MANASIS Annual Dinner Dance, 2023 (Beginners, Juniors and Intermediates) - Mulgrave
CULTURAL EVENTS- Dinner Dances and performance spectaculars
...It's basically how we got into events!
From humble beginnings and the genuine belief in being able to host and present dance performances as an opportunity to highlight our students' progress, we are now quite literally the 'benchmark' in all cultural events!
Undoubtedly, some of the greatest life experiences of our youth, are those EPIC years of growing up in dance groups, ballet schools, soccer clubs and other social/sporting networks. And through those affiliations, there was always the 'major annual event' which brought the entire community together.
Relationships forged; friendships created; memories all still vivid.
With a multitude of these clubs all hosting their big annual dinner dances and presentation evenings at bigger and bigger venues each year, event coordination and management is absolutely imperative.
One of the greatest examples of these, is the MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture which sees hundreds upon hundreds of dance students and their families from right across the state, converge for an epic night of performances, dance and party!
Since our establishment in 1979, we have honed our skill-set and expertise, to incorporate services ranging from schedules and programming, to complete event contracting and logistics- venue, floor-plan / layout, catering, styling, decor, props, AV / lighting, audio, Master of Ceremonies, DJs, live bands, musicians, soloists, floor-shows, entertainers... and on... and on... and on...!!!
...and every year it only gets bigger!!!
Irrespective of the size of your organisation or the scale of your event, we can work with you / your team and provide guidance and support throughout the entire process, or, we'll take care of the entire project and ensure an event inclusive of all preferences, requirements and expectations.
...and then we're sure we'll exceed those too!
With over four decades' worth of archives, it's probably best we just share s
Multicultural Folkloric Dance Concert, 2023 - Melbourne
CONCERTS & PRODUCTIONS- Theatres, auditoriums and stages
With over four decades' experience in Arts and Entertainment, being on 'stage', is one of our most comfortable environments.
As Australia's largest Greek dance school with over 700 enrolled students, and an asset base of hundreds of traditional Greek folk dance costumes and instruments, full-scale productions in theatres and auditoriums are our 'element' and highlight the beauty of culture through music and dance.
We pride ourselves on a multi-disciplinary approach, attending to programming, coordination, schedule, costume, choreography, and more, to ensure a seamlessly flowing extravaganza.
Celebrating cultural diversity, and highlighting the many similarities various cultures share, is at the core of our philosophy.
All we really need to know is a time and a place... We'll take care of the rest!
Here's some incredible moments, captured through the lenses of our most esteemed photographers!
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AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST GREEK DANCE SCHOOL,
THE MANASIS SCHOOL OF GREEK DANCE AND CULTURE,
TOGETHER WITH MELBOURNE'S LEADING DANCE/CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS, PARTNERED UP TO PRESENT A ONE-OFF, MONUMENTAL DANCE CONCERT LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!!
HOSTED AND PRESENTED BY THE MANASIS SCHOOL OF GREEK DANCE AND CULTURE,
IN CONJUNCTION WITH MELBOURNE'S LEADING CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS,
THE “MULTICULTURAL FOLKLORIC DANCE CONCERT, 2023”
PRESENTS A TRULY INSPIRATIONAL AND FASCINATING EXHIBITION
OF TIMELESS TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.
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Over the past four decades, and with the ever-growing experience of its students and two instructors, the MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture has set unmatched, unrivalled standards, in execution, choreography and discipline.
One of the school’s fundamental beliefs is to continuously strive to present a new movement, a new position, a new idea, differing from the customary formation, to show that dance too, just lik
Wedding of Steven and Victoria
Wedding of Steven and Victoria
Bridal entrance done right. ✅️
(....and the rest of the night too!)
The Palladium at Crown, is undoubtedly one of Melbourne's premiere wedding and events venues. Partnered with wonderful families, an awesome guestlist of friends, an incredible bridal party, and a madly-in-love Bride and Groom, this was one phenomenal experience for everyone present.
