{"id":12858,"date":"2022-09-09T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-09T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.interfaithamerica.org\/?p=7907"},"modified":"2022-09-12T18:46:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T18:46:09","slug":"greek-festival-dancers-faith-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.interfaithamerica.org\/article\/greek-festival-dancers-faith-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"What Greek Festival Dancers Can Teach Faith Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Interfaith Inspiration<\/span>\n

What Greek Festival Dancers Can Teach Faith Communities<\/h1>\n
\n By
Palmer Magri, Caroline Willingham and Ellie Fitzgerald<\/address>\n <\/div>\n

September 9, 2022<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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High school seniors at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, practicing for contemporary dances at the Greek Festival, Sept. 9-11, 2022. Photo by the Queens University News Service<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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People love Charlotte\u2019s Greek Festival for the baklava and gyros. But the way the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral teaches folk dancing could show a few new moves to congregations nationwide, who are facing historic declines in attendance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The festival helped make Holy Trinity the fourth largest Greek Orthodox parish in the United States. The church is now starting centennial celebrations. And experts in the evolution and health of faith groups say events like this \u2013 which create bonds and build community \u2013 are a key tactic to maintain engagement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stacie Peroulas runs Holy Trinity\u2019s dance program, the largest church-affiliated Greek folk dance program in the United States.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Greek culture is for the world,\u201d Peroulas said recently. \u201cIt\u2019s not just for Greeks. There\u2019s so much rooted in Greek history and Greek culture that translates \u2013 it\u2019s all about hospitality and community and bringing people together. And that\u2019s sort of what a lot of us are missing right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Polls show participation<\/span><\/a> in most faith groups dropped by about 20% in the last 20 years, while engagement at Holy Trinity has remained consistent. Cultural activities like folk dancing, sports, and language programs are all factors in that success, said the director of an organization focused on congregational health. But not for obvious reasons.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It\u2019s not so much about the activities so much as it is an expression of identity and community,\u201d said the Rev. Chris Gambill, director of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, a ministry of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist medical system. \u201cThe fact that they\u2019re still having Greek festivals, dance classes and language classes \u2013 it\u2019s a reflection of what\u2019s already there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The loss of social capital in the United States is also true of churches, Gambill said. Activities that bring people together for a common purpose help them feel connected authentically in a community, he said. Greek national and ethnic identity help.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Holy Trinity also benefits from Charlotte population growth, Peroulas said. New arrivals look for ways to make themselves and their children feel belonging and connections, she said, and youth programs in dance, sports and language can draw families in.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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