GENERAL

Dance teacher Maria Tripolitsiotou - Tsounaki and a group of individuals, who love dance, back in 1988, founded the Folkdance Group of the Community of Naoussa Paros.

The initial purpose of the group was the presentation of Folk Dances, which were danced at weddings, festivities and gatherings, and the acquisition of dances from the other islands of Greece. The main purpose of the group today is to pass on to the younger generations the living tradition of our islands' folklore.

The group today consists of six sub-groups divided according to age and an orchestra of traditional island instruments. These are the tsambouna (island bagpipe), toumbaki (drum), lyre of Crete, touberleki (oriental drum), violin and laouto (lute).

The dancers  are taught and perform dances from all over Greece (Macedonia, Thrace, Eastern Aegean, Sporades Islands, Crete, Ionian Islands, Cyclades Islands). Naturally, dances of Paros have a special place in each of our performances.

Laographic committee of the group studies and records he customs, songs and dances, and is responsible for all publications put out by the group.

The Parian costumes worn by the dancers are exact copies of 16th century Parian dress. There is also a collection of costumes from other islands and areas of Greece as well.

In order to encourage the fellowship with people from other regions and countries the group has taken part in many international festivals in Greece and abroad it has performed with outstanding acclaim. Some of these were in Portugal, Holland, Austria, France, Malta, Denmark, Tunisia, Egypt, Italy and Turkey.

In the spring of 1994, the group was chosen through the "Arts Education and Training Initiative Programme" of the European Union to organise a folkdance seminar for its member countries. The group has also invited and hosted Folkdance groups from other parts of Greece and from abroad. In September 1996 it organised a seminar on the topic: "The Lyres of Greece and their Dances" and hosted musicians and dancers from Kasos, Karpathos, Crete, Lemnos and Pontos.

In September 1998, the group organised the "Cycladic Folkdance, Music and Tradition" Festival.

In addition, during the summer time, from June to September our dancing group performs in the frond yard of the church of Naoussa.

 AGERANOS

During this dance the dancers hold each others’ shoulders and move their hands rhythmically from side to side. The impression given by the group of dancers is supposed to be similar to a flock of cranes in flight (Geranos = crane ). According to mythology Theseus and his sailors danced Ageranos in Delos on their way back to Athens from Crete, where Theseus had killed the Minotaur. The dance is still danced in Paros during Carnival. The leader of the dance sings two lines which are repeated by the rest. No musical instruments are used.

SYRTOS OF PAROS (WEDDING DANCE)

Parian wedding banquets always begin –and continue- with this dance. The newly weds and the koumbari (best man and maid of honour) dance together holding hands in the shape of a meander. The groom and the best man after a while sit down so that all the relatives and friends will take turns in dancing with the bride and her maid of honour. The performance of this dance by our dance group is often accompanied by a presentation of all the customs of a Parian wedding.

BALLOS

This is the most widely spread and popular island dance. It is danced in different variations throughout the Aegean. It is a flirtations dance always danced in couples. The woman holds a handkerchief folded in half or has her hands on her hips, making restrained but expressive and charming movements. The man follows her “besieging” her discreetly, showing his dance skill.

The Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros holds numerous performances in and out of Paros. From 1989 onwards we have performances on certain dates every summer from June to September in the courtyard of the main church in Naoussa. These performances consist of four to six parts, showing dances from different areas of Greece. We often accommodate dance groups from other parts of Greece and abroad.

The Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros has participated in and organised numerous cultural exchanges. Until now we have accommodated more than 20 folkdance groupsand have returned a visit to most of them.

 Apart from performing dances, the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros is engaged in several other activities. We have organised seminars and special cultural events, published two books and organised the educational programme “tiny ships”.

      SEMINARS

1.      Seminar on the teaching of traditional dances

In 1994 the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros was chosen by the EU to organise a seminar on the teaching of greek traditional dances. This seminar took place from 7^th to 11^th September in Paros and was especially successful. Teachers of folk dances from all the countries of the EU participated.

2.      The Lyres of Greece and their dances

In 1996 the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros in collaboration with the EU organised a seminar in Paros on the subject “the Lyres of Greece and their dances”. Important musicians and dancers from Casos,Carpathos, Crete, Lemnos and Pontos participated.

      SPECIAL EVENTS

1.      First Cycladic Festival of Dance and Music

In September 1998 the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros held in Naoussa the “First Cycladic Festival of Dance and Music”. This festival lasted for three days and groups from Anafi, Andros, Thera, Ios, Koufonissia, Cythnos, Melos, Myconos, Naxos, Paros, Sifnos, Syros and Tenos participated.

2.      Wedding and wedding dress presentation

On 3^rd September 2000 the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros in collaboration with the “Dora Stratou  Dance Theatre” showed for the first time in Cyclades authentic wedding dresses from all over Greece. We also presented the customs, songs and dances of the parian traditional wedding.

      FOLKLORE

Tin Ships

The educational programme “tiny ships” occupied local children who were taught how to make tiny ships out of discarded containers. It took place in June and July 1999. The interest in that project was such that it became an annual event.

      BOOKS

1.      Past – Present – Future Continues

In 1994 the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros published its first book “Past – Present – Future Continues” containing – apart from the group’s C.V. – its members thoughts and speculations on dance and tradition, together with plenty of photographic material.

2.       Shall we play a game?

3.      In 1998 the Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros published its second book “Shall we play a game?” It is a record of traditional games which were and are still played in Paros and elsewhere. The texts are interestingly illustrated.

      PLAY ACTING

There are two classes of play acting for young children aiming to develop self expression, imagination, and a balanced relationship within a group. This also gives the opportunity to young children to have a first experience of theatrical culture.

The Folkdance Group of Naoussa Paros was at first administered by the local council of Naoussa Paros. In 1992 it became an independent organisation governed by a bi –annually elected seven – membered board.