Ventouris Productions proudly presents the 3rd Zeibekiko Festival Australia, running from 3 to 12 October 2025 across Sydney and Melbourne.
Over ten days, the festival will immerse audiences in the spirit of zeibekiko through music, dance, storytelling and scholarship.
This year’s special guests from Greece include celebrated singer Areti Ketime with her violin maestro Dimitris Stefopoulos, as well as renowned folklorist Dr Christos Theologos, who will be joined by Stefanos Kyriazakos, a specialist in the traditional dances of Rhodes.
Together with local musicians, dancers and cultural groups, they will honour zeibekiko as both a dance and a vessel of cultural memory.
Here is the full program of events:
Friday 3 October — Opening Night Show & Zeibekiko Glendi (Sydney)
The festival begins with a spectacular opening night at the Greek Community Club in Sydney. The evening promises a vibrant celebration with live music, starting with the Cretan Music Group under the direction of Michael Platyrrahos performing the Tabahaniotika Cretan rebetika songs. Audiences will be treated to the unique sounds of instruments such as the laouto, boulgari and tzouras bouzouki.
The program then moves into a bouzouki extravaganza led by Tassos Lambrou and his Sydney ensemble, while local Greek dance groups will bring the energy of zeibekiko to the stage.
Guests will also have the chance to meet folklorists Dr Christos Theologos and Stefanos Kyriazakos, while Areti Ketime and Dimitris Stefopoulos will make a special appearance to add to the night’s excitement.
The evening will close with a lively zeibekiko dance competition offering prizes, all enjoyed over a buffet meal that is included in the ticket price.
Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 October — Dance Seminars (Melbourne)
The festival continues in Melbourne with two full days of dance seminars at St Eleftherios Church Hall, led by Dr Christos Theologos and Stefanos Kyriazakos. Across seven sessions, participants will explore a wide range of traditions from Asia Minor and the islands.
On Saturday, the program will cover dances from Coastal Asia Minor and traditional zeibekika including Karsilamádes and Aptaliká. Stepping up the pace will be dances from Rhodes including the Rhoditiko zeibekiko. Sunday will focus on the traditions of Chios, Constantinople, and Cappadokia.
Each workshop is 90 minutes in length, offering participants the opportunity to engage deeply with the rhythms, movements and stories of these regions. Cultural resources, including maps, music links and lesson recordings, will be provided to those who attend, ensuring that the learning continues well beyond the workshops.
Sunday 5 October — Areti Ketime Concert (Melbourne)
On Sunday evening, Melbourne will host a highly anticipated concert at the Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar Performing Arts Centre. Areti Ketime, accompanied by Dimitris Stefopoulos, will enchant the audience with her angelic voice and mastery of Asia Minor repertoire.
The concert will also feature a bouzouki and traditional instrument spectacular presented by the Nestoras College, Omados & Friends Band, adding depth and variety to the program.
With ticket options ranging from standard entry to VIP packages that include a personal meet and greet with Areti Ketime, this concert is expected to be one of the highlights of the festival.
Monday 6 October — Cappadokia Dance Workshop & Lecture (Sydney)
The focus on Monday shifts to Sydney and begins with a unique candlelight Cappadokia Dance Workshop in the courtyard of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Dr Christos Theologos will lead participants through traditional circle dances, performed in the stavrota (cross-like) style.
Accompanied by live songs, the workshop will culminate in a moving communal moment as Areti Ketime and Dimitris Stefopoulos join the group to sing and play, linking dance, faith and cultural tradition in a profound way. This is a free event open to parishioners, youth, dance groups and the wider public, though registration is required.
Later that evening, inside the church hall, Dr Theologos will deliver his lecture Church in the Heart of Tradition. This talk will examine the close relationship between Orthodox faith and Greek folk culture, showing how rituals, festivals, dances and songs have provided cohesion and cultural continuity both in Greece and the diaspora.
BOOK HERE FOR CAPPADOKIA DANCE WORKSHOP. BOOK HERE FOR LECTURE.
