A group of German Cretan dancers cannot speak Greek but consider Greek dancing, especially from the island of Crete, an important form of therapy. The two organizers of the Cretan dance groups in Germany – Pavlos and Thalassini – are the only ones that speak Greek, however, the focus isn’t on language but on learning the steps and traditions of these dances as a form of therapy.
Cretan dances, usually enjoyed at feasts and celebrations, are an ideal way in which to express joy, pain, sadness and life itself.
The initiative of creating the Cretan dance therapy troupe for Germans belongs to Pavlos. “When something happens to us, we usually say that the earth disappeared from under my feet,” says Pavlos. “This earth can be recovered through dance.” He explains how the rhythm of the dance can have an effect on emotions and thoughts. He refers to the roots of dance in Ancient Greek philosophy.
Another of the troupe leaders, Thalassini, uses Greek dance at the German nursery school where she works. By teaching children the rhythm of Cretan dance, she is able to tap into the way they interact and communicate. “A type of post-professional training (using dance) takes place in a number of fields, such as with nurses who learn how to take care of a patient better and with less effort by themselves through rhythmic agreement,” she explains.
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