Please check back every day, new teachers and facilitators will be added until the festival begins on September 5!
Daniel Arrando (Spain) & Ioanna Mare (Greece) (Aerial Acrobatics). They are professional aerialists with an international artistic career, and many years of teaching experience. They met in Buenos Aires (famous for aerial arts) and since then they roam the world with artistic ensembles or as freelance artists. They have trained aerial arts in many countries such as Spain, Belgium, Australia, Argentina, Peru, Brazil and others. Daniel is also a certified rigger (technical aerial safety manager) After 2 years of performing and teaching in Shanhay, China they decided to return to Greece and share their love for aerial arts, by teaching, performing and awakening people about the importance of circus in a society, through its techniques which are strong forms of expression while providing strong physican and mental health. For more visit ΚΙΡΚΟart
Katherina Anastasiadis, Greece/Serbia (DIT, Renewable Energy).Katherina is currently an architecture student with a fine arts background, and an aspiring creator. She has been an excited SEYNer since the very beginning and a solar multiplier as of recently. When it comes to projects concerning energy and food sufficiency, DIY projects as well as natural building she always likes to get her hands dirty.After some time she spent trying to make a change through politics, she decided that this is not the way to go and instead, ground up actions, initiatives, collaboration, solidarity and community work is the way. In her vision of a world embracing nature, without inequalities, social discrimination, human and environmental exploitation and suffering, doing nothing is not an option.She is always there speaking to people with ideas who know what it is they want to change and encouraging them to turn those ideas into actions and become doers who in their turn will continue the circle.In the past months she has been coordinating reSUN project, an idea which with a team of young doers in Chania, is finally put into action, and aims at introducing people to DIY solar applications and the concept of energy prosumption (production + consumption ) as well as creating a network of such initiatives in the island region and beyond.
Flávio Augusto, Brazil (Capoeira). He was born in the city Guarantingueta, Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1981. He is student of Mestre Ze Antonio and later of Mestre Poncianinho of the group “Barracao da Capoeira” of Brazil .He received the title of “Professor” in Capoeira, a certified Teacher’s Title of Capoeira from the Federation of Capoeira in Brazil and the certification of “Contra Mestre”. At the same time, he becomes a member of the dance team CDO GUARA, and participates in various presentations of Afrobrazilian dances (maculele, danca do fogo, danca guerreira) and Capoeira in Sao Paulo. The same time period, he teaches Capoeira in adults and children in Sao Paulo. He created a Capoeira and Afrobrazilian dance team (samba de roda, maculele, African dance, dance of fire, dance of warriors) with the name CDO ATHENS and collaborates with businessmen in various events of advertising character (Forthnet, Sony, Nivea, Fnac). Moreover he collaborates with the Municipality of Athens, as well as with the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios (Attiki).He has given Capoeira seminars at “THE PLACE” and at “DANCE ATTIK” in London(England), Russia, France, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Cyprus. He has organized for 2 years not only the annual competition of his Capoeira Group under the auspices of the German School of Athens “Doerpfeld Gymnasium”, but also Capoeira seminars at the school facilities of the German School. He lives and works in Athens since 2007, and he has taught Capoeira in several dance schools (Dance Cultural Center, Open Space Studio, Danzarin, Igiosomatiki, Oriental Expression, Alkmini Theater, Thodoris Panas Athens Dance School). More @ www.barracaodacapoeira.gr
Alexandros Filippidis, Greece (Renewable Energy, DIY). Alex wants to live in a world, powered by the energy of the people, full of empowered individuals and communities, shared knowledge and culture. On the meantime he uses a force field around himself effectively repelling negativity and attracting changemakers, doers and thinkers. As a professional with 8 plus years experience, continuing after his Masters in Denmark about renewable energy management, has worked as an analyst, advisor facilitator and projects manager. Very experienced DIYer, inspirational speaker and trainer, from a young age have educate self in what he calls “true skills of survival”, meaning natural building, energy self-sufficiency, water collection, building communities and human culture. When he is not coordinating the Sustainable Energy Youth Network or involved in more than a handful initiatives, you can find him growing vegetables in Netherlands, inspiring people in Croatia, promoting community energy or developing projects in Greece and beyond. “Your vibe attracts your tribe”, one of his favorite quotes, gets justified, only if you come with a smile and the energy to build another world together with this globally expanding tribe.
