Greek Pride of RI - Folk Dance Troupe

Greek Pride was founded in 1989 by Andrea Vastis and her mother Pauline, who had an extensive background and expertise in Greek Folk Dancing. Early help from some very generous local donors gave Greek Pride the ability to purchase music and basic traditional costumes for a troupe of about 15 to dance at the Parish's annual Greek Festival in August.

Over the years - and many performances - Greek Pride has a consistent membership of about 50 dancers, ranging in age from seven years old to twenty-seven (and aging...), with other member dancers who have come and gone over the years. In 2010, Greek Pride was active throughout the year, performing at eight different venues for various events around southern New England, closing the year with a November performance at fundraiser for the Paideia Hellenic Studies Program at the University of Rhode Island. This event represented a particular milestone for our troupe because for the first time, Greek Pride had the honor of dancing alongside its neighboring parishes' dance troupes: Odyssey Dance Troupe of Cranston, RI and the newly-founded and very impressive Hellenic Dancers of Newport, RI.

Now entering its twenty-third year, Greek Pride is still led by the tireless efforts Director Andrea Vastis, with her Co-Directors Nancy Georgitsis and George Microulis, and, of course, resident expert, Pauline Vastis. New teaching assistants for our junior dance troupe, Maria Taktikos and Amanda Manikas, have proven invaluable to the recent growth of Greek Pride, and we must also recognize the particular support to the dance troupe by several parish members who volunteer their time - and expert hands - in the repair and creation of traditional costumes - Christine and Elaine Bassis, Maria Microulis, Eleni Katsios and - of course - Eve Gouras.

Most of all, the parish community and Greek Pride are especially proud of all of the dancers for the time and effort they put into practicing and performing. Greek Pride's primary focus is, as a cultural arm of a Greek Orthodox parish, to preserve cultural heritage through dance, costume and music, all of which have a rich and famous history within Greek culture. Without the dedication of our dancers, this mission would not be achievable.