Chariton Charitonidis holds a BSc in Physical Education and Sport Science, majoring in “Greek Traditional Dance”, and MSc in “Folklore-Dance Anthropology” from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Ηe is a PhD candidate in “Dance Studies” at the same School/University.
He has taught traditional dance in higher education (Hungarian Dance University, School of Physical Education and Sport Science/University of Athens), in local government institutions, in private bodies and cultural associations, as well as in numerous dance seminars/workshops in Greece and abroad (Spain, France and Luxembourg). Furthermore, he has carried out the dance and kinesiological supervision in stage performances regarding traditional music and dance. In parallel, he studies Greek traditional wind instruments, focusing in gaida and tsabouna (types of bagpipe), and participates as a musician in performances, concerts and recordings in Greece and abroad, collaborating with various orchestras and notable artists.
In 2006 he was invited to join the Duna Art Ensemble (Hungarian professional dance troupe). From 2006 till 2010 he lived in Budapest, where besides his main occupation as a professional dancer, he taught Greek traditional dance in dance groups of the Greek minority. In 2015 he started working as a dance instructor in the Municipal Department of Traditional Dance in Hellinikon-Argyroupolis and in 2017 he initialized an “open” educational-recreational project called “Dance in the Square”, which is supported by the Municipality and involves participatory dancing in public space.
He is a member of the Study Group on Ethnochoreology of the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance (ICTMD), carrying out presentations, scientific articles and research projects regarding dance. In addition, since 2021, he is a Physical Education teacher in Primary Education.
Since 2016 he collaborates with Katerina Papadopoulou, participating as a dancer and musician in “The Anastatica project” and “Aegean Arc” ensemble.
Source: Chariton Charitonidis (2024)