Alkis Raftis

Alkis Raftis was born in 1942 in Athens although his family’s history is connected with Epirus and Eastern Thrace. His parents were members of Resistance during the Nazi occupation.

Raftis was educated in many disciplines on several Universities in Athens and in Paris. He is a historian, engineer, sociologist and writer and he speaks 6 modern languages.

His most important interest is dance and dance research. Since 1987 he has been a president of “Dora Stratou” Dance Theatre and also of International Dance Council – CID, UNESCO. Raftis has been managing many cultural, industrial and financial institutions and has been lecturing on Universities. He authored 21 books and more than 20 research portals. He is also the editor-in-chief of the magazine “Dance, Tradition and Art” (110 issues since 1992). He has organised 22 world dance congresses, hundreds of lectures, workshops, spectacles and dance festivals.

Choosen publications:

1. The world of Greek dance,Londyn, Finedawn, 1987, wydanie polskie: Świat tańca greckiego, tłum. J. Wegner, Warszawa 2012.
2. Danse et poésie: Anthologie internationale de poèmes sur la danse, Paris, La Recherche en Danse – Sorbonne, 1989.
3. Dance, culture and society (po grecku). Ateny, Teatr Tańca “Dora Stratu” , 1992.
4. Encyclopedia of Greek dance (po grecku), Ateny, Teatr Tańca “Dora Stratu” , 1995.
5. Costumes 1860 (po grecku), z Ateną Makcha, Ateny, Kastaniotis, 1995.
6. Loupsiko. Wedding dances and songs (po grecku, z załączonym CD), z Agoro Tsiu. Ateny, Teatr Tańca “Dora Stratu”, 1997.
7. Dance in the culture of Karpathos (z Marigulą Kritsioti), Ateny, Teatr Tańca “Dora Stratu” , 2003.
8. Dance and History in Cyprus, Ateny, IOFA, 2004.
9. The dance in Rhodes, Ateny, Teatr Tańca “Dora Stratu”, 2004.
10. Orientalist Dance: Paintings and Travellers’ Accounts, Ateny 2007.
11. Edycja źródłowa: Ioannes Meursius and his “Orchestra, sive de saltationibus veterum” of 1618. The first monograph on ancient Greek dance since Antiquity (with Frederick Naerebout). Athens, Dora Stratou Dance Theatre, 2003.

Extended biography and complete bibliography.