We are pleased to announce that the UNESCO Chairholder, Professor Pavlos Kavouras, participated in an online introduction meeting organized by the National Committee of Greece in the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance (ICTMD National Committee for Greece). The meeting took place on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Event Purpose:

The meeting aimed to enhance dialogue between researchers and artists involved in the field of music and dance traditions in Greece and abroad, and to connect them with the ICTMD organization. Researchers, students, and scholars in related fields were welcome to participate.

Discussion Themes:

The meeting revolved around key themes derived from the organization’s recently updated name change from the International Council of Traditional Music (ICTM) to the International Council of Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD):

1. Implications of the Name Change:
   • What does this name change signify and symbolize?
   • How does the expression “Traditions of Music and Dance” contrast with the earlier “traditional music”?
   • Considerations of local, national, and transnational traditions, especially in the context of a national committee representing Greece internationally.
2. Incorporation of Dance into the Organization:
   • Evaluation of the addition of “dance” alongside “music.”
   • The impact of this change on the respective fields of ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology.
   • Potential for new collaborations, synergies, and distinctions within the disciplines.
   • Reflection on the limited dialogue and information provided before the vote on the name change.
3. Utilizing the International Platform:
   • Strategies to creatively and effectively engage with the international environment offered by ICTMD.
   • Insights from Professor Kavouras’s extensive experience in international forums and his recent work with the establishment of the UNESCO Chair.
   • Differentiation between the missions and works of various organizations, including conferences, publications, and study groups.

Professor Kavouras’s involvement in the meeting underscores the UNESCO Chair’s commitment to fostering academic collaboration, cultural dialogue, and international partnerships in the field of music and dance traditions.