Steven and Victoria, from the very beginning of our first consultation, had a very clear and predetermined vision in their minds of 'what' type of celebration they wanted for their special day.
At the crux, the vision for their evening was equally as much for themselves celebrating their dream day, as it was about entertaining and celebrating together with their families and friends.
Finding a practical and pragmatic solution for each of their ideas was a quite an easy task, as they simply entrusted the entire process to us and our crew; a holistic approach through one single avenue of communication to ensure they weren't overwhelmed with the multitude of variables, and to ensure we were able to provide the best and most appropriate entertainers and contractors for the event.
From the epic walk-in, through to the conclusion of the evening, in the most tastefully styled venue, this was one epic night of non-stop celebration!
Services provided by dm- EVENTS by MANASIS included:
-Coordination and Management of service providers
-Formulating schedule and Order of Events for reception / celebration;
-Master of Ceremonies for the entire duration of event;
-Coordination and liaison with all internal / external service providers;
-Medium-scale live Greek band for reception (with a focus on the fusion of traditional, folkloric instruments paired with a modern setting and delivery);
-Drums and bouzouki for the grand entrance and welcoming of the Groom and Bride;
-DJ services.
Note: This is not the official wedding video produced by the video / photography contractor. With approval from th
MANASIS Tavern Night, 2022
NEVER INFORMAL- Tavern nights, School formals and social events
They might be young and just want to party, but that's no excuse to cut corners when it comes to event coordination and management!
School formals, youth nights, tavern nights, trivia nights, social events and more. We provide services ranging from schedules and programming, to complete event contracting and logistics- venue, floor-plan / layout, catering, styling, decor, props, AV / lighting, audio, Master of Ceremonies, DJs, live bands, musicians, soloists, floor-shows, entertainers... and on... and on... and on...!!!
All we really need to know is a date...
We can work with you / your team and provide guidance and support throughout the entire process, or, we'll take care of the entire project and ensure an event inclusive of all preferences, requirements and expectations.
...and then we're sure we'll exceed those too!
Even though they had to navigate through some pretty jam-packed dance floors, here's some incredible moments, captured through the lenses of our most esteemed photographers!
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AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST GREEK DANCE SCHOOL,
THE MANASIS SCHOOL OF GREEK DANCE AND CULTURE,
PRESENTS
TAVERN NIGHT, 2022
OUR NIGHT | OUR WAY | OUR STYLE | OUR GLENDI
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Over the past four decades, and with the ever-growing experience of its students and two instructors, the MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture has set unmatched, unrivalled standards, in execution, choreography and discipline. One of the school’s fundamental beliefs is to continuously strive to present a new movement, a new position, a new idea, differing from the customary formation, to show that dance too, just like art, evolves.
As the school endlessly searches and creates new methods of execution, its belief is that all culture should evolve with time, whilst still remaining firmly embedded in its traditional past.
“...we must understand where we come from, in order to know
Wedding of Christos and Briana (OFFICIAL HIGHLIGHTS by Daniel and Shannaya Films)
Wedding of Christos and Briana
Warmth, love, and one epic celebration.
More and more often, we are seeing couples opting for cultural and traditional inclusions for their special day. Components which are reflective of one’s cultural background are fundamental, but their ‘delivery’ is equally as important as their inclusion.
Keeping true to our mantra of “a fusion of centuries-old traditions, with 21st century additions” our ‘usual crew’ together with good friend and bouzouki-virtuoso Angelo Avramakis, entertained Christos’ family and close friends at his house in the morning.
At the church, it was one big party pre- and post-ceremony, practically ‘waking up the whole of Balwyn’, with musicians walking the Groom all the way down the street to the church doors, and family and guests all joining in on the traditional mini-glendi in the forecourt.
