The Pancretan Association of Melbourne and the Cretan Association of New South Wales to host the Arkadi Commemorations from the 5th to the 18th November 2024.
The Folkloric Group “Tzanidakis” from Crete to tour Sydney & Melbourne together with Cretan Musicians Kostas Kakoudakis, Mihalis Petsakis and Stelios Stamatogiannakis for the first time in Australia
The Folkloric Group “Tzanidakis” from Crete have accepted the invitation from the Pancretan Association of Melbourne – Australia and the Cretan Association of Sydney & New South Wales and will be travelling to Oceania to tour Australia and in particular Sydney & Melbourne as part of the 2024 program to Commemorate the 158th Anniversary of the Holocaust of the ARKADI Monastery.
With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Makarios, this year’s events for the Arkadi Monastery in November, form part of the formal program highlighting the Centenary celebrations of the 100th Anniversary since the inception of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in 1924.
The Folkloric Group “Tzanidakis” which coincidentally is commemorating its 10th Anniversary since its inception in 2015 will be made of a 12-person group including the following people. Its President and Dance Director Christos Tzanidakis accompanied by his wife Olga Kostaki as well as Dance Members: Ioakeim Lagoudakis, Koralia Doukaki, Theonymfi Kypriotaki, Ioannis Giakoumakis, Vasiliki Perakaki, Anna Manousaki, Sofia Klapsinou, Emmanouil Tzanidakis, Emmanouil Spantidakis and Alexandros Barmpounis.
The events in November also include the arrival to Australia for the first time ever well-known Cretan Musicians Konstantinos Kakoudakis on the Lyra and vocals, who originates from Ethia Irakliou, Mihalis Petsakis on the Lute and Vocals who originates from Viannos Irakliou and Stelios Stamatogianakis on the lute and Vocals who originates from Akoumia in Rethymno. During their stay Tribute events will be hosted for the great Cretan Musicians Leonidas Klados and Gerasimos Stamatogiannakis, who never had the opportunity to visit Australia prior to their passing
The Group and the Musicians arrive in Sydney on the 5th November 2024 and depart out of Melbourne on Monday 18th November 2024 with a planned 14 day program in both cities, full of events and activities. It should be noted that they will perform at the 65th Anniversary Dinner Dance of the Cretan Association of New South Wales on Saturday 9th November as well as the Dinner Dance in Melbourne hosted by the Pancretan Association of Melbourne on Saturday 16th November at the Cretan Village. Programmed Dance Seminars and Tutorials will also take place that will be announced later in the year.
It should be noted that the Groups visit is deemed a historic one, since it will be the fourth time that a Folkloric Group of its nature visits the Australian shores. In 2010, at the invitation of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne the Omilos Vrakoforon Kritis travelled to Australia, which was followed by another invitation from the Pancretan Association of Melbourne in 2016 to the Laografikos Omilos “ Kourites “ who also travelled to Australia and also that same year in 2016 the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne extended an invitation to the Folkloric Association of Chania “ Vilglatores” who also arrived in Australia for the first time.
It should be noted that the Folkloric Group “ Tzanidakis” has established a friendly relationship with many Cretans Abroad in Australia and in particular the Pancretan Association of Melbourne. At the invitation of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, the Folkloric Group sent two Dance Teachers in May 2018 and two Dance Teachers in November 2018, to conduct Dance Seminars and Dance Tutorials for the Greek Youth of Australia. Furthermore the Folkloric Group has hosted Traditional Cultural events “ Kantades” for the Cretan Youth of Australia in Rethymno in August 2019 and in July 2023 respectively.
The Folkloric Group Tzanidakis was established in 2015 by its leader and Dance Director Christos Tzanidakis with the vision to contribute to the promotion, education and enhancement of the Cretan Culture, Traditions to the next generations by teaching the Cretan Dances, the Songs, the music, the costumes and anything that is associated to the Cretan Folklore.
The Group and the Musicians tour of Australia is supported by the Region of Crete and the following businesses: DTS Greece, Andrews Choice, Abbott & Mourley Lawyers, City Aluminum, Cross Road Logistics, Elite Plumbing Solutions, Enosi Education Services, First Grade Financial Solutions, George’s Coaches, Lemon Tree Restaurant, Qube Global, St.Lawrence Catering και Unique Poultry as well as the families of John Apokoroniotakis, Tony Anamourlis, Elias Deliyannis, Michael Houdalakis, Jim Karalakis, Kon Kavalakis, Christina Kotsifakis-Sarris, John Lagoudakis, Nick Markogiannakis, Aggie Mihelakis, John Nikolakakis, George Papadomanolakis, Minos Paterakis, Joanna Psarakis, Mary Rissakis, Terry Saviolakis, George Sevastakis, Paul Spanoudakis, Jim Spanos, Tony Tsourdalakis, Emmanuel Vitetzakis, Andrew Vardakis and Andrew Vourvahakis. TV Media Sponsor is Antenna Pacific.
For more information you can contact the President of the Pancretan Association Ms. Aggie Mihelakis on 0439 324 445 or the President of the Cretan Association of Sydney & New South Wales Mr. Emmanuel Vitetzakis on 0433 386 777.