Dreaming with Cavafy in Nafplio

By Gelis Dilia

On the occasion of the Day of Foundation and Establishment of World Cavafy Day, by the International Art Academy and UNESCO, on April 29, 2024 in Volos, two Cultural Associations in Nafplio responded to my call as Partners of the institutions. These are the New Cultural Association of Midea “Alkmini” and the Educational and Cultural Association of Pyrgiotics “Agios Georgios”.

Both the President of this Midea, Dimitra Korilis and the President of that Pyrgiotiki, Sofia Traka, were receptive from the very beginning to attempt something different from their usual activities.

Little by little the female participations began to increase, which meant that a new wind would blow through their revelatory acquaintance with the love poems of the great poet.

The project that I inspired especially for women, entitled “I dreamed of Cavafy”, is based on a concept that contains recitation, a dose of acting and therefore the embodiment of the lyrics with a vehicle, a special object that is associated with 12 different dreams, since there were 12 of the participants .

If someone were to watch from afar how the rehearsals began on the weekends at Midea Primary School and how we ended up filming it all in the evocative space of the Parliament, granted by the Municipality of Nafplio, they would come to the conclusion that this route, while it was not easy at all, was easy thanks to the tenacity, patience, receptivity and cooperation that existed in the team. This video will be shown in every country that participates in this great poetic, for Greece and the world, event.

Each of these bold women through his lyrics not only got to know Cavafy, but also herself, as she not only discovered talents she didn’t know she possessed, but was troubled by the content of the lyrics and that is the great gain. Through a unique historical event, World Cavafy Day, and through a project, each of these women conquered another step, putting aside the inhibiting factors, since the challenge was great.

I will never forget the wonderful atmosphere in the rehearsals, the new ideas they carried with them until the last moment of the video shoot for a better result and the good mood to try something that was previously out of their realm of thought. And yet, anything can happen, as long as an idea inspires you and someone believes in you.

I warmly thank each and every one of the team whose dynamics increased geometrically and every time they gave their best. I am grateful for our cooperation and believe that it will continue.

Midea was represented by the ladies, each with a poem following her name: Dimitra Korilis – After Nine, Chrysa Dima – Come Back, Nelly Michalopoulou – Half an Hour, Katerina Ypsilanti – On the Stairs, Chrysavgi Argyropoulou – In the Theater, Christina Papageorgopoulou – Desires, Athanasia Noti – December 1903, Gianna Kondylarou – Idoni and the twelve-year-old Xenia Mentoni.

Pyrgiotika was represented by the ladies with each poem following their name: Sofia Traka – Griza, Vicky Kordali – To come, Eleni Piki – From the drawer and Aggeliki Tabaki – Remember body.