The Poetry, Dance, and Entrepreneurship Clubs of the Onassis Public Schools present their work

On the anniversary of the birth and death of C. P. Cavafy, on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Poetry Clubs of the Onassis Public Schools from Kolonos, Peristeri, and Acharnes visited the Cavafy Archive and presented at Onassis Mandra their works inspired by the life and poetic universe of the great Alexandrian poet.

The event fostered a multifaceted dialogue with Cavafy’s work through shadow theater, recitations, discussions, and creative approaches that brought words and ideas to life. Onassis Mandra, on the pedestrian walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, was transformed into a vibrant hub of culture and expression in the heart of Athens.

The event “Encounters with Cavafy” was presented by actor and musician Yiannis Niarros, who noted, among other things: “Today’s event, marking the anniversary of C. P. Cavafy’s birth and death, a coincidence that reminds us that sometimes the greatest journeys can be contained within a single circle, is an encounter of words and creativity with the work of a universal poet who continues to move and speak to us—not only in Greece but also internationally.”

The gathering at Onassis Mandra concluded with the Onassis Public Schools’ students posing for a photo next to the new sculpture of C. P. Cavafy, created by sculptor Praxitelis Tzanoulinos, which was donated by the Onassis Foundation to the City of Athens.

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, the Dance Clubs from 12 schools, in the first year of operation of the Onassis Public Schools, came together from every corner of Greece at the Onassis Stegi for an evening full of movement, rhythm, and vibrant energy.

For months, the student clubs met weekly for workshops on contemporary dance and improvisation, under the guidance of professional dancers and choreographers. Through technique, experimentation, creative expression, and teamwork, they developed original choreographies curated by choreographer Ilias Hatzigeorgiou.

The result of this collaborative choreography was presented on the Main Stage of Onassis Stegi, with the students taking the stage to express their own artistic voice.

On Friday, May 8, the middle and high school students (Gymnasium and Lyceum) from the Onassis Public Schools of Thessaloniki, Kozani, and Xanthi developed ideas and solutions for contemporary issues, such as tourism for people with disabilities, stress management, reducing food waste, and identifying fake news during the “NextGen Hackathon,” organized by the Onassis Foundation and the “Entrepreneurship Lab” of the Department of Balkan, Slavic, and Oriental Studies at the University of Macedonia.

The students met and worked in groups, with the support and guidance of mentors. This pilot initiative aimed to support both teachers and students while fostering a sustainable pedagogical ecosystem of innovation, in which collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving are strengthened through entrepreneurial thinking.