Hellenic Dance Festival Chairman
Fr. Sampson Kasapakis
St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church
St. Petersburg, FL
Our goal is to bring Orthodox families together through dance, music and fellowship to perpetuate our rich Hellenic Orthodox tradition.
The Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF), based on the vision and dream of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, began in 2000. HDF has grown into a true family event as it has traveled to various cities throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta for over 20 years. Held annually, on MLK Jr. weekend, HDF allows for participants to travel and join together as brothers and sisters in Christ with the steadfast belief that Orthodoxy, the Greek language, and culture, help us maintain our identity as Hellenes. The need for our communities to perpetuate our culture, along with the philosophy of ancient Greece and the Olympic spirit of "a healthy mind in a healthy body" were instrumental in the vision by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios to establish the Hellenic Dance Festival for the youth and families of our Metropolis, and beyond.
We strive to:
Develop awareness and appreciation for our Orthodox Tradition and Hellenic culture through dance and music
Inspire youth and young adults to enhance their experience and love for the Orthodox Church and Hellenic culture
"My beloved, the Hellenic Dance Festival Weekend is a beautiful opportunity for our young people to express their love of our Hellenic Heritage. It is a joy to see our families come together in prayer, fellowship, and love as we celebrate the richness of our culture and faith. I pray that the HDF Weekend will continue to provide opportunities for all the faithful to appreciate the beauty of Greece through music, song, and dance." -His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios