The courtyard of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville, Sydney was transformed into a scene of light, faith and movement on Monday, 6 October, as the Cappadokia Dance Workshop and Lecture brought the spirit of tradition to life as part of the 3rd Zeibekiko Festival Australia.
Under the guidance of Greek folklorist Dr Christos Theologos, participants learned traditional circle dances of Cappadokia, performed in the stavrota (cross-like) style.
The evening’s highlight came as Areti Ketime and Dimitris Stefopoulos joined the dancers, their live song and violin transforming the courtyard into a moving expression of shared faith and identity. The moment culminated in a communal dance, symbolising unity between Greece and the diaspora.
Later in the evening, attendees filled the church hall for Dr Theologos’ lecture, Church in the Heart of Tradition, which explored how Orthodox faith and Greek folk culture intertwine through festivals, rituals, songs and dance — traditions that continue to sustain the Greek spirit across generations.
The event was part of the ten-day Zeibekiko Festival, which runs from 3–12 October across Sydney and Melbourne, featuring performances, workshops and talks celebrating the zeibekiko as a dance of memory, resilience and identity.
*All photos supplied by Dimitrios Kametopoulos.
