The proceedings volume of the 9th Panhellenic Conference titled «Dance in the Community: Rituals-Events-Festivals-Education», held in Karditsa on 26-28 September 2025 and co-organized by the Center for Historical and Folklore Research «O APOLLON» of Karditsa and the Department of Preschool Education of the University of Thessaly, has been published. The volume, which consists of 528 pages, includes the 31 scholarly presentations-studies of the speakers.

The contents of the volume are as follows:

Organizing Committee of the Conference (p. 11). Scientific Committee of the Conference (p. 10). Introductory Note by the Editors of the Publication (pp. 11-13). Greeting by the President of the Organizing Committee, Aikaterini Polymerou-Kamilaki (pp. 15-16). Awarding of Professor Emeritus of the University of Athens, Walter Puchner (pp. 17-24).

The conference papers follow in alphabetical order:

EFTHYMIA GIOTI, BSc in Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly – MSc, Improving rhythmic ability in children and teaching motor patterns through a music-movement program based on traditional music (pp. 25-36). IOANNIS GATZIKOS, journalist – local history & folklore researcher, The evolution of traditional dance from 1970 to the present: Experiences and memories (pp. 37-50).

RENATA DALIANOUDI, Associate Professor, Ionian University, PANAGIOTIS SDOUKOS, PhD candidate, Department of Audio and Visual Arts, Ionian University, From folk song and popular rituals to post-folk audiovisual cinematic performance (pp. 51-70). VASILIS DIMITROPOULOS, dance teacher – MSc in dance anthropology, Is everything fine? … and all is beautiful (pp. 71-88).

KONSTANTINOS DIMOPOULOS, Associate Professor, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, The dance «A priest is coming». Structure and function in the Sergiani of Megala Kalyvia, Trikala (pp. 89-102). THOMAI ZARKODIMOU, PhD candidate, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, The dance of «Gachelona»: a satirical ritual, collective memory and cultural resilience in Mikroklastro, Voio, Kozani (pp. 103-118).

KYRIAKI THEODOROU, professor of economics and administration – holder of an MEd, IAKOIM K. KAREPIDIS, Physical Education teacher – PhD candidate in folklore, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dance and health: Dance as a multidimensional tool for well-being (pp. 119-138). STYLIANOS IOANNIDIS, Balkan studies scholar – PhD candidate in modern history, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Pontic dances in the writings of Pontic scholars of the first generation (pp. 139-152).

ANTIGONI-ANNA IOANNOU, PhD candidate, Democritus University of Thrace, Dance and costume at the festival of Zoodochos Pigi in Trikeri, Pelion: A parallel relationship of life (pp. 153-164). ALEXANDROS KAPANIARIS, PhD, University of the Aegean – professor – advisor, Hellenic Open University, Dance in the Ragoutsaria of Kastoria: From ritual to the educational utilization of Intangible Cultural Heritage (pp. 165-182).

GOGO SP. KARAKOUSHI, economist – MSc – member of the Special Teaching Staff, University of West Attica, Dance in the Community as an Organization: Application of the Participatory Management Model and the Case of Confinement Due to covid-19 (pp. 183-194). IAKOIM K. KAREPIDIS, Physical Education teacher – PhD candidate in folklore, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Intergenerational formation and transformations of Pontic dances in Greece: Their historical and social course (pp. 195-216).

VASILIKI KOZIOU, educator – folklorist, The Sergiania of Krania, Karditsa and the need for their inclusion in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage index (pp. 217-236). VASILEIOS KOCLAS, postgraduate student, NKUA, Aspects of the dance «tsombas» in Oreini, Serres Prefecture (pp. 237-250).

GEORGIOS KOMZIAS, PE70 educator, The festival of Saint Agathi in Aetoliko, Aetolia-Acarnania: A living scene of ritual, sound, body and costume (pp. 251-264). PATRITSIA LAZOU, theater scholar – choreographer – researcher, holder of an MEd, Anastenaria, social discipline, ecstasy and faith during the performative worship ritual (pp. 265-277).

