A few words about us

Over the last decade, and due to the recent technological advances, there is a significant effort to digitize, document, preserve, and protect intangible cultural heritage creations. Cultural heritage encompasses a range of important assets that includes collective knowledge of skills, practices, expressions, art, fashion, and others that do not have a tangible form.


These intangible creations are the mainspring of humanity’s cultural diversity, and its maintenance is a guarantee for continuing creativity.
-UNESCO, 2003

Virtual Dance Museum aims to become a-point-of-reference repository that digitally stores and portrays folk dance creations, in addition to rare video material held by local cultural institutions. We utilize emerging technologies to digitize, analyze, and holistically document our intangible heritage dance creations, that is a critical necessity for the preservation and the continuity of our identity as Europeans. In that direction, we use state-of-the-art motion capture systems, 3D scanners, and FHD cameras to record and archive high quality motion data of expert dancers performing these traditional dances, that are publicly accessible through our Dance Motion Capture Database

An animated virtual character that performs the Antikristos dance and wears the traditional Cypriot uniform, at the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion in the medieval town of Nicosia, Cyprus.

Partners

Parthenon Dance Academy, Paris, France

The Greek academy of customs and traditional dances "Parthenon" was created in 2001 in Paris, France. The academy consists of 80 active members, who share the same passion: the art of Greek dance. The academy's music repertoire extends to all areas of Greek culture, including Asia Minor and the Black Sea. Over the years, the academy became popular due the quality and authenticity of its performances, and it has appeared in many countries abroad, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Serbia, Russia, United States, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus and of course in Greece. Within France, the academy performed its work in major cities, as it also participated in various shows broadcast by national channels, including TF1, FRANCE 2 and FRANCE3. The academy’s track record includes its own performances, presented on major Parisian stages, such as the Unesco, the théâtre du Gymnase and the théâtre de l’Ouest parisien à Boulogne. For most members of the academy, the Greek music and dance tradition is a service, and the "Parthenon" orchestra consists of distinguished musicians in the field of Greek traditional music. "Parthenon "has a significant variety of traditional costumes and a specialized staff responsible for the repair and renewal of our wardrobe.

Cultural Workshop Ayion Omologiton

Politistiko Ergastiri Ayion Omoloyiton is active in the city of Lefkosia. It is made up of people who work in the field of Art and Culture and aims, with events and presentations it organizes, to offer creative opportunities to the citizens of Lefkosia and its members, mainly through arts, music and dance. It is a non-profit organization and provides resources from its members' subscriptions and offers from individuals or organizations that trust its activity. Since its foundation in 1999 it has developed a rich artistic activity and has managed to establish itself in the consciousness of the citizens of Lefkosia as one of the most important cultural institutions of the city.

Cultural and Dancing Association "DIONYSOS"

The Cultural Dance Club Dionysos was founded in 1991 and today has a core group of 60 active dancers and 200 dance students. Its main focus is in the preservation and dissemination of the musical and dancing heritage, both of Cyprus and of the rest of Hellenism. The Association maintains a close collaboration with a diverse group of music and dance heritage specialists, researchers, performers and folklorists. Through its continuous research, collection, recording and processing of folklore music and dance materials, the Association has established a remarkable wardrobe of numerous Cypriot and Greek traditional costumes and maintains an important archive of relevant films and photographs, as well as a library of folk themes. These resources are essential for further research, preservation and understanding of the music and dance intangible cultural heritage of Cyprus.