Speakers
Description
This paper examines the teaching-learning methods and practices that take place during the “open dance classes” in the public urban space of the Municipality of Hellinikon-Argyroupolis (Greece), as part of the “Dance in the Square” project. Data collection is based on participant observation during ethnographic research. Analysis and interpretation of data involve the use of the conceptual dichotomies of “participatory/presentational” dance and dance event, and traditional dance in its “first/second existence”. Focusing on the interaction and the interrelations among the dance instructor, the participants and Greek traditional dance –the subject matter– within the context of the “open dance class” in the public square, it is argued that the event balances between a teacher-centered dance lesson and a participatory dance event. It lies in an intersection between “first” and “second existence” of traditional dance, where one learns both by an “expert” and, in a traditional way of acquisition, through participating.
CV
Chariton Charitonidis
holds a BSc majoring in Greek Traditional Dance and MSc in “Folklore–Dance Anthropology” from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is a PhD student in “Dance Studies” at the same University. He works as a physical education teacher, dance instructor, dancer and musician. Research interests include traditional dance in contemporary contexts, relation between dance and politics, and movement analysis.
Georgios Κ. Fountzoulas
holds a B.Sc. majoring in Greek Traditional Dance, a M.Sc. in Folklore-Dance Anthropology, a Ph.D. in Dance Studies and now he is a Post-doctoral Researcher in the School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens. He also owns the Intermediate Certificate in Labanotation. He works as a Physical Education Teacher in Public Education, an external partner at the post-graduate program ‘Dance Education’ at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and as a dance intructor in nonprofessional dance groups. His field of concern is Greek Traditional Dance, Ethnochoreology, Structural Analysis, Dance Pedagogy and Dance Literacy.
Konstantinos Dimopoulos
is an Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens/School of Physical Education and Sport Science in the discipline of Choreology: Greek traditional dance. He has completed his postdoc at the same University. He has completed educational programs related to dance, but as well in other research and educational projects. He participates in scientific conferences and publish scientific papers in Greece and abroad. His scientific interests as well his published work concerns humanistic and social sciences related to dance, culture, history and dance, movement analysis, gender relations and dance, identity policies in dance and more. He teaches Greek traditional dance in various dance associations in Greece.
Dr. Maria Koutsouba
is Professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (SPESS) at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and Tutor at the Hellenic Open University. Graduated from the SPESS (NKUA, 1989), she completed her Masters (MA) in Dance Studies (University of Surrey, 1991) and was awarded a doctorate in Ethnochoreology (University of London, 1997). Additionally, she is specialised in Labanotation and in Open & Distance Education. She is member of scientific organisations in Greece and abroad, while her research interests/publications focus on ethnochoreology/dance anthropology, dance notation, analysis and typology, and on educational innovations and wellbeing.
