Bare Feet With Mickela Mallozzi
Cyprus
Season 3 Episode 4 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Mickela dances in the Kataklysmos Festival in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The Greek and Turkish influence in Mickela’s DNA map lands her in Cyprus, known as the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, an island full of ancient mythology and festive dancing. She awakens her inner goddess with some belly dancing in Ancient Kourion, meets with the silversmithing and lace artisans of Lefkara, and ends in Larnaca to celebrate the annual Kataklysmos Festival.
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Bare Feet With Mickela Mallozzi is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Bare Feet With Mickela Mallozzi
Cyprus
Season 3 Episode 4 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The Greek and Turkish influence in Mickela’s DNA map lands her in Cyprus, known as the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, an island full of ancient mythology and festive dancing. She awakens her inner goddess with some belly dancing in Ancient Kourion, meets with the silversmithing and lace artisans of Lefkara, and ends in Larnaca to celebrate the annual Kataklysmos Festival.
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BEAUTIFUL.
MICKELA MALLOZZI: I'M A DANCER... AND I'M A TRAVELER.
AND WHEREVER I GO, I EXPERIENCE THE WORLD ONE DANCE AT A TIME.
I'M MICKELA MALLOZZI, AND THIS IS "BARE FEET."
GEI SAS!
HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF CYPRUS, WHERE I'M GONNA BE DIGGING DEEPER INTO MY OWN DNA ROOTS RIGHT HERE THROUGH DANCE AND MUSIC.
MY DNA HAS TAKEN ME TO THE MIDDLE EAST ON AN ISLAND WHOSE OWN CULTURE DATES BACK OVER 10,000 YEARS.
SITUATED IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS NEIGHBORS WITH TURKEY TO THE NORTH, SYRIA AND LEBANON TO THE EAST, ISRAEL AND EGYPT TO THE SOUTH, AND THE GREEK ISLANDS TO THE WEST.
KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE GODDESS APHRODITE, THIS ISLAND OF LOVE IS A MELTING POT OF GREEK, TURKISH, ARMENIAN, ARABIC, AND OF COURSE CYPRIOT TRADITIONS THAT BEAUTIFULLY REPRESENT A SNAPSHOT OF MY OWN DNA RESULTS.
MY VERY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO CYPRIOT DANCE AND CULTURE IS AT THE SHAKALLIS DANCE SCHOOL IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF NICOSIA.
I MEET WITH CHRISTOS SHAKALLIS AND HIS SISTER ELENA, WHO ARE READY TO GIVE ME A LESSON IN SOME OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND IMPRESSIVE DANCES FROM THIS ISLAND.
[MUSIC PLAYING] CHRISTOS: WE'VE BEEN AROUND 43 YEARS.
MALLOZZI: WOW!
SO I HAVE A GOOD TEACHER WITH ME.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST TEACHER I COULD GET IN ALL OF CYPRUS.
SO WE WILL START WITH TRADITIONAL CYPRIOT DANCING.
BASIC STEP.
SO RIGHT FOOT FREE.
I WANT YOU TO GO FORWARD 1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3.
AH.
THERE'S AN EXTRA RHYTHM.
1, 2, 1, 2.
1, 2, 1, 2.
YES.
1, 2, 1, 2.
1, 2, 1, 2.
AHA!
OK. LET'S GO FORWARD IN AND OUT.
RIGHT FOOT FIRST.
AHH.
1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3.
IN.
NOW YOU GO IN AND YOU COME OUT WITH A TURN.
BRAVO.
GO!
1...2... MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE SYRTOS DANCE IS OF GREEK ORIGIN, AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FOLK DANCES THROUGHOUT THE GREEK DIASPORA, INCLUDING HERE IN CYPRUS... CHRISTOS: 1, 2.
AND BECAUSE CYPRUS IS A BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN ITS GREEK COUNTERPART, COUPLES USE HANDKERCHIEFS AS A POINT OF CONTACT VERSUS HOLDING HANDS.
ELENA: SO SLOW MOVEMENT, SLOW MOVEMENT.
FAST, FAST, SLOW.
FAST, FAST, SLOW MOVEMENT.
MALLOZZI , VOICE-OVER: KARSILAMA THES FOR THE WOMEN DEPICTS THEIR WORK IN SEWING, REPRESENTING THE PIECES THAT WOULD BECOME GIFTS AS PART OF THEIR DOWRY TO THEIR NEW HUSBAND.
ELENA: 2, 3, 4.
