Greek Australian folk dancer and musician George Kiriakidis is travelling in Japan these days with his family for a special 50th birthday milestone celebration.
Alongside wife Nicole and their children Sophia, Epiphany and Demetrius, they were asked to deliver a dance workshop in collaboration with local group LYAGAS following an invitation by fellow musician Shin-ya Ohno.
“Shin-Ya is someone who plays gaida and understands Balkan music so well,” Kiriakidis told Neos Kosmos.
“Our mutual interests had us crossing paths and friending each other on Facebook. I asked him before departing Melbourne if he had a gig on while we were there, and he suggested something far better, that me and my family conduct a Greek folk dance workshop to the music of his live band.”
“So basically, he created a gig that also involved me. How lucky am I?!”.
The workshop was conducted on Saturday 8 July in the city of Yokohama, just south of Tokyo.
It was followed by a two and a half hours long non-stop live party by the LYAGAS ensemble celebrating the ties between Greek and Japanese cultures.
“These Japanese philhellenes are mind blowing, next level stuff!,” Kiriakidis said at the conclusion of the workshop on Saturday.
“I’m still trying to get my head around what I just witnessed and feel so blessed to be a part of tonight.”
Stay tuned for a full Neos Kosmos report in the coming days on the Melbourne family’s trip to Japan and the folk dance workshop they delivered.
