This post was originally published on this site
As the competition at the Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF) came to a head, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America spoke to clergy about the spiritual value of dance, music, and fellowship.
“There is a spiritual dimension to these cultural observances, which goes well beyond the setting in which we celebrate liturgically,” Archbishop Elpidophoros stated to clergy and family at HDF. “We are not merely adorning these Festivals with religious services; there is much more than decoration going on here. The dances, the music, and the fellowship have their own spiritual value.”
HDF has become one of the most enduring and beloved celebrations of Greek culture in the United States, rooted in a mission to preserve and pass on the living traditions of Hellenism. Hosted by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta, the festival gives children, teens, and young adults a meaningful connection to their heritage through the languages of dance and music.
Dancers and musicians recall repertoires and routines from centuries of Hellenic culture. The dances and music range in geography and era from the modern-day Tsamikos originating in mainland Greece, to modern-day Cyprus, to ancient Crete, which is largely considered the birthplace of Greek dance.
“One of the great truths of our lives is that we are inter-connected beings. We are created for relationship – with God, with one another, and with the created order. The Dance Festival brings our communities together in ways they usually do not experience. There is a shared appreciation for the dances, the music, and the traditions surrounding each,” Archbishop Elpidophoros stated.
Yesterday, the dancers from Division I and Division II in the “Narratives,” “Advanced Narratives,” and “Legacies” categories performed in their final dances. Today an exhibition from Kyklos, musicians from Thessaloniki, will take place at 1 p.m., as well as this year’s final performances from the “Advanced Legacy” category participants.
Read > Archbishop Elpidophoros’s full remarks for the invocation of Hellenic Dance Fest
The post Dances and fellowship have ‘spiritual value,’ Archbishop Elpidophoros says at HDF appeared first on Orthodox Observer.
