INTERVIEW

The President of the Cultural and Sport Club “LAODAMAS”, Mr. Dimitris Kantas, talks to Irene Vlachou about the contribution of the club to the rescuing and diffusion of the folk cultural heritage of Corfu.
- When was your club founded and why was it named “LAODAMAS”?
This club was founded in 1985 and it was named like that according to Homer. In ODYSSEY, Homer refers to the hospitality that King Alkinoos offered to Ulysses in the Island of Phaeacians (Corfu). At the reception that took place to honor Ulysses, the two sons of King Alkinoos, ALIOS and LAODAMAS danced. Therefore, Laodamas was son of Alkinoos. An excellent dancer and athlete.
- Which groups are there in your club?
The club supports all kinds of dance (folk, classic, modern and latin) with major kind the folk dance which includes groups for people of every age according to categories.
- Your club also deals with the research on the cultural richness of Corfu.
For years, the club is involved in the research about the folk culture in everything that deals with the music, the dance and the traditional costumes. Through its representatives, the club participates in international conferences and through European programs it has published a wonderful book which refers to the presentation of the traditional costumes of Corfu, Paksoi, and Diapontic Islands and we have also produced a CD with folk music and folk songs of Corfu.
- Tell us some elements concerning the traditional Corfiot costume.
The traditional costume of Corfu is one of the most beautiful in Greece and it is differentiated as far as the geographic division of the island is concerned into North, Central and South Corfu. It consists of three categories (everyday costume, Sunday costume and bridal costume) regarding the costume of the bride as the most important one. This one was worn since 1950, whereas the other categories are still worn even today in several villages of the island (Lefkimi, Garounas, Lakones, Liapades).
- Are you content from the participation of young people to the several groups of your club?
The participation of new members, especially young in age, is not the best possible expected and this is mostly due to the tough educational system which does not leave any spare time to them, as well as to the lack of substructure of the regional country. Unfortunately, every year the number of members tends to be reduced.
- Can permanent foreign inhabitants of Corfu become members of your club?
By answering to this question, I would like to inform you that in the recent past the foreign members used to be more than ten. In addition, being myself a teacher of the adult group, I teach two or three times a year folk dances to organized groups, mostly of German tourists, that visit Corfu having as their main objective the learning of Greek folk dances.
- Do you perform certain customary events every year?
Every year Laodamas organizes events for the Mardi Gras, we also take part in the festival of traditional groups of the Prefecture for the national anniversary of the 25th March, we perform events for the Unification anniversary of the 21st May, as well as lots of events during the summer period at the historic centre of the town in order to please the native and foreign visitors.
-Are the foreign visitors impressed by the events that you perform?
I believe that the folk dance combined with the beautiful Corfiot costume is one of the most favourite and interesting spectacles for a visitor when they are presented traditionally correct and not just in tourist way.
- How can someone find information about your club?
For information concerning our club there are the following numbers:
Tel 26610-24241, 26610-26340
Fax 26610-26340
e-mail laodamas@ker.forthnet.gr
www.laodamas.gr
- How would you characterize the folk cultural heritage of Corfu?
The folk cultural heritage of Corfu can be compared with the gold which has not been riddled. The governmental bodies do not fund it because they do not earn anything. The local bodies do not choose it because they do not have cultural conscience. Thus, the burden falls on the cultural bodies which do their best within the framework that their financial abilities allow. The effort that our club makes is to create a folkloric museum where our rich cultural heritage can be displayed.