2016 Dancing With The Greeks
Audio Feature
Melbourne is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world – a metropolis built on the foundation of countless cultures from all over the globe. The Greek diaspora in particular is one of the most prominent groups within this melting pot, its own history and culture intrinsically linked to that of Melbourne.
Yet even with all that we thought we knew of the Greeks, one central aspects of the Hellenic culture has been largely ignored by the general populace despite, or maybe because, of how quintessentially Greek it is. We are of course talking about the Greek folk dancing.
For this feature, we immersed ourselves with the Greek community in Melbourne and interviewed just some of these Greeks who dance. Some teach dance, some are still learning, some stopped dancing years ago and some dance at every chance they get. We let them introduce Greek dance in their own words and explain just why it is so important for the next generations to keep on dancing.
With a rich and complex heritage, dating back thousands of years and linked to the very birth of Western civilization, the Hellenic community has got more to lose than anyone if their traditions are overlooked and forgotten. Therefore, with this feature, we try to establish that the folk tradition of dance is a beautiful and important aspect of Greek culture, worthy of being seen and remembered.
Producers: Maria Konidaris, Phong Nguyen, Susita Ravindren
Narration: Maria Konidaris
Editor: Tyler Foster
Maria Konidaris 