Thessaloniki is the center of artist and educational development this year and dance performances constitute one important component of this development.
The whole thing started the first day of this year, 1st of January 1997; that was the First Day of Dance. Dance performances of three dancing groups were held near the White Tower of Thessaloniki (Leukos Purgos). Dancers and choreographers of all groups attempted to develop a warm feeling starting the new year with the "right movements".

The Second Day of Dance came on 1st of February 1997, official day of naming Thessaloniki as the cultural center of Europe of 1997. All the performances, musical and dancing, were held in the center of the city and many artists (such as Thanos Mikroutsikos, Panos Theodotidis, Anastasia Theofanidou) helped in creating a genuine successful atmosphere. Ms. Theofanidou (choreographer of the Dance/Theater Group - Coroqeatro) managed to create all the "dancing happening" in the short time of one week. Dancers and choreographer presented the best of themselves offering a distinguished event for the audience.

It is good to remember events as this one since dance and artistic recreation is very hard to survive in a country as Greece. Greeks might be good in organizing parties all night long but when it comes to attend professional dance performances, they just dont show up. Greek professional dancers often complain not only about the insufficiency of financial support which they have to face but much more about the lack of public interest and the psychological support. It is true that if you love something you can make the effort to finance it but the psychological support in sustaining it must come from the audience.