Sofia Kanelou, Greece (Nutrition). Sofia Kanellou studied Nutrition in Greece and got a master’s degree in Italy (Università Politecnica delle Marche) in Vegetarian Diet for all states of life. She lived In Venice for three years and got a scholarship for the 2nd time. In the meantime, she specialized in Kousmine Method and Orthomolecular Nutrition. She worked as a dietitian in areas of counseling, herbal medicine, natural healing, vegetarian / vegan diet. After returning to Greece, she runs a legal nutrition office since 2012, writes and works with health professionals, primary and infant schools and draw up special diets. She offers personalized health monitoring and group classes for resolving eating disorders. She is an active member of the Union of Nutritionists in Greece, and Nutritionists for the Environment in Italy. From the beginning of her career, her passion is the transmission of a healthy culture on food and with this as a compass, she organizes seminars and food laboratories in Greece and Italy. For more information about her activities, visit the www.siniditidiatrofi.gr or just meet her in person!
Ioanna Tzedopoulou, Greece (Qigong, Thai Massage, Tai Chi). From an early age has been initiated in the 1st Degree of the Usui Reiki system of Natural Healing with Reiki Master Thalia Kafatou and then has attained the 2nd Degree with Reiki Master Yannis Kanavos. Has completed the 1st level course of Traditional Thai Massage ( Chiang Mai Lineage) with Yannis Logaras ,( center for Ancient Healing Arts, LLC Mesa AZ USA.) Thai foot and Hand massage with Eleftheria Matzorou. From 2000 to 2004 she attended the four year program for Qigong instructors at Greek Healing Tao Center with Grand Master Panagiotis Kontaxakis and from 2015 to the present, another four year program at Hellenic Health Qigong association with Panagiotis Kontaxakis and Markella Tsopouridou. Thanks to them she achieved the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Duan of Daoyin Yangsheng Gong from Beijin sport University of China. And the story goes on, for the love for Qigong and Knowledge never ends.
Billys Kordelas, Greece (Juggling and Street Art Performing). Billys is a human being living on planet earth for this moment in time! His main interest in balance & juggling games started when after watching other jugglers and street art performers and saw his image being reflected. Playing with juggling balls, clubs and balancing opens a field where geometrical patterns exist and they are available as a part of our selves to move in more complicated patterns, awakening the senses of the human intelligence and activates an taped regions of the brain. We’re going to play with balls, clubs, poi, balancing on slack-lines and have a lot of fun with creative games!
Marianna Gkousdouva. Greece (Story Telling, Theater, Fairy Tales) is part of the “Facta Non Verba” theatrical team for the last 9 years, she has attended many seminars on Acting, History of Theater, Voice and Body Activation) and has taken part in group performances as an amateur actress. Her love for taking care the child point of view, at every stage of human existence has led her to paths that connect and decouple art with healing. Some of these are telling stories, myths and fairy tales. She studied for two years at the School of Narrative Art: Center for the Study and Propagation of Myths and Stories, traveling as far as Athens. She then went on to the School of Educational Sciences in the Pedagogical and Teaching Adequacy Program of the University of Crete. Her diploma thesis was on the subject: Cultivation of Oral and Written Speech in Fairy Tales Education: Pedagogical Approaches. During her search, she attended seminars on psychotherapy, drama therapy, non-violent communication, sound therapy, theatrical play, flute lessons and traditional dances. Since then, she has been performing Spectacular Performances for Young and “not so young” Children, in schools, theaters, festivals, parties and celebrations. Recently she writes stitches and produces fairy tales inspired by a rhythmic rhythm, guiding the union of the real with the fantastic pace all the time.
Kostas Georgiou. Greece (Sound Therapy, Sound Healing) Soundhealer, yoga and meditation teacher, self-awareness guide.Awakened from an early age, he studied almost all major internal traditions-teachings and modern physics, and implemented many physical and spiritual practices, marching with ahimsa, always on the path of the heart. During this 30-year long internal journey, sound was absolutely crucial to his development. Aligned with ancient traditions, he makes and plays his own didgeridoos for the past decade.He also works with the healing powers of the ritual drum, the Tibetan singing bowls and Solar Gong.He offers individual and group internal journeys and initiation on reconnecting with cosmic conciousness. He participates in festivals and visits yoga retreats and schools throughout Greece. Kostas lives and breathes in a small oasis in Corinth called Dasokipos (Forest Garden) which he created applying the principles of Permaculture, organic and yogic culture. He creates innovative products from his garden and coordinates “self-sufficiency” and “reconnection with nature” workshops
Georgia Aurelia Kollias, Canada (Hula Hoop & Partner Yoga), is an Exercise Science graduate and certified yoga teacher from Alberta, Canada. She has been a Yoga teacher for 5 years. She has taught in several countries across the EU and has taught at Tree of Life Festival (GR) and Own Spirit Festival (ESP). Her styles of yoga are vast and creative, such as Reggae/dance yoga, a form of hatha yoga that combines moving and grooving to Reggae beats while performing yoga postures that expand and contract the body to the rhythm of the breath. Another interesting concept she will be conducting at the festival is Hula Hoop Yoga. Currently being taught weekly in Barcelona, Spain. This style of movement includes a hula hoop which compliments certain yoga postures that influence heart openings, balancing and strengthening of the body. At times, this specific practice incorporates the hula hoop with sequences of Partner yoga, a method that enhances a connection between people through movement, play, breath, communication, and trust.