1, 2, 3, AND CLOSE.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 1, 2... MALLOZZI: IN OUR WESTERN EAR, 9/8 TIME IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US.
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, IT FEELS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A HICCUP FOR ME, BUT NOW IT FEELS A LITTLE MORE NATURAL.
I LIKE IT.
I LIKE IT.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT, YES.
VERY DIFFERENT.
A LOT OF OUR RHYTHMS CAME FROM THE ISLANDS OF GREECE, SO WE ARE MIXTURE.
YEAH.
YOU READY FOR MORE?
WHAT'S IT CALLED, THIS DANCE?
THIS IS THE MAN'S FACE-TO-FACE DANCE.
1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 1, 2, 3.
IT'S COMPETITIVE.
AHH.
IN A GOOD WAY.
LIKE, WANT TO SHOW-- SHOWING OFF.
YEAH.
WHO'S THE STRONGER, WHO'S THE MORE SKILLFUL DANCER, WHO'S THE BEST DANCER.
LIKE SHOWING OFF TO THE LADIES.
LIKE PEACOCKS, RIGHT?
PEACOCKS, RIGHT?
OK.
YES, YES.
WHEN THEY SHOW THEIR FEATHERS.
OK. YOU MIGHT HEAR SOME KNEES CRACK, BUT I CAN DO THIS.
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.
STEP!
STEP!
[MUSIC PLAYING] 1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3.
OK. ANOTHER TRICK, ANOTHER TRICK.
COME ON.
YOU WANT ANOTHER ONE?
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3, 2, 3.
1, 2, 1, 2, 3.
1, 2, 3--BRAVO.
YEAH!
BRAVO.
I LOVE IT!
IT FEELS SO GOOD!
YOU'RE VERY QUICK, HUH?
THANK YOU.
UH-HUH.
WHY NOT?
SO WHENEVER YOU ARE IN CYPRUS, YOU ARE INVITED TO COME AND DANCE WITH OUR TEAM.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
BUT I WANT TO SEE YOU IN COSTUME.
YEAH!
MALLOZZI: THE TRADITIONAL CYPRIOT OUTFITS FOR WOMEN ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE, TRYING NOT TO REVEAL AS MUCH SKIN AS POSSIBLE!
I LOVE YOUR GRANDMOTHER MADE THAT LITTLE, ORNATE-- THEY LOOK LIKE LITTLE FLOWERS.
OK. BEAUTIFUL!
YES.
READY?
[MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: CHRISTOS THEN INDULGES ME IN DRESSING ME UP FULLY IN THE KARSILAMA THES ANDRIK OUTFIT, THE OUTFIT FOR MEN!
THE VRAKA, OR THE PLEATED PANTS, CAN BE MADE OF UP TO 40 YARDS OF COARSE-WOVEN COTTON.
THE MORE PLEATS A MAN'S VRAKA HAD, THE WEALTHIER HE WAS, AND AT THE WAIST IS THE ZOSTRA, WHICH ACTS AS A GIRDLE.
AH!
OK!
YEAH?
[MUSIC PLAYING] KARSILAMA MEANS "AN ENCOUNTER," AND THE KARSILAMA THES DANCE IS ALWAYS DONE FACE TO FACE WITH ANOTHER DANCER.
CHRISTOS SHOWS ME THE DATSIA DANCE, A DANCE THAT SHOWS OFF ONE'S AGILITY AND SKILL BY BALANCING A GLASS IN A SPINNING CIRCULAR SIEVE.
IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST.
ALL IN THE WRIST.
AND THE MOVEMENT.
OK.
IN, UP.
IN AND UP.
YOU CAN DO IT.
I CAN DO IT.
[MUSIC PLAYING] YEAH.
OH!
HA HA HA!
WITH YOU AND ELENA, YOUR SISTER, THERE'S SO MUCH JOY WHEN YOU'RE DANCING.
DANCE IS IN OUR LIFE.
WE LOVE AND EXPRESS THROUGH DANCE.
I LOVE IT.
YAY!
HEY!
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: MY NEXT STOP IS TO THE SOUTHERN COASTAL TOWN OF LIMASOLL.
KNOWN FOR THE ANCIENT KOLOSSI CASTLE NEARBY DATING BACK TO THE 14th CENTURY, THIS CITY IS SEEING A REVITALIZATION BY ITS YOUNG PEOPLE.
