian values of dance and feast culture.
Our Project in Ikaria is a not for profit project that helps the promotion of the local cultural heritage, cultural tourism as well as important intercultural values based on folk culture experiential learning. For more information about the concept and philosophy of our innovative Project which has been running since 2004, you can read the interview by Christiana Katsarou, the Project's coordinator to GreekTV.com:
Culture workshop: optional workshop with traditional songs, percussion and rhythms, history –ethnography and folk traditions presentations and discussions.
Excursions to local feasts “paniyiria”
Music and dance evenings with local musicians
Workshop of Greek Language (Greek Language Café) – levels of beginners and advanced (optional - free of charge)
Ikaria est une île située à l'Est de la mer Egée, pres des iles de Samos et Chios. Une ile jouissant d’une beauté naturelle unique, d’une histoire fascinante et des traditions vivantes et en évolution.
Les fêtes locales (panighiria), fréquentées par toutes les générations, sont encore aujourd'hui le centre de la vie culturelle d'Ikaria, ce qui surprend et enchante tous ses visiteurs. Des recherches récentes accentuent que les fêtes et, en général la collectivité du mode de vie ikariote contribuent à leur longévité dite remarquable.
Pédagogie : 4 h./par jour : cours de danse (niveaux débutants/ avancés)
Ateliers de culture: chants populaires, percussions et rythmes, présentations d’histoire et ethnographie, video.
Excursions et participation aux fêtes locales, les fameux "paniyiria"
Soirées avec des musicians locaux dans differentes tavernes