Catering to the Bride and Groom’s diverse cultural backgrounds in addition to those of their guests, required an energetic and enthusiastic approach to all the entertainment service provisions. But equally significant, was ensuring a sense of inclusivity and involvement from all- Greeks and non-Greeks alike.
…and it’s fair to say that by the end of it, absolutely EVERYONE was up and dancing the night away!
dm- Events by MANASIS included drums and traditional Greek folk instruments for the grand entrance and welcoming of the Groom and Bride. In fact, little Alonzo quite literally stole the show with his toumbeleki/darbuka skills, closely followed by the Bride, Brianna beating the drum!
...Non-stop celebration from morning 'til night...
Our Medium-scale live band then focused on a fusion of traditional Greek folk songs with an energetic and interactive presentation, never really staying fixed in one spot. Lead traditional Greek folk instruments included the bouzouki, clarinet and violin for the unique Greek Island atmosphere!
Throughout the entire set our musicians roved throughout the ro
Wedding of Leigh and Pauline
Wedding of Leigh and Pauline
We [C]HAD the best night ever.
Weddings at the iconic Glasshouse in Melbourne, bring in all the incredible landscape, scenery and atmosphere that so perfectly characterises Melbourne as the Sporting Capital of Australia. Leigh and Pauline, from the very beginning of our first consultation, had a very clear and predetermined vision in their minds of 'what' type of celebration they wanted for their special day.
Finding a practical and pragmatic solution for each of their ideas was a quite an easy task, as they simply entrusted the entire process to us and our crew; a holistic approach through one single avenue of communication to ensure they weren't overwhelmed with the multitude of variables, and to ensure we were able to provide the best and most appropriate entertainers and contractors for the event.
Put simply, the core of what they wanted, was equally as much for themselves celebrating their dream day, as it was about entertaining and celebrating together with their families and friends.
From the epic walk-in, through to the conclusion of the evening, in the most tastefully styled venue, all partnered with the most incredible bridal party, made for one epic night of non-stop celebration!
Services provided by dm- EVENTS by MANASIS included:
-Coordination and Management of service providers
-Formulating schedule and Order of Events for reception / celebration;
-Master of Ceremonies for the entire duration of event;
-Coordination and liaison with all internal / external service providers;
-Medium-scale live Greek band for reception (with a focus on the fusion of traditional, folkloric instruments paired with a modern setting and delivery);
-Drums and clarinet for the grand entrance and welcoming of the Groom and Bride;
Note: This is not the official wedding video produced by the video / photography contractor. With approval from the Groom and Bride, we were able to capture and highlight the multitude of services and contractors
The Trolley - Mk.ii
Finally!
Presenting: Trolley - Mk.ii
(OK, sounds underwhelming, but trust me, it 'sounds' AWESOME!!!)
A whole week dedicated to the build, and now we have finally finished the latest tool in our arsenal of entertainment gear for our live band!
Often, at the houses of brides and grooms as they dress and prepare on the morning of their wedding day, time is of the essence. We play at one house, then the other, and then often 'race' to the church in order to beat them there... so that we can play for them as they arrive.
It starts the day off with an abundance of 'kefi' for the couple and all their guests, and sets the vibe for the entire day... but, it's a meticulous schedule which relies on precision timing in order to appear seamless and avoid any delays. Those who understand our OCD when it comes to schedules and timing, understand this topic extremely well!
Instead of big and bulky P.A. setups, messy cables running all over the place creating potential tripping hazards, and time wasted on setting up and packing down 2-3 times over, this "all in one" unit streamlines the entire process.
Of course, we could just play 'acoustic' with no P.A. gear at all, but there's no effort in that... and even still, you wouldn't hear much over the drum... nor would you hear each instrument as it's meant to sound... or the famous 'delay/reverb'- "ENA.. ENA... NA.. NA.. AAA.... DIO... DIO... IO...IO...IOOOO... NNAAAAIII.. NAI. NAI. AI..AI...AIII" 🤣🤣
Enough inputs for klarino, bouzouki, gaida, guitar, accordion, trumpet, keyboards, toumbeleki, vocals... anything and everything!!! ...and even a dedicated input for a personalised playlist of some background tracks in between!
