CULTURE ASSOCIATION ARAPITSA
The "Arapitsa" Environment and Culture Group was founded in 2006.
The Group aims to protect the environment of Naoussa and the surrounding area as well as to preserve and protect our cultural heritage, and its establishment was made by experienced individuals who have worked for many years for culture and the environment.
It currently has around 150 members and operates classes for learning Greek traditional dances for children, teenagers, young people and adults with a very large number of dancers.
It has a wardrobe with traditional costumes, which it is constantly enriching.
Over the years since the founding of the group until today, actions have been developed and events have taken place, the most important of which are:
Event-discussion, in collaboration with the Naoussa Environmental Education Center, under the auspices of the Municipality of Naoussa, on the topic "Pedestrian and driver in the city", where the speakers highlighted very strongly the problems faced by pedestrians, drivers, people with disabilities, children, and even the teachers themselves with the city's traffic problem.
Participation of the dance group in the Folk Culture exhibition in Athens in collaboration with the "Aristotle" Cultural Society.
Participation of the dance group in the international CIOFF-Pyrsos festival in Naoussa.
Participation of the dance group in the festive events in Naoussa, Paros, invited by the Municipality of Paros.
Organization of a conference at the "Vermio" hotel in Naoussa, in collaboration with the Panhellenic Association of Chemical Engineers, on the topic "The environment and renewable energy sources in the Naoussa area: prospects and opportunities". The speakers were university students and members of the Panhellenic Association of Chemical Engineers and it received national publicity.
Participation of the dance group in the "Saroneia 2008" events in Poros and Galatas, Troizinia.
Participation of the dance group in the "Zavorda 2008" events in Deskati, Grevena, invited by the Municipality of Deskati.
Organization of an event at the Municipal Kiosk in Naoussa, on the topic of “Everyday Ecology: What can we do for the good of the environment and our health”. Speakers were the professors of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr. Myrto Pyrovetsi and Mr. Giorgos Dautopoulos.
Participation of the large dance group and the small dance group (teenagers and children) in cultural events in Argos.
Participation of the dance group in the events of the Naoussaian Association of Boston for the 100th anniversary of its founding in Boston, USA.
Participation of the dance group in the 19th U.S.-Canada Pan-American Conference and the events that followed in Montreal, Canada.
Participation of the dance group in the "Agrotica 2010" exhibition at the Vellideio Foundation of Thessaloniki, invited by the Prefecture of Imathia.
Participation of the dance group in an international festival in Montpellier, France, in collaboration with the "Jenitsarii kai Boules" group and city organizations.
Participation of the children's and adolescent section in a FITP festival in Corinaldo, Ancona province, Italy.
Participation of the Group with the children's and teenagers' dance groups in the 1st Flower Exhibition, organized by the Municipality of Naoussa in the city's Park.
Participation of the dance department in cultural events in Loutraki and Kiato, Corinth, as well as in Pinakates, Pelion.
Organization of an event at the Municipal Pavilion "Kiosk" in Naoussa on the topic: "Volunteerism: Romanticism or Utopia?". Speaker: Dr. El. Parthenopoulou, Doctor of Surgery at the University of Frankfurt, former President of the NGO "Doctors of the World".
Participation of the dance department in a festival, organized every year by the Municipality of Sofia and the Cultural Center of the Municipality, in Bulgaria.
Participation of the children's and teenage sections in the international FITP festival in Cava de Tirreni, Salerno, Italy.
Meeting-discussion with family planning consultant and professor at the Technical University of Athens, Ms. Popi Tsemperi, at the Muses Center on the topic: "Relationships in the family. Let's talk openly with our children".
1st Music and Dance performance of the Group with all its dance departments at the Municipal Theater of Naoussa.
Participation of the dance group in the 22nd international CIOFF-Pyrsos festival and in the cultural events, with the theme "in the footsteps of Alexander the Great", which took place in parallel with the Panhellenic Tennis Games in Naoussa
Participation of the dance group in the events of the Pan-Macedonian Union, the "Vergina" Association of Imathia and the Greek community, as part of the Macedonian Month celebrations, in Toronto, Canada.
As part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Macedonia, the following took place: a) A speech by the emeritus professor of the Pedagogical Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr. Christos Tsolakis, on the topic "The language and Greekness of the ancient Macedonians" and b) A music and dance performance with all the dance departments of the Group at the Municipal Theater of Naoussa on the topic "In the choir of the Macedonian land".
As part of the events for the environment and culture, the following took place: a) a trip by the children's dance classes to the Naoussa Equestrian Club,
b) event at the Municipal Kiosk "Kiosk" in Naoussa on the topic: "Wild greens on our plate" with speaker Mrs. Roula Goliou, biologist - author of the book of the same name and
c) participation of the dance group in cultural events in Lefkada.
Participation of the dance group in the 23rd international Cioff-Pyrsos festival in Naoussa.
Organization of an event at the Muses House, on the occasion of the National Day of March 25, on the theme: "the position of women as revealed through the Municipal Song". Speaker: philologist Konstantina Vadasi.
Music and dance performance by the Group with all its dance departments entitled "Summer in Dance..." at the Naoussa Municipal Summer Theater.
Participation of the dance group in the 28th International Dance Festival in Neustadt in Holstein in Germany.
In collaboration with the OKANA prevention center "Prosvasi", an experiential seminar was held for the older children's and adolescent sections, with the main idea being the acceptance of diversity in peer groups, at the Youth Center.
Music and dance performance by the Group, with all its dance departments, entitled "The Fairy Tales of Dance" at the Naoussa Municipal Summer Theater.
Organization of an event at the "Vetlans" Cultural Center in Naoussa, in collaboration with the Volos branch of the Astronomy and Space Society and the "Aristotle" Cultural Society, on the topic: "Severe weather phenomena: Contemporary trends". Speaker: Naoussa professor of Dynamic Meteorology and Weather Modification at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr. Theodoros Karakostas.
Two days of cultural and environmental events: a) Concert with the mixed choir of the Municipality of Kifissia in which the children's choir of our city Canto a Tempo also participated in the "Eria" event hall b) Event-speech by Dr. Dimitris Kalaitzidis on the topic: "People and rivers" at "Vetlans". This was followed by environmental actions and traditional dances in the Grove of Agios Nikolaos.
Music and dance performance by the Group, with all dance departments, on the theme "the Greek Festival" at the Naoussa Municipal Summer Theater.
Participation of the large dance section in cultural events in Amaliada, Ilia and in the "Saroneia 2015" events in Poros and Galatas, Troizinia, and of the 3rd children's section in the 1st children's festival of traditional dances in Avato, Xanthi.
As part of the Carnival events, a reenactment of the traditional wedding with a Cretan groom and a Naoussa bride was performed, based on texts by Mr. Nikos Spartsis, at the Municipal Theater of Naoussa.
Music and dance performance by the Group, with all its dance departments, entitled "Naoussa...hospitable land" at the Naoussa Municipal Summer Theater.
Participation of the dance department in two-day cultural events together with the L.E.S. at the archaeological site of the "Kazarma" castle in Sitia, Crete.
Two excursions-visits of the Group to Ancient Pella and Ottoman Gianitsa for the members and friends of the Association and to the "Archive-Museum: George Melikis" for the children of its dance departments.
Participation of the large dance department in the 4th traditional dance festival of the Municipality of Ioannina in Ioannina on the occasion of the National Day and entitled "...to the martyrs, to the heroes...".
An event-tribute to mother, on the occasion of Mother's Day for the children of the Group and their mothers and participation of the 4th children's section in the 3rd festival of children's dance sections in Sidirokastro, Serres.
Music and dance performance by the Group, with all its dance departments, entitled "Sergiani in Tradition" at the Naoussa Municipal Summer Theater.
Participation of the dance department in the 4th reunion of Dekastiotes from all over Greece in Deskati, Grevena and in events at Pozar, Pella.
Honorary event for our association's benefactor, Mrs. Lia Charitou-Overs, in our cloakroom and participation of a dance group in the 3-day festival of traditional dance and music on the island of Patmos.
Participation of the 4th children's section in an international festival in Belgrade with 3 performances.
On the occasion of the National Anniversary, a music and dance performance by the children's and teenage sections was given at the Municipal Theater of Naoussa.
Three days of cultural events on the theme of traditional costume:
a) Exhibition of a handmade doll with traditional costumes by Mrs. Katerina Dimitriadou in the "ERIA" temporary exhibition hall.
b) Speech - presentation of traditional costumes by the dancers of the club, in the "VETLANS" hall. Speakers were Evi Dimitriou-Christidi and Achilleas Tsiaras, who also tied the impressive Roumlouki headband.
Painting exhibition by teacher Haris Kourouzidis entitled "The State of Birds" and educational activities for Primary School students.
Participation of the dance department in an event of the Municipality of Kavala at the ancient theater of Philippi.
Participation of the dance department in the 3rd traditional dance festival of the Municipality of Nafplio, with 2 performances, at the Faros pier, in the port of Nafplio.
a) Presentation of Roula Goliou's book "Longevity: the ultimate guide" at the Muses House in Naoussa
b) Participation of dancers, mainly from the adult sections, in an international festival in Belgrade.
Participation of a 20-member group of selected dancers in the event "Dance-Space" at the "Hellenic World" Cultural Center in Athens for a charitable cause.
Event-Speech by the emeritus professor of the School of Agriculture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr. Athanasios Tsaftaris, on the topic: "tradition and culture through the eyes of today's bioscience", at the CHRISTOS LANARAS Cultural Center (Vetlans Hall).
Music and dance performance by the Group with all dance departments, entitled "Mesopelaga armenizo...", dedicated to the sea, at the Municipal Theater of Naoussa.
a) Participation with the Municipality of Naoussa in the Philoxenia 2019 Tourism Exhibition in Thessaloniki.
b) Organization with "Prosvasi" of an event-speech on "addictions in modern everyday life".
c) Participation in the opening of the exhibition "The Greek Woman at War".
Cutting of the Vasilopie and presentation of Christos Samantas' book "When the expiration date is long..." in the "Vetlans" hall.
Planting flowers in central parts of the city in collaboration with the Municipal community of Naoussa.
Participation in Holocaust events and creation of a video entitled "in memory" dedicated to the heroines of Naoussa in 1822.
Participation of the Group in the Carnival events in Naoussa. In the context of the 2011 Carnival events, specifically, the traditional Naoussa wedding was presented by the members of its dance departments in texts and presentation by Mr. Nikos Spartsis.
Participation of the Group in environmental actions organized by the Municipality of Naoussa and other bodies on the occasion of World Environment Day and Car-Free Day.