06/10/2025
As another incredible dance season comes to a close, we would like to more formally introduce you to one of our instructors: KOSTA!
Kosta Zafiridis, with deep familial roots in Petres, Kleidi, and Papagianni (Florina region), is a high school educator with an M.Ed. in educational psychology, and currently serves as co-instructor for the Hamilton Hellenic Traditional Dance Group. He also teaches for Paradosi Hellenic Dance Company and Paradosi Youth Company, and is a guest instructor for the Niagara Hellenic Dance Group. Kosta has taught in various community settings including Panagia Greek School (Hamilton) and the Greek community of Buffalo. He has led seminars in Toronto, London, and Buffalo, with a focus on dances from the Amyntaio area of southeastern Florina. His primary areas of study and instruction include the traditional dances of Macedonia, Thrace, Epirus, and the Gagavouzides (Gagauz). Since 2014, he has been researching and writing a comprehensive book on the village of Petres, Florina, exploring its history, genealogies, dance traditions, customs, and songs β with special attention to its diverse population of native Macedonians and refugee families from Anatoliki Romylia (Sinapli, Kavakli), Pontus (DΓΆrtkonak), and Asia Minor (Kouvouklia). The manuscript is nearing completion, with hopes for publication in the near future. Heβs looking forward to an even stronger dance season for the group in September 2025!
