Dear list members and colleagues,

We would like to inform you that the 3rd Conference of Folk Culture "Dance and Cultural Identities in
the Balkans" has been rescheduled due to the National Elections that will be held in Greece around the
end of April.

The new Conference dates are the 15-17 (Fri-Sun) October 2004.

Therefore the deadline for the abstracts is extended to March 31st 2004

For further information, please, contact

Dr. Kalliopi Panopoulou

Department of Physical Education and Athletics, Aristotle University of Thessalonica

Ayios Ioannis

62110 Serres

GREECE

Tel.       +30 23210 67612, 67135

+30 2310 991043, 991044, 991052

Fax:      +30 23210 64806,

+30 2310 991049

E - mail :          Pan-k@otenet.gr

vtsioni@phed-st.auth.gr


For the organizing committee


Kalliopi Panopoulou





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CALL FOR PAPERS


3rd Conference of Folk Culture



"Dance and Cultural Identities in the Balkans"


Serres, Greece 23-25 April 2004  (CHANGED TO October 2004 !!!)




An international conference organised by the

Department of Physical Education and Athletics of the Aristotle 
University of Thessalonica

located in the city of Serres

in collaboration with

the Municipality of Serres



3rd Conference of Folk Culture



"Dance and Cultural Identities in the Balkans"


The Balkans have been conceived for over a century as a geopolitical 
entity, a notion that to a large extent has been internalised by the 
populations residing in the region. However, the question about the 
existence of a single Balkan cultural identity remains an issue of 
debate and controversy.

The events that marked the region throughout the 1990s raised anew, 
in an imperative way, issues of collective and personal identities 
(national, ethnic, religious, cultural etc.). The collapse of 
socialist regimes, the opening up of borders, the migratory movements 
and the increase of communication brought in the foreground questions 
of cultural interaction and exchange, and processes of inclusion and 
exclusion, which originate in the historical past of the region but 
are also vital for the future coexistence and cooperation between the 
Balkan peoples.

The conference, having as its keystone the historicity of cultural 
phenomena, approaches dance as a cultural practice which has the 
capability to communicate a variety of ideas, emotions, norms and 
values. Dance in the Balkans has great potency and high esteemed 
value. It constitutes a central component of many public events, 
annual and private celebrations. Moreover, as a cultural element, it 
is accorded recognition as a symbol of collective identity and a 
means of visually representing a group's culture. The conference 
welcomes papers that will address the afore-mentioned issues and 
their impact on the Balkan societies.

The following thematic units will be examined:



1.       Balkan cultures in a historical perspective

2.       Ethnic groups and identities in the 'long duree'

3.       Dance as a symbol of ethnic and local identities. Identity 
and difference in dancing. Issues of ethos and style.

4.       Dance in the everyday and the 'sacred' time. Celebrations 
and dance feasts. Rituals in the life and time circle.

5.       Dance and national identities. Constructions and inventions 
of national traditions. Nation-state and the various uses of dance 
traditions. State ideologies and folklore.

6.       Dance and educational institutions. From the performance to 
the teaching and from the ritual to the staging. Issues of structure, 
function, morphology and aesthetics.



The deadline for submission of paper proposals is 30 November 2003. 
Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be sent by e-mail or 
regular mail to:

Conference language: Greek &  English

Registration fee: 20 ? (15 ? for students)

Location: Hall of the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Serres



For further information (application form, registration, abstracts) 
contact the secretariat of the conference:

Department of Physical Education and Athletics, Aristotle University 
of Thessalonica

Ayios Ioannis

62110 Serres

GREECE

Tel.       +30 23210 67612, 67135

+30 2310 991043, 991044, 991052

Fax:      +30 23210 64806,

+30 2310 991049

E - mail :          Pan-k@otenet.gr

vtsioni@phed-st.auth.gr







For the organizing committee



Kalliopi Panopoulou