Fotini Sianou, Greece (Activist for Peace, Human Rights and Gender Equality). Fotini has been an Activist for Peace, Human Rights and Gender Equality for the last 40 years. An elected member of Trade Unions. Member of the Board of the Research Centre for Gender Equality; Vice President of the Women’s Political Association; member of the Watch for Women’s Rights; President and Vice President of the Centre for Research and Action on Peace (KEDE). Shortlisted for the Greek proposal for the 2002 award for “Woman of Europe”; Greek Representative to the United Nations for Gender Equality. Founding member of the Women’s Initiative for Peace (WINPEACE) between women in Greece, Turkey & Cyprus. Has worked in conflict zones, in schools with teachers and students, in prisons in the area of peace and nonviolence. Trainer in communication without violence-the power is within.
Michael Laakasuo, Finland (Cognitive Science) (PhD, Msc, MSocSci), is a post-doctoral researcher in Cognitive Science specializing in emotions, decision-making, evolutionary theory and moral psychology. His research project Moralities of Intelligent Machines (www.moim.fi). During Spiral Knights Michael will be talking twice about the basics of evolutionary psychology and twice about his latest findings regarding the interaction between humans and artificial moral agents. During his talk you will get a glimpse into how scientific thinking functions and how it is different from every day thinking. During Q&A you can ask also more general questions about science and statistical methods and how it is to do research in todays world.
Basma Kamal, Egypt/USA (Hatha Yoga), is a Hatha Yoga certified teacher in all levels by the Universal Yoga, Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, India. She has been teaching kids yoga in Seattle US for many years and for adults in the 8 Limbs Yoga Studio in Seattle. She is trained in guided mindfulness buddhist meditation, intensive yoga energy healing, SoulMat Yoga and in ASANA Yoga. She was also part of the teachers in Spiral Knights Eco-Fest 2016 and 2017, and for the last year and a half she is part of the core group in Free and Real with huge success.
Felix McDowell, Sweden (Calisthenics), joins us from the cold north of Sweden and will lead us through the basics of bodyweight exercises, also known as calisthenics. Having a background as an everyday athlete with an interest in a variety of sports – from Swedish field hockey to jiu jitsu, archery and obstacle course running – he has spent the last couple of years exploring calisthenics. This form of exercising comes with a good amount of positive aspects: it offers a way to build all-around body strength through natural movements, it develops stamina, flexibility, balance and body coordination, it is easy to adjust to your own skill level and, most of all, it requires no external equipment. Calisthenics is your way to develop your own natural strength, and turning yourself into your own personal gym.
Nikos Koniaris, Greece (Tai Chi) he studied physical education at the University of Athens. He continued searching alternative methods of exercise, but this is not enough to abate the spiritual concern. He studied internal way through different approaches. Techniques of meditation … Yoga …Internal exercise … Internal Energy treatments … Self Analysis . In the end he chose to focus on Tai Chi, a road that combines a quiet and simultaneously dynamic way several of the above. He created groups in Paros, in Athens and Aegina trying to share the joy of change and evolution, but also the satisfaction that exercise brings to us.
He wrote the book “Inner exercise” to address to those who where flirting with the inner road. Lately leads seminars on «Tai Chi-internal exercise and daily life” and “introduction to meditation.” Also created taizen team so he can organize as far as possible meetings with free participation. Nikos’s courses exude simplicity and require concentration. Approaching the exercise with a very minimal way, but always with a Zen mood …. Also, exercise is not “stopping” at the end of the course.
Foteini Zafeiriou, Greece (Thai Massage), alternative healer of traditional massage techniques , yoga teacher and lifelong meditator, researcher and student. thai massage is considered the most complete form of bodywork. regarding to body, these techniques liberate the joints , the muscles and the vertebrae from tension and pain. something similar takes place at the mental and sensory level. that is because thai massage is mainly a mental practice , meditation through motion… it is connected with the word metta which derives from pali language(ancient budhist language)and means loving kindness. thai massage teaches to givers and receivers empathy , “presence” , offering, compassion. the treatment this planet needs to be cured.
