The Sophia Ventouris School of Greek Dance held a special dinner dance production on Saturday, December 3 at the Panarcadian Ashbury Bowling Club in Sydney to commemorate 100 years since the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
The production was filled with Pontian and Asia Minor songs and dances choreographed by Sophia Ventouris, who has a personal connection to Asia Minor through her paternal grandmother.
The opening half of the program was dedicated to Pontus, whilst the second half was dedicated to Asia Minor. The dancers wore 50 new Pontian costumes made by the most reputable costume makers in Greece.
Dance school student, Alexander Heather, not only narrated on the night but also drummed away to the beats of Pontian and Asia Minor music.
A highlight for the older generation and mothers was the Pontian lullaby, where Sophia held and rocked in her arms a three-year-old boy named Gabriel.
Gabriel is the great grandchild of Maria Katsidou- Symeonidou, who was one of the thousands of refugees who survived from Asia Minor. Maria has since passed away but her granddaughter Alexandra Skolarikis shared her refugee story with Sophia.
There was also a special dance performance of the Phyrric war dance Serra from students of the Pontoxeniteas NSW dance group, including Kosta Papoulidis, Peter Tsenkas, Dimitri Poniris, Jacob Krasadakis and Nicholas Krasadakis.
Past President of Pontoxeniteas NSW, Helen Macris, was then presented with flowers and an appreciation plaque by Sophia on the night.
Mrs Macris thanked Sophia for honouring Pontian tradition and culture, and showcasing its valuable contribution to Greek culture.
Pontoxeniteas NSW committee member, Despina Poniris, told The Greek Herald after the event it was “lovely and moving to see the beautifully dressed young men, women and children in their traditional costumes performing and telling the story of the Pontian Greeks uprooted from their homeland.”
“The music, dancing and storytelling moved everyone in the room… it moved the spirit!” Ms Poniris concluded.
*All photos by Anastasia Konstantelos.
