How much do you know about the benefits of Greek traditional dance?

‘An alternative form of exercise and an inexhaustible source of well-being’. These are the words that according to Dr Maria Bougiesi encapsulate the value of Greek dancing.

Greek traditional dance

Source: GCM

A lecture on the topic will be presented on Thursday 24 March, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

At the heart of the presentation lies the revival of research interest in the quality of life and health benefits associated with the dance.

As mentioned in the presentation blurb:

“Greek traditional dance has been proposed as an alternative form of exercise for preventing and improving a variety of parameters in older adults, like gait balance and cognitive function, as well as stress and emotional management in all ages.”

For us, Hellenes living abroad, it comes with an add-on value, as a fundamental way of connecting with Greek culture.
Dr Maria Bougiesi will be presenting the lecture. Dr Bougiesi completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Greece, Finland and Belgium, and continued with PhD studies in Greece and Germany where she worked in cognitive function improvement through dance and exercise in older adults.

Dr Maria Bougiesi
Dr Maria Bougiesi Source: GCM




She has been teaching Greek traditional dance in Greece and abroad during her studies, and since 2020 she has been teaching Greek traditional dance at the University of Thessaly.

Her motto is  ‘Our life is a dance whose rhythm and melody is determined by us’.

The lecture titled Greek traditional dance, an alternative form of exercise and an inexhaustible source of well-being will be presented online in Greek on Thursday 24 March, at 7pm via the GCM’s Facebook and Youtube platforms.
 


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Published 16 March 2022 4:11pm


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