MURALS OF STREET ART AND GRAFFITI ART FILL THE CITY, AND INSPIRATION FROM THE CULTURE'S PAST TO REINVENT NEW ART IS WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE HERE.
I HEAD TO DIATEHNON ARTS & CULTURE TO MEET WITH MANOLIS HADJIMANOLIS, COORDINATOR OF THIS SPACE.
MANOLIS: IT'S A CREATIVE SPACE, AND WE HAVE AN INSTRUMENT MAKING WORKSHOP, A CERAMICS WORKSHOP, AND A PAINTING WORKSHOP, AND OUR POINT OF REFERENCE IS THE LOCAL CULTURAL HERITAGE.
HMM.
THE CYPRIOT CULTURE, IT'S QUITE RICH.
WE LEARN THESE TECHNIQUES, BUT WE TRY TO PUT THEM IN A MORE CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT TO BE VALUED IN OUR TIMES AESTHETICALLY AND TECHNICALLY, AS WELL.
YOU'VE TAKEN OVER A SECTION OF THE OLD MARKET TO CREATE YOUR OWN STUDIO.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A RESURGENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE HERE WITH THE ARTS.
IS THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THIS CITY?
THE CENTER OF THE CITY WAS DESERTED FOR MANY YEARS.
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY STUDIED ABROAD.
THEY WERE EXPOSED TO NEW IDEAS, THEY CAME BACK, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE THE PLACE MORE VITAL AND NICER.
[PLAYING TRADITIONAL MUSIC] MALLOZZI: ANDREAS LEONIDOU IS THE HEAD INSTRUMENT MAKER AT DIATEHNON ARTS & CULTURE, AND HE SHOWS ME THE BEAUTIFUL PROCESS OF MAKING A LAOUTO, AN ANCIENT INSTRUMENT FROM THE LUTE FAMILY.
HE SOAKS THE STRIPS OF WOOD IN WATER TO MAKE THEM FLEXIBLE, AND HE USES HEAT TO BEND THEM INTO THE SHAPE OF THE LAOUTO FORM.
MANOLIS: SO YOU ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE MOLD TO MEASURE, YES?
HMM.
OK. OK.
SO YOU KEEP CURVING IT... MANOLIS: YES.
ANDREAS: YES.
UNTIL IT GETS TO THAT POINT.
BEAUTIFUL!
AND THEN YOU KEEP PUTTING LAYERS ON.
YES.
AMAZING!
LIKE BUILDING A BOAT.
YEAH, RIGHT.
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: IT TAKES ANDREAS ABOUT ONE WEEK TO FINISH THE BODY OF THE LAOUTO.
MALLOZZI: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING LAOUTO AND ALL THE FAMILY OF LUTES?
ANDREAS: ABOUT 20 YEARS.
20 YEARS?
HE'S SELF-TAUGHT.
YOU'RE SELF-TAUGHT?
YES.
WOW.
INCLUDING SELF-TAUGHT TO MAKE THE LUTES, RIGHT?
YES.
YES.
YEAH.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE A SENSITIVE EAR AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SOUND PRODUCTION THROUGH PHYSICS.
YES!
BEAUTIFUL!
[STRUMS CHORD] AHH.
[PLAYS NOTES] NOW THERE ARE TWO-- THERE ARE TWO STRINGS.
IT'S LIKE A MANDOLIN ALMOST, RIGHT?
YES.
YEAH.
OK.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT.
OK. 3.
1, 2, 3.
1... 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.
9/8 TIME IS NOT EASY FOR WESTERNER EARS.
IT'S NOT EASY.
YEAH.
9/8 TIME IS A VERY-- IT FEELS UNNATURAL, BUT THE MORE I LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, IT FEELS A LITTLE BETTER.
VERY NICE.
YEAH!
VERY GOOD!
MALLOZZI: FROM LIMASOLL'S EVOLVING CITY, I HEAD TO PAFOS, A RESORT TOWN ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN ON THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF THE ISLAND.
ITS STUNNING BEAUTY DRAWS INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS, AND IT IS ALSO RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE FOR ITS INCREDIBLE ANCIENT RUINS.
PAFOS WAS THE CAPITAL AT THE TIME, AND THIS ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK WAS THE HOUSE OF A ROMAN GOVERNOR.
SO IT WAS ONE BUILDING THIS WHOLE THING.
IT WAS ONE BUILDING.
IT'S MASSIVE.
