Hellenic Dance Troupe

A Brief History

Almost since the founding of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Rocky River, young parishoners have learned folk dances for church festivals and Greek School programs. Over the years, the heritage of Greek dancing has been taught by Greek school teachers such as Vicky Papouras, Litta Klidas and Helen Papadorotheou, as well as young women who had been dancers themselves.

In 1999, one such alumnus, Eleni Papouras, took over the reigns of the dance troupe, along with Kathy (Ntakos) Katrakazos and Irene Steffas, two transplanted Toledo girls, who brought dances from that parish’s excellent group into our repertoire. In 2001, Olga Asimou took over for Kathy and Irene as assistant director. And in 2003, the group even had a visiting co-instructor, Staci Lagouteris, who taught the group several new dances done by the dance group in Orlando, Florida.

Since 1999, the group has expanded its performance schedule to include the annual Greek Independence Day Parade, IOCC picnics, the 2000 Greek-themed Home and Flower Shower at the IX Center, Lake Ridge Academy’s annual Culturefest, Greek Family Day at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2003 and Middle Bass Island’s Fine Arts Festival in 2004