Greek Dance, Identity, and Difference in a Cosmopolitan Europe

Abstract

Greek dance constitutes a lived culture of the masses that affirms the Greek identity and contributes to the diverse dance heritage of the European cultural landscape reflecting the idea of “unity in diversity.” In this paper, I explore the role of dance as a form of everyday nationalism during the current crisis. Does it act as a psychological boost and infuse pride to help overcome the crisis? Or are financial instability and the austerity measures imposed by the Troika provoking fears of loss of cultural identity and sparking a backlash in which dance is used for exclusive nationalist purposes?