Cultural and Dance Association of Psachna "OI RIZES"

Presentation – Brief history

The Cultural and Dance Association of Psachna "OI RIZES" was founded in 1985, and today numbers approximately 200 members.

It is a non-profit association and its main purpose is the preservation, teaching and spread of Greek traditions in general and more specifically Greek traditional dances.

For this reason, it organizes cultural events or participates in them in cooperation with other associations. It performs with Greek traditional dances, wherever it is invited and always at no profit. Nowadays, more than 150 students of all ages attend its dance classes.

The Association maintains a fairly rich wardrobe with exact copies of traditional costumes, from various parts of Greece, which is regularly enriched. It is an association with a strong presence and activity. Over the years it has taken part in numerous cultural events, folk dance festivals, etc., not only on the island Evia, or Greece in general, but also in many countries abroad.

Since 1987 has made several trips to Europe (Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, etc.), but also in Tunisia (2002) where performances were given before the President Ben Ali and in China (September 2006), where it took part in the 9th World Cultural and Tourism Festival in Beijing, winning the first prize among appr. 80 dance groups from all over the world. In August 2008 it visited Cyprus, where it danced in festivals of traditional dances in Larnaca and Aradippou.

In 2011, it travelled twice to Iraqi Kurdistan (in March and October-November) participating in relevant international festivals of traditional dances in the capital Arbil, in Kalaras and other major cities. In March 2014 it took part in events to commemorate the Greek Revolution of 1821 in Bucharest and Topoloven, Romania.

On many occasions, it has offered hospitality to various Greek and foreign dance and musical groups in Psachna.