Nikos Rousakis _ Dances of Eastern Crete
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.
- Date:14/7/2025 10:00 - 18/7/2025 10:00
- Location Hamezi, Greece (Map)
- More Info:Teaching hours: 5-6 / day
Description
Nikos Rousakis _ Dances of Eastern Crete
Type of Seminar: Dance Teaching
Level of Participants: Open to all levels
Hours of Teaching: 5-6 hours/day
BIOGRAPHY
Nikos Rousakis was born in 1975 in Skopi, Sitia. His relationship with dance began in his school years, in 1982, with his first dance teacher, Theocharis Xyrouhakis. As a student, he participated in the children's dance group of the Greek Lyceum under the guidance of Keti Michealaki, taking part in many dance events. Since 2008, he has officially been teaching dances at the Greek Lyceum of Sitia.
He has extensively researched the dance tradition of Eastern Crete, particularly the dance style of the Sitiako Pidichto. He had a long collaboration with the traditional dance school "Terpsichore" in Trieste, Italy. He has also been a dance teacher at the Greek Lyceum of Karapathos and the "Omonia" association in Aperi, producing two large performances on the island.
He has attended seminars on the morphological method of teaching Greek traditional dances, taught by the teacher Vasilis Karpis. Additionally, he has participated in seminars on dances from other parts of Greece and Asia Minor, with instructors such as Christos Theologos, Vasilis Karpis, and Nikos Koufakis. He has participated in numerous performances and cultural events of the Greek Lyceum of Sitia, overseeing the traditional dances.