TRADITIONAL ART & CRAFTS SEMINARS

The workshops are for beginners and will help you in your first steps in the arts of weaving and dyeing

In our workshop, we will trace the roots of the mosaic art and explore the evolution of techniques and materials. We will examine the traditional methods of stone cutting and smalti (colored glass), as well as the basic principles of mosaic setting through the creation of individual small-scale works.

Special focus will be given to the Siteiakos Pidichtos (also known simply as Kritikos or Pidichtos), a traditional Cretan dance. In 2018, the Siteiakos Pidichtos was officially included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece. During the seminar, experienced elder dancers from the village will be present to demonstrate the local style of the Siteiakos Pidichtos as danced specifically in Hamezi. They will be accompanied by local musicians, further enriching this cultural experience. The seminar will also include a brief theoretical and practical introduction to European-style dances that were commonly danced in the Sitia region during the 1950s, such as the tango, waltz, and foxtrot. If there is interest from the participants, the seminar may also include a short instructional session on dances from other parts of Crete. As is customary each year, and following prior arrangement, a fast-track Siteiakos Pidichtos lesson is also offered to other festival participants who are attending music and arts classes. The seminar is open to both beginners and advanced dancers.

Nature holds an astonishingly beautiful palette of colors that can be used to create enchanting textiles. During this workshop, you will be introduced to various techniques and plants used for extracting color, such as onion skins, avocado pits, and loquat leaves.