SOME ROOMS ARE DECORATED WITH MOSAICS, BUT AROUND THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE, THERE WERE MANY MORE HOUSES THAT BELONGED TO THE RICH ROMANS AT THE TIME.
WOW.
THE AREA WAS INHABITED FOURTH CENTURY BEFORE CHRIST, BUT MOST OF THE MOSAICS ARE SECOND CENTURY, THIRD CENTURY, THERE IS EVEN FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURY A.D. AND THEY'RE REALLY WELL-PRESERVED.
THERE WAS A FARMER WHO WAS CULTIVATING HIS LAND, AND HE FOUND THESE MOSAICS, AND HE WAS SO EXCITED.
HE WAS TELLING EVERYONE ABOUT THEM, AND EVERYONE CAME TO SEE THEM, AND THEN THEY REALIZED THAT THEY HAVE HIT AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY, AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE SIXTIES, AND THEY'VE BEEN UNCOVERING MOSAICS SINCE.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH WELL-PRESERVED MOSAICS.
BECAUSE THEY ARE NATURAL STONES AS IT SEEMS SOME OF THE STONES KEEP THEIR COLORS, SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE IN A VERY GOOD CONDITION.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE CHOOSING THE RIGHT STONES FOR THEIR MOSAICS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME USE OF GLASS.
THEY'RE GLASS.
THEY'RE GLASS.
WOW!
CYPRUS WAS A STEPPING STONE IN A WAY.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY RICH ISLAND.
THERE WAS A POINT WHERE WE HAD THE CRUSADERS COMING OUR WAY, AND CYPRUS WAS A MAIN BASE.
IF WE TAKE IT BACK IN ANCIENT TIMES, WE EVEN HAD THE PHOENICIANS COMING OVER.
THEY USED CYPRUS FOR ITS COPPER.
THEY WERE BASICALLY MERCHANTS.
THEY WEREN'T CONQUERORS, BUT THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR CIVILIZATION HERE.
IT'S AMAZING TO BE HERE, TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THESE CULTURES THAT HAVE HAD AN IMPACT IN MY LIFE SOMEHOW, RIGHT, OF MAKING ME WHO I AM TODAY, SO-- IT'S GOOD TO COME BACK TO YOUR ROOTS.
IT IS.
IT FEELS GOOD.
IT FEELS GOOD COMING BACK HERE.
OUR NEXT STOP IS TO THE AMPHITHEATER IN ANCIENT KOURION, AN ARCHEOLOGICAL WONDER OVERLOOKING EPISKOPI BAY IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS.
I'M HERE TO MEET WITH SYLVIA SERENA, A PIONEER IN BRINGING BACK THE ANCIENT ORIENTAL DANCE STYLE TO THIS COUNTRY AFTER YEARS OF IT BEING FORBIDDEN.
SHE'S GOING TO GIVE ME A LESSON ON THIS DANCE THAT CELEBRATES WOMEN AND THE FEMALE FORM.
[MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI: I SAW THE MOVEMENTS.
IT'S VERY ISOLATED, VERY BEAUTIFUL.
ARE YOU GONNA TEACH ME SOME OF THESE MOVES?
OH, YES.
WE'RE GONNA PUT YOU IN A COSTUME.
OK. HA HA HA!
MALLOZZI: HI, LADIES.
I'M DRESSED... HELLO.
OH, WOW.
AS A FULL BELLY DANCER.
IT'S A LOT OF SKIN, MORE SKIN THAN I'M USED TO.
UH, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET USED TO THIS.
I KNOW.
HA HA HA!
THE FIRST BASIC SHAPE OF BELLY DANCING, WHICH IS CIRCLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT CREATES THE UNIVERSE, THE PLANETS, THE SPHERES.
GORGEOUS.
SO ALL CIRCULAR MOTIONS.
IT'S THE BASE.
BEAUTIFUL.
SYLVIA: HERE IN CYPRUS, THE EVIDENCE SHOW THAT THE FIRST WORSHIPING WAS TOWARDS THE MOTHER GODDESS BECAUSE THE WOMEN CAME TOGETHER TO BRING UP THE CHILDREN, AND THEN WE HAVE THE RITUAL OF THE SACRED MARRIAGE, WHERE THE WOMAN CHOOSES THE MAN.
YOU GET THE TWO ENERGIES, DAY AND NIGHT.
EVERYTHING IS BUILT IN THIS WAY-- SUMMER, WINTER.
RIGHT.
CREATE A CYCLE.
AHH.
THE CIRCLES THAT WE DID.
