What happens in the room.

Welcome, and a tasting of local products

Guests arrive. The experience starts 10 minutes after the stated time, so a late arrival does not crowd the beginning. A table of local products is set out where you can see it, and the tasting is free. It stays open for the whole experience, and water is always there. On the table: bread, oil, olives, salt, feta, and kumquat liqueur.

Ice breaker, and a little history

An ice breaker, so the group can meet. Then a few useful historical notes, as an introduction and a background for what follows.

Teaching the traditional dances

Two dances, as a guide for the group:

• Corfiot syrtos
• Hasapiko, hasaposerviko, and Zorba

The dance is taught first without music. Once the group is familiar enough, it is danced with music. The teaching follows the level and the pace of each group, so everyone can take part, with or without earlier experience. If the group is ready, an extra dance or extra figures may be added.

The traditional costume, lived

Guests meet the traditional costume of Corfu. Each costume, men’s and women’s, is shown piece by piece and put on at the same moment: the dressing happens as the costume is presented. During the dressing you hear the history of the costume, what the pieces mean, and the occasions when they were worn. Up to four people in the group can dress.

When the dressing is finished, there is time for photographs in the costumes. The other guests then receive a piece of the costume: a tsoutsoumida for the women, a tritsa for the men.

A shared dance, then plate smashing

Everyone dances a syrtos together, or Zorba, in the costumes and the pieces. At the end, each person smashes one or two plates.

Debriefing, and a commemorative diploma

Time for questions and a short debriefing. Everyone receives a commemorative diploma. Afterwards you can choose to buy selected local products and souvenirs from the visit. Then goodbye, and an invitation to review the experience.