The cultural program of the 12th International Summer University (ISU) concluded on Thursday, September 10 with a vibrant celebration of Hellenic language and culture.
Kogarah’s Hermes Lounge was filled with students, parents, grandparents, educators and community members for a program showcasing traditional music, dance and regional heritage.
Several speakers highlighted the important role music and dance play in teaching and learning the Hellenic language, particularly in Australia.
“This is why the musical spectacular was the most fitting way to encapsulate the Summer University theme,” event coordinator and ISU Organising Committee member Dr Panayiotis Diamadis said.
Seven folkloric groups participated in the celebration. The Kogarah School of Greek Dancing from the Parish and Community of the Resurrection of Our Lord presented the music and dances of Epirus, while the Lemnian Association of NSW showcased traditions from Lemnos.
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW presented the folklore of the Peloponnese, while the Pontian Association of NSW ‘O Pontoxeniteas’ brought the traditions of Pontos to life, accompanied by two local musicians playing the lyra and ntaouli.
The Pan-Macedonian Association of NSW performed dances from Thrace and Macedonia, followed by performances from the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW and the Kalymnian Association of NSW celebrating the traditions of Crete and Kalymnos.
Students from the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW Afternoon School also presented a short film titled In Search of the Hellenic Language.
The program concluded with a special tribute marking the bicentenary of the heroic Exodus of Mesolonghi in April 1826. ISU Organising Committee member Eleni Bourou led the Kogarah School of Greek Dancing in a performance dedicated to the heroes of the martyred city.
Among those remembered was Aikaterine Plessos, later known as Katherine Crummer, who is recognised as Australia’s first Greek female migrant and arrived in 1835.
The Founder and Academic Director of the ISU, Professor Nikoletta Tsitsanoudis-Mallidis, described the celebration as “a magical evening”.
The folkloric concert received the blessing of His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia and Fr Athanasios Giatsios.
An initiative of the University of Ioannina and hosted by the University of New South Wales, the 12th International Summer University was held from Sunday, 6 September to Friday, 11 September 2026 under the theme of Hellenic Language, Culture and Media.
More than 100 presenters from Greece, France, Cyprus and across Australia explored the teaching and learning of the Hellenic language, particularly in Australia, and the role of the media in supporting that mission.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos
