The Zeibekiko Festival Australia is bringing in people from Greece as part of its celebration of the many types of zeibekiko dancing, among which will include an expert teacher in Dr Christos Theologos.

Dr Theologos, along with his associate Stefanos Kyriazakos, will lead traditional dance and zeibekiko workshops and lectures as part of the 2025 Zeibekiko Festival Australia (organised by Ventouris Productions) which will run from 3-12 October.

Dr Theologos, who has a PhD in Folklore with his main research being in Asia Minor folklore studies, has lectured at the University of the Aegean and is Principal of the Music School of Rhodes, will lead numerous dance seminars alongside Kyriazakos while in Australia.

The duo will first lead two full days of seminars in Melbourne on 4 and 5 October at St Eleftherios Church Hall in Brunswick.

The first day will include seminars teaching dances from Coastal Asia Minor (11am), traditional zeibekiko dances – aivali, smyrni, pergamo (1pm), dances from Rhodes – lead by Kyriazakos who was born and raised on the island (2.30pm), and Aptalika and Karsilamathes (4pm).

The second day will feature workshops on dances from Chios – which Dr Theologos is extremely proficient having been born and raised on the island (11am), Constantinople dances (1pm), and Cappadokia (2.30pm).

The same workshops will be held in Sydney on 11 and 12 October in Bexley at Sydney Technical High School.

Dr Theologos will also deliver two lectures as part of the Festival’s program, the first being at St Nicholas Church in Marrickville on 6 October titled ‘Church/Religion in the heart of tradition’.

The second will take place the following day on 7 October at the Greek Community Club and will deal with the topic ‘Zeibekiko: from cultural memory to pegadagogical act. The interpretational memory of the dance for the refugee experience’.

The Festival will also be headlined by Areti Ketime, who will perform two concerts in Australia alongside her maestro violinist Dimitri Stefopoulos.

The first will be held in Melbourne on 5 October at Ivanhoe Girls Performance Art Centre, while her second concert will take place on 10 October at Sydney’s Hurlstone Park RSL.

More information on the Festival can be sourced at their website.