A record number of people came out for the Pontian Dance and Mouhapet over Thanksgiving Weekend in Philadelphia. The event was hosted by the Black Sea Chapter Akritai of Philadelphia, the oldest Greek Pontian organization in the U.S., founded in 1939. This year marked their 72nd Annual Dance.
The weekend began on Friday night with a traditional “mouhapet,” a social gathering at the Akritai clubhouse. Friends and families filled the space with music, food, and stories that lasted well into the early morning hours.
On Saturday, the celebration moved just a few blocks away to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. The hall was packed as people danced and sang late into the night. Greek singer Yiannis Kourtidis headlined the evening, drawing Pontians from across North America—and even a few from Greece—for what turned out to be the biggest dance in years.