Tuesday 7 October — Lecture: Zeibekiko Through Time (Sydney)
On Tuesday evening at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba, Zeibekiko Festival Australia will host Dr Christos Theologos for a lecture dedicated to the zeibekiko itself.
The presentation will trace the dance from its earliest origins in antiquity through the Byzantine period, traditional forms in Asia Minor, migration from Greece and transformation into the rebetiko era until its celebrated form today.
Dr Theologos will discuss its symbolism, its transformation across historical periods, and its enduring importance in the lives of Asia Minor refugees, who used the dance as a way to express trauma, memory and resilience. The lecture promises to offer both historical depth and cultural insight into what zeibekiko means to Greeks today.
The night will be interactive with guests being encouraged to take part at certain times during the lecture. There will also be a mini exhibition of Asia Minor costumes by traditional costume maker Peter Kouvelis and Sophia Ventouris School of Greek Dance.
Wednesday 8 October — Steki Taverna Night (Sydney)
Midweek, festival-goers will gather at Steki Taverna in Sydney for a night of food, atmosphere and music dedicated to the greatest zeibekika hits. Guests will be taken on a musical journey that captures the raw emotion of this beloved tradition.
Adding to the magic of the night, Areti Ketime and Dimitris Stefopoulos will make a special appearance, ensuring that the event combines authenticity with star power. With limited seating, this promises to be an intimate and memorable evening.
Thursday 9 October — Zeibekiko Workshops (Sydney)
Thursday is devoted entirely to practical engagement with zeibekiko at Sydney Technical High School Hall.
The evening will begin with a women-only workshop at 6.30pm, focusing on expressive figures, improvisation, and the subtle artistry of movement.
At 7.30pm, a men-only session will build confidence through steps, turns and stylistic elements unique to male improvisation.
Finally, at 8.30pm, an open workshop will invite all ages and abilities to explore different forms of zeibekiko, from the rebetiko to the traditional and modern.
These sessions will emphasise the dialogue between soul, body and movement, encouraging participants to embrace the dance as a personal expression.
BOOK HERE FOR WOMEN’S CLASS, MEN’S CLASS, AND OPEN CLASS.
Friday 10 October — Areti Ketime Concert (Sydney)
The Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL will host the second major concert of the festival on Friday evening.
Areti Ketime will again take centre stage with her violin maestro Dimitris Stefopoulos, supported by a dazzling bouzouki spectacular featuring Tassos Lambrou, Michael Platyrrahos, and Giorgios Apostolidis.
With a range of ticket options available, including VIP meet and greet opportunities, this concert is set to be another unforgettable evening of music and memory.
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 October — Dance Seminars (Sydney)
The festival will close with two full days of intensive dance seminars at Sydney Technical High School Hall. Led once more by Dr Christos Theologos and Stefanos Kyriazakos, these workshops will revisit the rich Zeibekiko traditions of Asia Minor and the islands.
Saturday’s program will cover Coastal Asia Minor, traditional zeibekika, Rhodes, and the Karsilamádes and Aptaliká, while Sunday will conclude with dances from Chios, Constantinople and Cappadokia.
Participants will again have access to cultural resources including maps, background notes, music links and lesson videos, ensuring that the knowledge gained can be carried forward.
Closing thoughts
From the energy of the opening night glendi to the candlelit dances of Cappadokia, and from the powerful concerts of Areti Ketime to the scholarly lectures of Dr Christos Theologos, the Zeibekiko Festival Australia 2025 promises to be an extraordinary ten-day journey.
It is a festival that invites Greek Australians and wider audiences alike to step into a space where memory, resilience and artistry converge — all through the unique and soulful language of the zeibekiko.
For the full program of events and to book tickets, visit https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/zeibekiko. The Greek Herald are proud media partners for this event.
Follow the Zeibekiko Festival Australia:
- Instagram:Â @zeibekiko_festival_australia
- Facebook:Â https://www.facebook.com/ZeibekikoFestivalAustralia/
- Website:Â www.zeibekikofestivalaustralia.com.au
