HDF 2024 Organizing Committees
Executive Committee
Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta Bishop Sevastianos of Zela Fr. Sampson Kasapakis, Chair Vassio Giannakopoulos, Finance Chair Monica Gjerde, Metropolis Youth Director Stavros Karagiorgis, FIT Chair Stacie Peroulas, FIT Competition Chair Eleni Hopes, Historian
FIT Committee
FIT Chair: Stavros Karagiorgis Finance: Vassio Giannakopoulos
Administration: Susan Marinos
Competition: Stacie Peroulas
Events: Ryan Marinos & Bess Stathakis
Judging: Stacy Kroustalis & Jordan Elrod
Logistics: George Saad
PR & Communications: Maria Panayotou
Registration: Despina Vastakis
Workshops: Fr. Kyriakos Hambos
Host Community Representatives: Susan Marinos Hospitality Chair: Presbytera Mallory Kasapakis AV Liaison: Dimitri Papadimitriou
"Allowing young people to offer their gifts and talents to our Lord is a true expression of their love for our great Faith and our rich tradition. The hard work, hours of practice and the genuine smiles on their faces confirms their deep devotion to our Church" Fr. Sampson Kasapakis, Chair
Stavros is a Winston-Salem, NC native where he's been actively involved in the local dance program. Stavros has taught groups of all ages, has taught various Greek folk dance workshops throughout the US and Canada, and has served HDF in various capacities over the last 15 years.
Rev. Fr. Sampson Kasapakis, originally from Chicago, IL, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Psychology and minors in Chemistry, Biology & Leadership Achievement. He met his wife, Presvytera Mallory, during his time at the University of Central Florida and now they have three wonderful children Sophia, Christos, and Evangelia. Fr Sampson enjoys time at the beach, all sports but most importantly football, and fishing.
Fr. Sampson is a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Fr. Sampson is currently serving as the Proistamenos of St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. Fr. Sampson serves the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta Ministries as a member of the Religious Education Committee, the Week 5 Director of St. Stephens Camp and as the Hellenic Dance Festival Associate Director.
Vassio is a member of Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, GA. She has attended HDF as a dancer, an instructor and served on several FIT Committees. Before HDF began, she was instrumental in teaching Greek dance workshops to various communities throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta.
Susan is a member of Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Ga. She has been involved with their dance program for over 40 years as a dancer, board member and parent. She currently assists with costumes. Susan has been participating in HDF since 2005, and was a chaperone on the 2013 Odyssey trip.
Stacie was born and raised in Newport News, VA. She has taught groups of all age levels and currently dances for Thrylos in Charlotte. Stacie has served as Chair of the Greek Folk Dance Program at Holy Trinity in Charlotte for the past 16 years, which has grown to become one of the largest programs in the US.
Bess graduated from Georgia College with a degree in Exercise Science. She has been attending HDF since 2009. Bess is the Dance Ministry Coordinator at Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, GA. She dances in the adult group, Areti, and is one of the directors for the high school group- Yi Anemos & Fotia.
Jordan has been instructing for the past 20 years. He has taught and participated in many workshops across the USA, and Greece. He has served on the HDF board previously, and has been a judge for the past four years.
Ryan is a member of Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has been a part of their dance program for 25 years. He has been participating in HDF since 2009. Ryan is both a dancer in the adult group, Areti, and a director of Yi Anemos & Fotia- the high school group in Atlanta, GA. In 2013, Ryan earned a full scholarship for the Odyssey trip to Greece.
He is the Supreme President of the Sons of Pericles.
George is a member of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Marietta, GA. He has been dancing for a little over 20 years, and his first HDF competition was in 2013 with the Hellenic Dance Troupe. He currently instructs the 4th-5th grade and young adult groups in Marietta, GA. The Greek Orthodox Church has been instrumental in shaping him.
A native of North Carolina, Stacy has participated in HDF for many years, and has held various roles on the FIT committee.
Maria Panayotou grew up in the Albany, NY area, and was involved in the church and private dance troupes from the age of six. She was an instructor at St. Sophia, Washington, DC, and served as co-director and teacher at St. George, Bethesda, Maryland. She has recently moved to the Metropolis of Atlanta and has re-located to Boca Raton, Florida.
Despina has participated in HDF and served on several FIT committees over the years. She is both a dancer in the adult group, Palioparea, and one of the directors for the middle school group, Asteria, at Annunciation Cathedral.
Dimitri Papadimitriou, a native of Atlanta, GA, is a member of the Annunciation Cathedral and has been Greek dancing for over 40 years. He has been involved with HDF as a board member, FIT committee member, director, dancer and musician. For over 20 years, he had the privelege of directing the Atlanta adult dance group and enjoyed many years of growth and success at both HDF and FDF. Dimitri has participated and taught in workshops in the U.S. and Canada and aside from dance, his passions include music, sports and traveling with his family.
Presbytera Mallory is a convert to the Faith. She fell in love with Greek culture, dance, and music when she met Fr. Sampson in 2008. Presbytera is a Programming Assistant for the Orthodox Christian Network. Their family serves the Saint Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church community in St. Petersburg, FL