EVERYTHING IS BUILDING CIRCLES.
OUR HANDS, THEY MOVE IN CIRCLES.
OUR LEGS MOVE IN CIRCLES.
EVERYTHING MOVES IN CIRCLES.
RIGHT, RIGHT.
THEN WE HAVE THE VIBRATION.
YOU RELEASE THE MUSCLES SO EVERYTHING SHAKES WITH YOU.
SO MY BOTTOM SHAKES?
YES.
THE THIGHS.
YEAH.
I FEEL THAT BOTTOM SHAKING.
THIS CAN GO VERY, VERY STRONG WITH THE VIBRATION AND THE SPINNING GETTING ENERGY TOGETHER.
ARCHEOLOGISTS SAY THAT WOMAN WAS THE FIRST PROPERTY.
HUH.
INTERESTING.
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, TO HAVE THE REPRODUCTION GOING ON SO THAT THE TRIBE WOULD STILL BE GOING ON.
WHEN THE GREEKS CAME, THE MOTHER GODDESS WAS CALLED APHRODITE...
RIGHT.
BUT BY THAT TIME, THEY SHIFTED FROM THE MOTHER GODDESS TO THE FATHER GOD.
AH.
AND THEN ALL OF THIS CHANGED.
THE SACRED MARRIAGE TURNED INTO SACRED PROSTITUTION.
HMM.
AND WE COME TO THE TIME WHERE THE WOMEN ARE FORCED TO DANCE FOR THE MEN... MMM.
MOSTLY GYPSIES AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
IT WAS THEIR JOB TO DO THIS, SO THE WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO DANCE TO GET MONEY, BUT THE REST, THEY COULDN'T DO IT IN PUBLIC, AND THEY STILL CANNOT IN MANY OF THOSE COUNTRIES.
AS THE DANCER GOES INTO THE DRUMMING AND ALL THIS, THE EXPLOSIONS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE ENERGY HAS BUILT UP, AND THEN YOU GO TAK, TAK, TAK, TAK.
SO WE HAVE TAK AND TAK.
TCCH.
THAT'S SO FAST.
PUSH, PUSH.
PUSH, PUSH.
HMM?
YEAH!
YOU CAN ALSO PUSH THIS WAY.
TAK, TAK, YES.
THAT ONE'S A LITTLE EASIER FOR ME.
IT IS, YES.
ODDLY ENOUGH, IT WAS THE AMERICANS WHO STARTED BRINGING THE LIBERATION BACK TO THIS DANCE, AND GRADUALLY, WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE THE WOMEN THIS IS YOUR BODY.
NOBODY CAN EXPLOIT YOUR BODY.
YOU HAVE THE CONTROL, AND YOU SHOULD BE GETTING PLEASURE FROM THIS BODY AND ENJOY THIS BODY BECAUSE SO MUCH ENERGY'S GOING IN AND OUT.
RIGHT.
WOW!
THAT'S WHAT YOU FELT WHEN YOU STARTED.
I DID, I DID.
I FELT THIS OPENING UP OF MY OWN ENERGIES, OF KIND OF FEELING A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT.
INITIALLY PUTTING THIS ON, I FELT, "OH, MY GOSH.
I FEEL NAKED.
I FEEL EXPOSED," BUT THEN IT FELT EMPOWERING AND ENERGIZING.
IT'S GREAT TO BE NAKED!
YEAH, IT IS GREAT TO BE NAKED!
IN PARADISE, WE WERE NAKED.
RIGHT, RIGHT.
MALLOZZI: MY NEXT STOP IS TO THE VILLAGE OF LEFKARA.
WITH A POPULATION JUST OVER 1,000 PEOPLE, LEFKARA IS A BEAUTIFUL, QUAINT, LITTLE VILLAGE KNOWN FOR ITS ANCIENT TRADITIONS IN LACE MAKING AND SILVER HANDICRAFTS.
HELLO.
HOW YOU DOING?
HELLO.
GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU, GEORGE?
WELCOME TO LEFKARA.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF A SILVERSMITH, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT LEFKARA'S KNOWN FOR.
WE'RE GOING TO GO INSIDE TO-- I WILL NOT TALK TOO MUCH.
I'LL LET YOU EXPLORE THE PLACE BY YOUR OWN EYES.
I LOVE IT!
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: GEORGE BRINGS ME TO MEET WITH CHRISTOS CHRISTOU, ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING SILVERSMITHS HERE IN THE VILLAGE.
