Metsovo is a place deeply rooted in its traditions, coexisting with them in everyday life with the ultimate goal of preserving them and maintaining a connection to the past.

Dance practices are passed down from generation to generation in a way that fosters both social identification with the community and the surrounding region, as well as differentiation from others. Over time, Metsovo’s dancers and musicians have incorporated both rural and urban elements into the dance landscape, making the music and dance repertoire distinctive.

Moreover, the traditional costume of Metsovo remains a remarkable element, as it is still used today as everyday wear by a significant number of women in the area.

Through the presentation of the Metsovo region, we will explore the musical and dance behavior of its people and examine the conditions under which they themselves brought about changes in traditional dress.

Marilena Tzalonikou was born in Ioannina and grew up in Metsovo in a typical Vlach family. She is married and the mother of three daughters. The strong cultural influences from her family environment—centered on tradition, song, and dance—led her to pursue a professional career in traditional dance and folklore. She studied at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA) of Thessaly, specializing in Greek Traditional Dances.

She continued her postgraduate studies at the Democritus University of Thrace, where her thesis focused on “the evaluation of traditional dance as serious leisure and its impact on participant satisfaction and commitment.” She continues to research the dances of the Metsovo region and presents her findings, along with their folkloric context, at conferences and seminars throughout Greece.

She is the creator of the educational program Vasilarchontissa, which uses experiential learning to teach elements of folk tradition to both children and adults interested in culture in Metsovo.

For the past 19 years, she has been teaching traditional dance in cultural associations in the Municipality of Metsovo and Ioannina, developing complete thematic performances (script, direction, and teaching).

She has worked as a substitute teacher in both private and public education in Ioannina and Athens. For the past 7 years, she has been in charge of the “Greek Dances” course at the Aristea Litou Professional Dance School in Ioannina, also exploring the relationship between traditional and contemporary dance through bold experimentation.

She plays percussion instruments and loves to travel by any means of transportation.