Hellenic Dance Festival 2016 in Orlando, FL

By: Eric Hill

Hellenic Dance Festival 2016 was held on January 15^th, 16^th and 17^th at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL.  The awards dinner was fully booked with 1130 tickets sold. There approximately 1300 attendees overall surpassing previous years. There were 39 dance groups from 19 cities across the US including:  Chicago, Tarpon Springs, Orlando, New Orleans, Clearwater (FL), Jacksonville, Atlanta, Savannah, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood(FL), New Port Richey (FL), Spartanburg (SC), Knoxville (TN), Wilmington (NC), Melbourne(FL), Raleigh (NC), Charlotte (NC), Greenville (SC) and Columbia (SC), Charleston(SC), Boca Raton (FL) and Winston Salem (NC).  Participants were from 7 years old to adult.  The dance suites were as varied as Kappadokia, Pontos, Kalymnos, Crete, Epiros, Serres, Makedonia, Thessalia, Rodos, Thraki and others.  A wonderful time was had by all participating in the festival, spectators and dancers alike, which was under the auspices of the Metropolis of Atlanta of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.   It is intended that participation will expand further to more Hellenic communities across the Hellenic Diaspora in 2017.

Orlando’s Hellenic Dance Troupe “Pontic Suite”:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205648665880360/?l=5766545538192229027

Tarpon Springs @ HDF 2016 2:40am
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205638785353353/?l=8179982361430417217

Orlando’s Hellenic Dance Troupe “Souzana” from their “Thessalia Suite”:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205631497091151/?l=82323973294990625

Chicago’s Orpheus Kalymnos Suite:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205636445574860/?l=3243669884198255511

Orlando’s Jr. Hellenic Dance Troupe “Serron Suite”:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205627876160630/?l=2989599546324806353

Orlando’s Asteria (youth):
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205628347132404/?l=4466462548105425491

Orlando’s Filerakia (youth):
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205629341157254/?l=6918982319772899272

Improptu Dancing in the Hall (Competition Over and 1.5 hrs Before Awards Banquet)
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205636751702513/?l=5645530010453276416

Beginning of Awards Banquet:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205637283595810/?l=5078796939831311241

Example of Community winning Award:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.d.hill.33/videos/10205637727286902/?l=4324467092577593379