Dance teachers from Crete to tour Australia and New Zealand

A Greek-based duo will visit the Oceania region in the next few weeks and offer Cretan dance workshops thanks to a Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand initiative.

The Federation was keen to get people dancing again after two years of restrictions.

“Following the Covid-19 restrictions during 2020 and 2021, the Federation felt it was imperative to find a way to help its constituent member organizations to rekindle the interest of our younger generation to return to Cretan dance. The presence of Sifis Viglakis and Eleftheria Manioudakis will certainly assist in this area,” the Federation said in a statement.

Visiting teachers Sifis Viglakis and Eleftheria Manioudakis were both born in Chania and are members of the Traditional Viglatores Group.

Viglakis is in fact a founding member of the Viglatores association which today counts more than 200 members and branches in Alikianos, Kalamaki, Platanias, Chania, Mournies, Akrotiri and Neo Xorio Apokoronas.

Since its inception in 2009, he has led the Viglatores association on tours in Europe, America and Oceania.

Manioudakis, a primary school educator and member of the Traditional Viglatores Association since 2009, has traveled with the group on overseas tours, performing in Germany, Cyprus and the United States of America.

The tour program is as follows:

Wellington, New Zealand: Thursday 9 February – Sunday 12 February

Sydney, New South Wales: Monday 13 February – Friday 17 February,

Brisbane, Queensland: Saturday 18 February – Tuesday 21 February

Melbourne, Victoria: Wednesday 22 February – Monday 27 February

Hobart, Tasmania: Tuesday 28 February – Friday 3 March

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Saturday 4 March – Monday 6 March

Darwin, Northern Territory: Tuesday 7 March – Saturday 11 March

The Federation’s President Tony Tsourdalakis expressed gratitude to the Governor of the Crete Region Stavros Arnaoutakis for helping to finance the initiative.

The visiting teacher program comes in the wake of the Federation’s recent 41st National Convention which brought together more than 140 dancers from across Australia.

Hellenic youth across Australia and New Zealand are encouraged to reach out to their respective associations and communities and register their participation.

All are welcome to attend, with no requirement to be of Cretan background.

Further seminars in schools or private premises can be arranged with the teachers on request.

For further information contact the Federation by email at [email protected] or contact the President directly at [email protected]