DANCE TEACHERS FROM CRETE TO TOUR OCEANIA REGION
The Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand is proud to announce the National Tour of two experienced and respected Dance Teachers from Crete and in particular the prefect of Chania namely Sifis Viglakis and Eleftheria Manioudakis.
Sifis Viglakis and Eleftheria Manioudakis who are both members of the Traditional Viglatores Group have been invited by the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand to host Cretan Dance workshops for the Greek Youth of Australia.
Following on from the Covid 19 Lockdowns during 2020 and 2021 the Federation felt it was imperative to find a way to assist its constituent member organisations in revitalising the interest of our younger generation to come back to Cretan dancing. Sifis Viglakis and Eleftheria Manioudakis presence will most certainly assist in this area.
Our most recent success with the hosting of the 41st National Convention saw the performance of seven Dance Groups and over 140 Dancers from all over Australia, which we most certainly need to capitalise on, thus allowing our Youth to flourish and continue to prosper.
The tour program is as follows: Wellington New Zealand from Thursday 9th February to Sunday 12th February, Sydney New South Wales from Monday 13th February to Friday 17th February, Brisbane Queensland from Saturday 18th February to Tuesday 21st February, Melbourne Victoria from Wednesday 22nd February to Monday 27th February, Hobart Tasmania from Tuesday 28th February to Friday 3rd March, Canberra Australian Capital Territory from Saturday 4th March to Monday 6th March and closing the program in Darwin Northern Territory from Tuesday 7th March to Saturday 11th March.
We encourage all Hellenic Youth across the nation to reach out to their respective associations and communities and register your participation. We invite everyone to attend, It is not a pre prerequisite to be of Cretan background in order to participate. Special Seminars will be conducted for Dance Teachers that wish to teach others either at School or in a private setting. For further details feel free to email your enquiry at [email protected] or directly with the President [email protected]
The National President Mr. Tony Tsourdalakis and the Executive of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand would like to publicly thank the Governor of the Region of Crete Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis and his Board for making this tour financially possible. This initiative is one of the many programs that were announced and have begun implementation during 2022 between the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand and the Region of Crete and will continue until 2024.
Biography – Sifis Viglakis
Sifis Viglakis was born on the 10th October 1981 in the Village of Sykolia, Galatas in the Prefect of Chania. He completed his High School Studies in 1999 and then completed studies in Hellenic Culture as well as Byzantine Music from the Open University. Since 2007 he is employed as a Law Enforcement Officer. Since 2009 he has founded and established the Traditional Association of Chania Viglatores with over 200 Members and branches in Alikianos, Kalamaki, Platanias, Chania, Mournies, Akrotiri and Neo Xorio Apokoronas. Since its Inception, Sifis has led the Viglatores Association to tours in Europe, America and Oceania.
Biography – Eleftheria Manioudakis
Eleftheria was born on the 1st July 1998 in the Village of Vatolakos within the Prefect of Chania. She completed her studies High School Studies in 2016 and then completed a Bachelor of Pedagogy from the University of Crete. Since 2021 she teaches specific subjects to primary School Students. She has been a member of the Traditional Viglatores Association since 2009. In 2013 she travelled with the Group to Stuttgart in Germany and in 2014 she performed with the Group in Cyprus and In 2019 just before Covid 19 she visited Boston in the United States of America, and in 2023 she will tour the Oceania Region including Australia and New Zealand.