MALLOZZI: YOU ARE 1 OF THE 3 THAT DOES THIS?
YEAH, YEAH.
MY FATHER, HE TEACH ME.
YOUR FATHER TAUGHT YOU?
YEAH.
ORIGINAL HANDMADE.
IT'S VERY UNUSUAL WORK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WORK.
WE FOUND IT ONLY IN CYPRUS, ONLY IN LEFKARA.
ONLY LEFKARA.
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE ART OF WORKING WITH SILVER WAS BROUGHT OVER FROM TURKEY ABOUT 250 YEARS AGO.
SINCE THEN, THE PINECONE-SHAPED INCENSE BURNER HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL WEDDING GIFT IN LEFKARA FOR GENERATIONS.
MALLOZZI: SO THIS IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
VERY LIGHT, TOO.
VERY THIN.
I'M SURE VERY DELICATE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING IT.
YEAH, YEAH.
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: CHRISTOS SHOWS ME A FEW OF THE STEPS IT TAKES TO MAKE THESE DETAILED PINECONES.
HE STARTS WITH A WAX MOLD TO BUILD THE SHAPE OF THE PINECONE AND THEN ADDS ON TEXTURE WITH PATTERNS LAYER BY LAYER.
YOU'RE ADDING TEXTURE TO THE SILVER WITH A DIFFERENT-- HE JUST MADE IT ROUGHER.
YEAH.
AND THEN YOU HAVE SORT OF-- BECAUSE THEN IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE A PINECONE.
YEAH.
HEH HEH.
YEAH.
HA HA HA!
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: CHRISTOS EXPLAINS THAT IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 8 YEARS OF HARD WORK AND TRAINING SIMILAR TO AN APPRENTICESHIP TO START THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A MASTER SILVERSMITH IN THIS WORK.
UH... BE CAREFUL YOUR FINGER.
HA HA!
HA HA HA!
GONNA KNOCK MY FINGERS OUT.
SILVERSMITHING MIGHT NOT BE MY FORTE, BUT I NEED ANOTHER 8 YEARS, RIGHT, 8 YEARS OF LEARNING.
YEAH.
YEAH.
SO GIVE ME 8 YEARS, AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
CHRISTOS, I WANT TO SAY THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL TRADITION THAT YOU'RE KEEPING THE LEGACY GOING HERE IN LEFKARA.
FOURTH GENERATION NOW OF PASSING THIS TRADITION, SO THANK YOU.
EUCAHRISTO.
MALLOZZI: ADJACENT TO CHRISTO'S SHOP IS THE HOME OF RITA, A MASTER LACE MAKER HERE IN THE VILLAGE.
SHE SHOWS ME HER LACEWORK IN THE COURTYARD OF HER HOME, WHICH IS TYPICAL OF A LEFKARA HOUSE.
RITA: CYPRUS, IT WAS A PART OF THE VENETIAN EMPIRE.
THEY USED TO MAKE EMBROIDERIES AND LACEWORK SIMILAR WITH THAT, AND OUR LADIES, THEY LEARNED FROM THEM.
THIS IS FOR 700 YEARS... OH, MY GOSH.
IN THE VILLAGE.
IT'S FROM MOTHER TO DAUGHTER.
MALLOZZI: THE LINEN USED TO BE LOCAL FROM HERE IN CYPRUS, BUT BECAUSE OF NOW DRIER CLIMATES, THE FLAX PLANT CAN NO LONGER GROW ON THE ISLAND.
RITA AND THE LACE MAKERS NOW USE SOME OF THE WORLD'S FINEST LINEN IMPORTED FROM IRELAND.
WHEN WE START SOMETHING, THEY JUST GIVE US A PIECE OF LINEN.
THEY TELL US WHAT DESIGN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE, AND THERE IS NO PATTERNS.
IT'S BLANK.
IT'S TOTALLY BLANK.
IT'S PLAIN LINEN.
HERE, I COUNT 6 1/2 CENTIMETERS FROM HERE TO THERE, AND I PULL A THREAD, SO THERE I'M GOING TO MAKE THE DRAWN THREAD WORK, WHICH IS THAT.
THE BORDER.
YES.
SO I'M GONNA MAKE IT, AND THEN INSIDE, I'M GOING TO CUT THE LINEN.
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE LEFKARA TECHNIQUE OF MAKING LACE DOES NOT USE KNOTS.
