Christopher Papakostas

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Christopher Papakostas

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Dr. Christos Papakostas was born in Larisa (Thessaly) in Greece. He is a scholar, percussionist, folklorist and master dance teacher. He currently is on the faculty of Epirus Technological Institute, Department of Traditional Music.

Christos graduated from the Department of Physical Education & Sport Science in  Democritus University of Thrace (Komotini) and received his Ph.D. with Distinction in the Department of History, Archaeology and Social Anthropology at the University of Thessaly. His dissertation focused on dances of the Roma (Gypsy) community of northern Greece.

He is the author and editing supervisor for the chapter on "Traditional Greek Dance" in the physical education textbook published by the Ministry of Education for use in Greek high schools.

Christos is a  lecturer in the Department of Physical Education & Sport Science at the Kapodistrian of the University of Athens in the subject of "Traditional Greek Dances."

Christos has worked as Temporary Lecturer or Assistant Professor at various Universities in Greece such as the Department of Physical Education, University of Thessaly (Trikala); the Department of Traditional & Folk Music, Technological Institute of Epirus (Arta); Department of Management of Cultural Environment and New Technologies University of Western Greece (Agrinio); and in the Greek Open University (Heraklion, Crete). He has published several articles in academic journals in Greece and abroad.

Christos is a professional instructor of Greek traditional dances and has worked in many dance clubs: Lykion ton Ellinidon Komotini (Thrace), Rhodope Xylagani Cultural Group(Thrace), Dance Group Palama Karditsa Karagounides (Thessaly), Lykion ton Ellinidon Drama (Macedonia), Center of Historical and Folklore Research Karditsa Apollo (Thessaly), Myrini Cultural Group KarditsaThe Cave (Epiros). He also Teaches Greek dancing at workshops, seminars, and conferences in Greece and has taught in Belgium, Canada, England, France, and the United States. He has worked as a teacher in traditional percussion in the Public High Schools of Music in  Drama, Karditsa, Trikala, and Ioannina. He is member in various traditional / folk music bands and has collaborated with renowned folk musicians.

He has been a judge at the "Faith-Dance-Fellowship" festival sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Church/Metropolis of San Francisco.

Christos is well known in Hellenic circles in Europe and Canada and has taught at dance seminars in Belgium, France, the U.K., and Canada. On his first U.S. teaching tour in spring 2012, he taught to much acclaim at Detroit camp, in the Midwest, and across the East Coast.