The trolley, the mounts, the cables, the connectors, the leads, are all custom made... Everything cut, fitted, soldered from scratch, and then put through rigorous testing for past few days (much to the delight of the neighbours! 🙃 )
The beauty though, is that it can all work in the absence of ma
Event. Management. Mastery.
The difference is in the details.
...it's always about the details. Always.
Wedding of John and Nicole (RAW AUDIO)
Wedding of John and Nicole (RAW AUDIO- LIVE MUSIC. No musical overlay or backing tracks)
When one of our own ties the knot.
Some many moons ago, when I myself got married, the Anagennisi Band (affectionately known as “John and the Jims”), were the musicians of choice when I wanted to entertain my family and friends as I was getting ready to leave from my grandparents’ house.
It’s been 10 years since, and I have waited a long time to eagerly repay that favour. Over that past decade, John (and quite a few others now) has become an integral part of the live music packages we offer to clients, and above all else, is a true friend. Whilst we have spent years playing together at events across town, it was still an absolute privilege when he offered us the invitation.
John and Nicole’s wedding was a conglomerate of Melbourne’s finest musicians. Our ‘usual crew’ entertained John’s family and close friends at his house in the morning, whilst another cohort of fellow musicians were at Nicole’s and at the reception in the evening. Although John was the groom, and one of the Jims was his Best Man, we were fortunate to have the other Jim jam with us on accordion!
At the church, it was one big party pre- and post-ceremony, with musicians, dancers, family and guests all joining in on the traditional mini-glendi in the forecourt.
Sure, instead of arriving on donkeys we had a Lamborghini, a Rolls-Royce and a Mercedes-Benz, but keeping true to our mantra of “a fusion of centuries-old traditions, with 21st century additions” the day couldn’t have been more accurate!
Note: RAW AUDIO ONLY.
No musical overlay or backing tracks.
This is not the official wedding video produced by the video / photography contractor. With approval from the Groom and Bride, we were able to capture and highlight the multitude of services and contractors dm- EVENTS by MANASIS is able to provide.
The official highlights will be released shortly, and we'll be sure to share
THE "DRUM-OF-DRUMS"...
Nowhere else does a drum like this
completely custom, hybrid, beast of a daouli / tapan / davul, exist!
...and yes, that's a full colour LED lighting palette inside! We can even customise the colour to suit your theme...
🤣🥰🤷♂️🥁🥁🥁
YOU ALL KNOW THE DRILL:
BEFORE YOU BOOK ANYTHING,
CONTACT US!!!
Wedding of Valentino and Marissa
Wedding of Valentino and Marissa
With a morning like this, who needs a reception?!
…that’s right- all this footage is purely from the morning at the bride’s house!
Whilst arrangements by the newlyweds had been meticulously planned from months ahead, the nature of our ever-changing climate meant that the pandemic halted many of the celebratory components for the evening. It was at that point, that the families decided to make the morning the ‘celebration’ itself.
Finding a practical and pragmatic solution for this was a quite an easy task, as they simply entrusted the entire process to us and our crew; a holistic approach through one single avenue of communication to ensure they weren't overwhelmed with the multitude of variables, and to ensure we were able to provide the best and most appropriate entertainers and contractors for the event.
Put simply, the core of what they wanted, was equally as much for themselves celebrating their dream day, as it was about entertaining and celebrating together with their guests.
Our Medium-scale live band focused on a fusion of traditional Greek folk songs with an energetic and interactive presentation, never really staying fixed in one spot. Throughout the entire morning our musicians roved throughout the room, often catering to ‘special requests’ by guests for some of their most favourite/memorable wedding songs.
It was quite simply the most perfect start to the greatest day of their lives (to date)!