GEORGIOS MAGALIOS, PhD candidate, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly – researcher, The Carnival Sergiani in Palamas, Karditsa and the customs that accompany it (pp. 279-287). THEOFANIS MALKIDIS, PhD in social sciences, Panteion University, KONSTANTINOS MALKIDIS, student, Panteion University, Dance and festivals in the Greek minority of Albania as bearers of social cohesion and preservation of national identity (1944-present) (pp. 289-302).

EVGENIA MAVROMMATI, PhD candidate, Democritus University of Thrace, Helical dances and snake worship. Two examples from Greece. The theme and the main theoretical approaches (pp. 303-318). ALEXANDROS MOKIAS, PhD candidate, Department of Primary Education, University of Thessaly, NIKOLAOS MOKIAS, Physical Education teacher in primary education, Promoting cultural identity through traditional dances in final school celebrations (pp. 319-332).

GEORGIOS NATHANAIL, PhD in folklore, Democritus University of Thrace – researcher, Dance as a «static image» within the framework of social and cultural reality (pp. 333-347). EFTHYMIA PANAGIOTOPOULOU, PE 11 educator – PhD in folklore-anthropology of dance, Toubana in Avoros, Fokida: the ritual «Pano Ze» (pp. 349-364).

ALIKI PARISI, PhD candidate, University of the Aegean, The Lefkada Folklore Festival in the context of Cultural Management: A bibliographic review of Intangible Cultural Heritage (pp. 365-380). THEODOROS PILALIDIS, retired employee of the Public Power Corporation, Ritual dances of the Pontic Community (pp. 381-387).

AIKATERINI POLYMEROU-KAMILAKI, former director – emeritus researcher, Center for Research of Greek Folklore, Academy of Athens, Dance in Orthodoxy (pp. 389-412). ATHINA SIDERI, Physical Education teacher – MSc in Didactic & Psychological Methodologies of Education – MSc in Physical Activity and Sports Recreation, Dance as a bridge of communication between the students of the Greek-Albanian Schools «OMIROS» in Korçë (pp. 413-423).

EVANTHIA STIVANAKI, Professor Emerita, Department of Theatre Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Suggestions for rendering Dance in Ancient Drama on our contemporary theatre stage through dance “folklore readings”/traditional dance expressions and forms: Historical and synchronic attempts (pp. 425-431). LAMPRINI TASIOULI, postgraduate student in folklore, NKUA, The dance of Stegos in Ambliani, Evrytania: Ritual, community and transformations over time (pp. 433-445).

SOFIA TZELLA, graduate of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science, NKUA, The integration of “foreign-married” women into the dances and songs of Palamas, Karditsa (1900-1960) (pp. 447-456). CHRISTOS TSANASIDIS, PhD in cultural studies and contemporary folklore, Dance as a multifaceted and idiosyncratic “cultural act” on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest (pp. 457-473).

ELENI TSOMPANAKI, visiting professor, Department of Preschool Education, University of Thessaly, Dance as the Language of the Community (pp. 475-482).

Also included in the volume are the following: Obituaries: Michel Sivgnon (1936-2024) – Bertrand Bouvier (6.11.1929-3.1.2025) – Anastasios Stefos (1938-2025) (pp. 483-494). Comments (pp. 495-501). Book reviews (pp. 502-514). Thessalian Bibliography (pp. 515-519). Honorees with the «Trikala Friendship Award» (p. 520). Honorary members of F.I.L.O.S. (p. 521). The activities of F.I.L.O.S. Trikala (pp. 522-524). Instructions for contributors to «Thessalian Studies» (pp. 525-526).

The papers of the 9th Panhellenic Conference and the rest of the F.I.L.O.S. material are included in the double volume 15th-16th (2025-2026) of the annual journal «THESSALIKA MELETMATA». This journal is published by the Philological, Historical, Literary Association (F.I.L.O.S.) of Trikala in collaboration with the Publishing House K. & M. Stamoulis of Thessaloniki.