THE LACE MAKERS INSTEAD JOIN THE THREADS TOGETHER, WHICH MAKE THESE PIECES 100% REVERSIBLE.
THERE IS NO BACK.
THERE IS NO BACK OR FRONT.
WOW!
SEE?
THIS A BACK, THIS IS A FRONT.
WOW!
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH PATTERN YOU'RE GONNA DO?
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY GUIDANCE, RIGHT?
YOU'RE JUST KIND OF DOING IT BY EYE.
NO.
IT'S HERE.
IT'S HERE ALL.
AND YOU'RE COUNTING THIS WHOLE TIME.
YES.
ALL THE TIME.
THE DESIGNS WE MAKE IN LEFKARA, THERE ARE 6 OR 7 DIFFERENT ONES.
THE MOST COMPLICATED, IT'S THIS ONE HERE, AND WE CALL IT LEONARDO DA VINCI.
IT'S SEEN IN "THE LAST SUPPER," RIGHT?
YES.
THAT'S THE IDEA IS THAT IT WAS A LEGEND, BUT NOW THEY CAN TRACE THE FACT THAT THEY SEE THE PATTERN IN THE TABLECLOTH...
IN THE TABLECLOTH.
OF "THE LAST SUPPER."
"THE LAST SUPPER."
YEAH.
WOW!
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
3 WEEKS FOR THAT PIECE.
ON THIS ONE, THEY CUT 8 THREADS OF THE LINEN.
THEY LIFT 5 BETWEEN THE HOLES.
THEY CUT 8.
IT GOES LIKE THAT.
THIS IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.
OF COURSE IT IS.
MAYBE THERE IS 2 OR 3 WOMENS LEFT IN THE VILLAGE WHICH THEY CAN DO THOSE DESIGNS.
WHOA.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE AFTER 10, 15 YEARS... YEAH.
NOBODY.
YEAH.
THE ARTISTRY AND THE CRAFTSMANSHIP, THESE ARE TREASURES THAT WOULD BE LOST, SO COME TO LEFKARA NOW.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL WORK WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
MY LAST STOP HERE IN CYPRUS TAKES ME TO LARNACA, AN ANCIENT CITY ALONG THE EASTERN COAST OF THE ISLAND AND HOME TO THE FAMOUS CHURCH OF SAINT LAZARUS, FOUNDED IN THE NINTH CENTURY.
TONIGHT, WE ARE CELEBRATING KATAKLYSMOS, WHICH IS THE FLOOD FESTIVAL IN LARNACA, AND IT IS ONLY CELEBRATED IN CYPRUS.
IT IS A GREEK ORTHODOX FESTIVAL, AND TONIGHT, WE'RE GONNA DANCE, MAKE MUSIC, EAT, AND CELEBRATE.
THE KATAKLYSMOS FESTIVAL TRANSLATES TO CATACLYSM IN GREEK, REFERRING TO THE BIBLICAL STORY OF NOAH AND HIS ARK.
THE FESTIVAL HAS RELIGIOUS ORIGINS, BUT OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN LARNACA, THE FESTIVITIES SHOWCASE MORE OF THE FOLKLORIC CULTURE THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE, FOOD, AND COMMUNITY.
THE EVENING KICKS OFF WITH A PROCESSION FEATURING LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AND FOLKLORIC GROUPS FROM THE AREA.
LOOK AT THESE LITTLE KIDS IN THE BASKETS.
[DRUMS PLAYING] YOUNG MARCHING BANDS AND DANCERS LEAD US ALL TO THE MAIN STAGE FOR AN EVENING FILLED WITH TRADITIONAL DANCES.
COMPETITIONS TAKE PLACE FOR THE DATSIA DANCE, THE DANCE WE SAW EARLIER OF BALANCING A GLASS IN A SPINNING CIRCULAR SIEVE, AND THE SICKLE DANCE, WHICH AGAIN IS A DANCE WHERE THE MAN CAN SHOW OFF HIS AGILITY AND SKILL TO IMPRESS AUDIENCES.
[MUSIC PLAYING, PEOPLE CLAPPING] WE ALSO SEE THE KARSILAMA THES DANCES THAT CHRISTOS SHAKALLIS AND HIS SISTER ELENA HAD TAUGHT ME, AND A BIT OF STORYTELLING INCLUDING LOVE AND A WEDDING ARE COMMON THEMES IN THESE TRADITIONAL DANCES.
ANTONIO IS THE-- YOU'RE THE FOUNDER OF THE DANCE GROUP KAROTSERIS?