Note: This is not the official wedding video produced by the video / photography contractor. With approval from the Groom and Bride, we were able to provide an additional videographer / editor to capture and highlight the multitude of services and contractors dm- EVENTS by MANASIS is able to provide.
The official highlights will be released shortly, and we'll be sure to share those too!
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WEDDINGS- The big day, and even bigger night
PARTNERING YOUR VISION WITH OUR EXP
GAIDA- The famous "goat-head" bagpipe
The trust that is bestowed on us as entertainment contractors by our clients, forms the foundation to our obligations in sourcing the most professional, experienced and, most importantly- ‘appropriate’ service providers.
Through both face-to-face discussions and online platform liaison, we're able to offer a completely bespoke package tailored specifically to the scale of the desired event. The range is as flexible as it is diverse:
-Live instrumental soloists
-Cocktail live bands (2 - 5 piece)
-Medium / large sized live bands 5 - 8 piece)
-The ultimate live music package, unique and exclusive to dm- Events by MANASIS (the epic BIG BAND: 20+ musicians on stage)
-Boutique-style / full-package DJs
The undisputed showpiece, the most unique component exclusive to our live music packages, is the famous “goat-head” bagpipe known as “gaida” (or alternatively as gaijda, gajda, gajde, tsambouna, aggeion, touloum, askobantoura amongst many other names). Typically, the gaida is an instrument played in parts of Northern Greece (predominantly Macedonia and Thrace), as well as throughout nations which are in the Balkan, Anatolian and Middle Eastern catchments.
The Gaida can be accompanied by a traditional drum known as “daouli” (or alternatively davul, tapan), as a simple, traditional 2-piece ensemble, or built up with a full orchestral arrangement comprising of clarinet, flute, and various types of string and percussion instruments.
We have a very tight and exclusive cohort of industry leaders, who have been carefully selected as the result of years’ worth of interactions. Their equipment, cooperation, professionalism and characters speak volumes.
A BIT ABOUT OUR CORE MUSICIANS:
Having done extensive research in both Greece and its neighbouring countries, Dimosthenis Manasis along with other fellow musicians, have mastered the styles and techniques which characterise their rare and usually unseen collection of traditional Greek folk instruments.
Their r
Stafilia (Grape Stomping) Festival- Panagia Kamariani Greek Orthodox Church, Red Hill
IN THE OPEN AIR- Outdoor festivals and community events
With over four decades' experience in Arts and Entertainment, being in the spotlight is one of our most comfortable environments.
As Australia's largest Greek dance school with over 700 enrolled students, and an asset base of hundreds of traditional Greek folk dance costumes and instruments, full-scale productions in the open air are our 'element' and highlight the beauty of culture through music and dance.
We pride ourselves on a multi-disciplinary approach, attending to layout, contractors, service providers, risk management, programming, coordination, schedule, costume, choreography, and more, to ensure a seamlessly flowing outdoor spectacular.
Celebrating cultural diversity, and highlighting the many similarities various cultures share, is at the core of our philosophy.
All we really need to know is a time and a place... We'll take care of the rest!
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AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST GREEK DANCE SCHOOL,
THE MANASIS SCHOOL OF GREEK DANCE AND CULTURE,
PERFORMS AT RED HILL'S HOLY MONASTERY OF PANAGIA KAMARIANI
ANNUAL STAFILIA FESTIVAL, 2020
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Over the past 4 decades the MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture, has set unmatched, unrivalled standards in execution, choreography and discipline. One of the school's fundamental beliefs is that whenever dance is presented to an audience, whether it be at a festival or on a large scale production, the execution and presentation itself, must differ from the customary, traditional stereotype. As the school constantly strives to find new methods of execution, the belief is that all culture should evolve and move with the times, but remain firmly embedded in its past.
...we must understand where we come from, in order to know where we want to go...
For many years, our school has participated in religious and cultural festivals at Panagia Kamariani, exhibiting dances, music and costumes from the various regions of
