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The horns of a brass band breached the doors of a New Orleans ballroom as excitement mounted at the opening ceremony of the Metropolis of Atlanta’s 25th Hellenic Dance Festival.
Following a drumline, one of New Orleans’s top brass ensembles, Kinfolk, paraded through the grand ballroom. Moko jumbies, or stilt walkers, tossed colorful Mardi Gras bead necklaces to teams who have come from 17 U.S. states and around the world to showcase the beauty of traditional Greek folk dancing and music.
“Take these next few days to celebrate together, to enjoy the presence of each other, and be truly the body of Christ, celebrating and dancing,” His Eminence Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta said after offering the Agiasmos. “It is a beautiful, sacred opportunity to be a family. To share the common experience of not only culture, but faith as well.”
This year’s Hellenic Dance Festival hosts 3000 participants and teams from more states than any previous year. Taking the stage at this year’s opening ceremony was Klavdia, who performed “Asteromata,” a song that has topped charts in 31 countries. The singer represented Greece in Eurovision’s 2025 song contest.
This year’s theme ιστορίες—meaning stories or histories—was reiterated by many speakers, New Orleans itself being called the home of “rhythm, resilience, and remembrance.” New Orleans is home to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the oldest Greek Orthodox parish in North and South America.
> Previously: Southern history and hospitality at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana
“We are a living expression of this year’s theme. At the heart of our story is our faith. Our Orthodox Christian faith shapes our identity and guides us,” said Fr. Sampson Kasapakis, HDF’s Executive Director. “Then we have our culture. It is an inheritance to us. When we come upon this stage, we are no longer just doing a performance. The work that you all have put in … is a moment of preserving your story.”
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