YEAH.
I'M THE OWNER, I'M THE-- THE LEADER...
THE LEADER...
THE FATHER...
THE PRESIDENT, THE FATHER.
[CHEERING] ANTONIO JUST SAID HE'S GONNA PULL ME ONSTAGE AND TEACH ME THE KAROTSERIS, RIGHT?
OF COURSE.
WHY NOT?
WE'RE HERE IN CYPRUS.
WHY NOT?
YEAH.
EVERYONE CAN DANCE.
EVERYBODY CAN DANCE.
YEAH.
I BELIEVE IT.
WHERE YOU CAN WALK, YOU CAN DANCE.
WHEN YOU FEEL IT, YOU CAN DO IT, BUT WHEN YOU DRINK THIS DRINK, WHICH IS CYPRUS SPIRIT... YEAH.
YOU DANCE MORE EASILY.
MORE--HA!
SO YOU TAKE THIS ONE.
NOW WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT AM I ABOUT TO DRINK?
ZIVANIA.
ZIVANIA.
IS IT GONNA BURN?
GEIA MAS!
GEIA MAS!
GEIA MAS!
ONCE.
AHH!
GEIA MAS!
ZIVANIA.
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: ANTONIO TEACHES ME A SIMPLE VERSION OF THE SOUSTA DANCE, A FOLK DANCE OF GREEK ORIGIN IN 8/8 TIME DONE IN A CIRCLE.
IT'S STILL BURNING.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8.
MALLOZZI: NOW IT WAS MY TURN TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF ANTONIO'S KAROTSERIS FOLKLORIC GROUP ONSTAGE!
ANTONIO: WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
OH, GOD.
OPA!
HA HA HA!
SO FAR, THIS "BARE FEET" JOURNEY THROUGH MY DNA HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE GETTING A TASTE AND A FEEL FOR WHERE I ACTUALLY COME FROM.
THIS ISLAND IS SO RICH AND SO FULL, IT IS THIS POINT WHERE ALL OF THESE CULTURES KIND OF MEET TOGETHER, ALL THE INFLUENCES FROM TURKEY, FROM NORTH AFRICA, FROM GREECE, FROM EUROPE, FROM EGYPT, FROM ALL THE PLACES IN MY BLOOD, IN MY DNA.
IT'S A TRUE HONOR TO BE ABLE TO TRY THIS, TRY THE DANCES, TRY THE MUSIC, AND THROUGH "BARE FEET," I'M MEETING ALL THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AS WELL, WHO MAYBE I'M RELATED TO SOMEHOW, AND I FEEL SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO TRY THIS RIGHT HERE IN CYPRUS, SO THANK, YOU, CYPRUS.
EUCAHRISTO.
AND I'LL SEE YOU ON MY NEXT "BARE FEET" ADVENTURE, WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE ME.
OH, WOW!
MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: YOU CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH US AT TRAVELBAREFEET.COM, WHERE YOU'LL FIND EXTRA BONUS VIDEOS, JOIN OUR "BARE FEET" SERIES CONVERSATIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STAY UPDATED WITH OUR NEWSLETTER.
HA HA HA!
IT'S LIKE A-- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO-- IT'S LIKE A FRUIT ROLL-UP WITH NUT IN IT BUT NOT THAT SWEET.
[LAUGHTER] MMM, MMM, MMM, MMM.
VERY GOOD.
OPA!
OPA!
MMM, GOOD.
ANNOUNCER: "BARE FEET" IS FUNDED IN PART BY... ANNOUNCER: THE ISLAND OF IRELAND.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.
FILL YOUR HEART WITH IRELAND.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN THROUGH THE YUEN FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES; AND BY THE ANN H. SYMINGTON FOUNDATION.
ANNOUNCER: THE FARMERS AND PRODUCERS AT LANDCRAFTED FOOD IN GRAYSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ARE DEDICATED TO SUSTAINING AND SERVING OUR FARMS AND COMMUNITY WITH A GOAL OF PRODUCING FOODS THAT ARE AS GOOD FOR THE LAND AS THEY ARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO EAT THEM.
LANDCRAFTED FOOD-- STUBBORNLY REAL, FARMER OWNED.
ANNOUNCER: TAUCK, GUIDING TRAVELERS AROUND THE WORLD SINCE 1925 BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ONCE IN A LIFETIME ONLY HAPPENS ONCE.
HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD MATTERS.
[CHILD BABBLING]
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