EDUCATIONAL CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF KYPARISSIA (MESK)

EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL SOCIETY OF KYPARISSIA, (M.E.S.K), - GREECE
Here is a brief history of our society and some information about our town:
M.E.S.K., ( Educational & Cultural Society of Kyparissia-GREECE) ,was founded in 1979 .It has been a very active society mainly in the field of traditional dances for over thirty years. All the Greek traditional dances date back to antiquity. The majority of them are circular dances whose origin has to do with the history, customs, climate, terrain of each region and express all kinds of feelings, such as happiness, sadness, nostalgia and love. M.E.S.K., also successfully organizes lectures, seminars, book-presentations etc.
The Cultural and Educational Society of Kyparissia (M.E.S.K.) in conjunction with the Municipality of TRIFILIA are organizing an international annual, CIOFF®, international folk dance festival, at the end of August, (KYPARISSIA SUNSHINE INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL), and are inviting folk dance groups both from abroad and from other parts of Greece,to participate and give performances in exchange conditions or not. So far, we have hosted international dance groups from Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Georgia, Turkey,Montenegro, Russia (Siberia), Romania Slovakia, Portugal, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Iraq, Ibiza, Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay, Egypt, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Taiwan, Ukraine, S. Korea, India, Ecuador, Hungary, Armenia, Israel, Georgia, Timor-Leste, Estonia,Peru, Spain, Kyrgystan, Italy,Slovenia, Bolivia, Argentina,Bangladesh, The Philippines, Czech Republic,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Thailand,Colombia,Sardinia/Italy,Croatia,Chili,Indonesia,Switzerland.Besides that, our folk dance group,M.E.S.K., has successfully participated in many international festivals, such as those in Turkey, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, China (SANGHAI World Expo2010) Romania, Portugal ,Ιtaly, Ukraine,Serbia,Sardinia/Italy etc.
M.E.S.K.is one of the members of CIOFF® Greece since November 2012. and also has performed on some TV programmes. It comprises people between 05 and 60 years old. On May 2022 in cooperation with CIOFF® Greece, and other bodies our association organized in our town, Kyparissia, the South European CIOFF® Sector Spring Meeting.
Kyparissia, our town, dates back to the Mycenaean times, (one of the 9 cities in Homeric Nestor’s kingdom), is a picturesque seaside resort in the region of the Peloponnese, in the southwestern part of Greece, close to Ancient Olympia where the Olympic Games were born. Many nations, such as Romans, Franks, Venetians, and Ottomans wanted to conquer Kyparissia. The only mark they left back is the scenic castle on the hill of the upper town. Today the visitor is possible to: admire the traditional architecture mostly at the upper town(stone made houses, cobbled streets), go swimming and fishing, explore the olive tree groves, the vineyards, the land that produces vegetables, fruit and watermelon which is exported all over the world. The sunset of Kyparissia is one of the top sunsets in the world.