History

A quick view on EL.KE.LA.M.

The Hellenic Centre for Folklore Studies (EL.KE.LA.M.) was established in 21-06-1982 with the following aims:

• make scientific research and study of materials that constitute the Greek Folklore Culture and the Greek Tradition. Particularly in traditional dance, music, songs and costumes.
• preserve and inspire our folk inheritance.
• present internationally our local tradition and costumes which constitute the Greek cultural identity.

Sections of EL.KE.LA.M.:

Α. Music record & Μusic publications section
1. L.P. published in 1986, with the title “Local Music and Dances from East and Central Macedonia”
2. L.P. & C.D. published in 1995, with the title “Northern Thrace”
3. C.D. & M.C. published in 1998, with the title “Bird Cries Alone”
4. C.D. published in 2003, with the title “Yesterday I saw in my dreams”
5. Book with 2 cd's published in 2007, with the title “If Platonas was....burnt”
6. C.D. published in 2009 (with participation of EL.KE.LA.M.), with the title “Today...Today (Thrace of Today)” by V. Papanastasiou

B. Dancing Group section
Our dancing group was established in 1987 and has achieved rich educational and artistic work. It has organized seminars concerning traditional dances, and there are also dancing lessons taking place every Wednesday since 1989. The dancing group's first performance took place at the International Festival of Dafnis Municipality in 1987. Since that date it has performed more than 400 times in Greece and has participated in 58 International Festivals abroad. Also for an one-year period (October 2004 – October 2005) EL.KE.LA.M. acted jointly with other dancing groups of seven different European Countries, in a common dancing production with the title “European Dance Caravan”, under the aegis of the European Community. The production was presented in all collaborating countries.
In all these years of this dancing route the dancing group of EL.KE.LA.M. has participated in six International Dance competitions, winning in June 2009 the 1st Award at the "First Chain Bridge International Folk Dance Competition" and the Best Choreography Award as well. The awards of EL.KE.LA.M.:
•   1991: Sotchi, Russia (3rd Award at the international competition festival "Zolotoe Runo")
•   2006: Agrigento, Italy (1st Costume Award at the 51st World Folklore Festival "Albo d'oro")
•   2008: Bursa, Turkey (2nd Award at the 22nd International Folk Dance Competition "Golden Karagöz")
•  2009: Budapest, Hungary (1st Award and Best Choreography Award at the "First Chain Bridge International Folk Dance Competition")
•  2010: Budapest, Hungary (Best Soloist Award at the "Second Chain Bridge International Folk Dance Competition")
•  2011: Bursa, Turkey (2nd Award at the 25th International Folk Dance Competition "Golden Karagöz")

Branches of EL.KE.LA.M. can be found in Egaleo and Paleo Faliro (Athens, Greece) and also abroad in Geneve and Brussels.