In a small village of Kassandra, we have created "Once upon a time", with much artistic feeling and love for children and man, tradition, nature and life... "Once upon a time... Means holidays and relaxation! Entertainment and action! Daring and adventure! A live fairytale-like reality...

In a ravine where holly, myrtles, arbutuses rove their braches. At a place where nightingales compose their musical symphonies In a valley whose boundaries are set by pine clad mountainsides.
Near the unique natural spring of Kassandra "Patatlaka", where gurgling waters spring from the heart of the mountain...
...at a place with a climate that can be compared to no other. At New Skioni, located at the peninsula of Kassandra in the prefecture of Halkidiki, only 1 km from the northeastern part of the picturesque village. All tradition gathered in this valley which seems as if untouched by time; however you will discover that time here is never enough if you want to see everything.

With the initiative of Dimitra Papachristodoulou - Gogakou, educator by profession, who wanted to give sound principles to her children - pupils and dreamt of a live folklore workshop, we created "Once upon a time..." with much artistic feeling and love for children and man, tradition nature and life.
Children are approximately the same age, forming small groups with an older person us their team leader, stay in small modern houses.
Experienced educators and trainers have prepared special programs concerning entertainment, creative and athletic activities.
Special care to the health of children, offered 24 hours a day by a doctor or a nurse.
Because technology has made man arrogant and egocentric Because we think that environmental education does not work when man face environment authoritatively. Because the "Nature-Animals-Man" triptych must retain a balance
Because man can never realize the fact that man and environment are interdependent by means of words but by experience and actions. This is the reason why we created "Once upon a time"
At its live folklore workshops you will see nature, man, animals in an interdependent harmonic and balanced relationship.
At "Once upon a time" you will see no dead exhibition areas.
You will experience live tradition, a fairytale-like reality, a game of tradition and life, of nature, man, animals, in as ideal relationship.

Arif Sönmez
Generel Representatıve

Folk dance groups, choirs, modern dance groups, wind bands, majorettes

Date: 09. 08. 2012. - 13. 08. 2012. (5 days, 4 nights)
Participation fee: 125 euro per person (half board)
Free over 25 below 40 for 2 person, over 40 for 3 persons!
Accomodation: hotel with 1/3, 1/4 rooms
Date for apply: 30. 11. 2011.
Participant groups should 20 euro per person after
receiving the official invitation, until 20. 12. 2011.
Number of participants: no limited
Number of group: no limited Performances: 2-3 (25-35’)

Folk dance groups, modern dance groups, wind bands, majorettes, choirs

Date: 18. 07. 2012. - 21. 07. 2012. (4 days, 3 nights)
Participation fee: 125 euro per person (half board)
Free over 25 below 40 for 2 person, over 40 for 3 persons!
Accomodation: hotel with 1/3, 1/4 rooms
Date for apply: 30. 11. 2011.
Participant groups should 20 euro per person after
receiving the official invitation, until 20. 12. 2011.
Number of participants: no limited
Number of group: is limited! (3-4 groups)
Performances: 3 (25-35’)

The fifth International Folklore Festival Sofia will be carried out from 19th to 23rd of July 2012 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The festival organizer is the Capital's Municipal Council - Sofia, Bulgaria.

The festival hasn't got a competitive character.
The festival is charge-free.
Ensembles for trained folklore can take part in the festival.
The committee of organization undertakes all expenses that are connected with the ensembles' stay in Sofia during the festival – accommodation and food.
The traveling expenses are on the participants' account.
The participants' number from every ensemble must be up to 35 people including all leaders, official guests and drivers.

official web site: www.SofiaFolkFest.com

We're all Greeks. By love, by passion, by roots. And, now, by solidarity.

This year, this summer, we'll all say and share our true, deep and strong passion for Greece : passion for Greek dancing, Greek music, Greek tradition, Greek culture.

More than ever, Greeks need our friendship, our presence, our love.

From July 19th to August 1st, 2012, the Greek cultural and non-profit "Nisiotis" association organizes and warmly suggests the yearly dance-seminar, workshop & festival.
Come with us, and do share with us this very unique experience !

Village-people, musicians, dancers, teachers, inn-keepers, friends, neighbours : all our Naxian friends actively participate !
They just wait for you, for us.

Much more than a dance-seminar : a true festival, with 12 days packed with live music, joy, celebration and life !

If Greeks are facing an unprecedented crisis, they still have an incredible wealth, that none will take, borrow nor steal : their outstanding music, their exceptionnal dances, their extraordinary folk culture, their unique tradition.

This is short video, to discover and start enjoying our seminar & festival :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gmEgYZqM1k

Our programm, during 12 days :

* dance courses in the morning
* visits of the villages of Naxos, with our bus & driver
* dinner within a different tavern, each night
* dances again...
* and of course celebrations, the famous "panigiris", and many surprises...

This year, we'll learn the dances from all Greek Islands :

* Cyclads : Naxos, Mykonos, Andros, Amorgos, Siphnos, Kythnos, Tzia/Kea, Milos & Kimolos, Seriphos, Paros
* Dodecanese : Kos, Leros, Rodos, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kassos
* North-East Aegean : Samos, Ikaria, Hios, Lesvos/Mytilene, Limnos
* Crete
* Kythira

All together, more than 25 islands, and a unique journey through Greek tradition, history and culture...

6 teachers will be with us : Apostolis, Dimitris, Mihalis, Iannis, Manolis, Marina !

The seminar takes place in Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclads.
Our hotel is within a magical fishing harbour, just in front of the sea...

Please find enclosed a detailed presentation, and your registration form : do not be too late to send it back ! ευχαριστώ !

Those are some other short videos, to discover the enchanting beauty of Naxos :

http://youtu.be/1MqrgoUhf1k

http://youtu.be/laCCbX_7dz4

http://youtu.be/XhthF8ZrYzA

http://youtu.be/t3PGA7blgyw

Please feel free to reach us for any question !

I do look forward to warmly welcoming you in Naxos, for a unique experience !

And please do share this e-mail with your friends, do feel free to forward it to whomever may be interested !!

Very friendly yours,

Philippos

(+33)(0)6 03 78 28 77

Presentation of the seminar

Registration Form for the Seminar