Nicholos and her husband Peter are dressed in traditional costumes from Kos, one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, at the 2022 Hellenic Dance Festival.
Many Georgia residents are familiar with the Atlanta Greek Festival. For the past 45 years, attendees have lined up in droves at the annual four-day event to purchase souvlaki, moussaka, baklava, and other classic fare. Delicious food is a highlight of Greek culture. But according to graduate recruitment manager Rachael Nicholos, Greek dancing deserves equal accolades.
“My entire family is Greek. My yaya immigrated here after World War II,” Nicholos said. “Traditional Greek dancing highlights my ancestors’ everyday life. To be able to recreate and celebrate that is really special.”
The Atlanta Greek Festival takes place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, where Nicholos is a member. Prior to her daughter’s birth, she also competed with Areti (αρετή), the church’s dance team. Areti performs at the Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF), held in a different Southeastern city every Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. With Nicholos on the roster, the team won bronze in 2010, 2012, and 2015; silver in 2022; and the Folk Expression Award in 2023. Nicholos has remained closely connected to Areti through her husband, who serves as instructor.
Nicholos’ participation in Greek dance troupes predates her 2020 move to Atlanta. In sixth grade, she joined the Hellenic Dance Ministry of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. Throughout middle and high school, she practiced once or twice a week and every Sunday after worship services. In preparation for HDF, rehearsals intensified in frequency and duration. By the time Nicholos enrolled in Meredith College, a private liberal arts school in Raleigh, she became the dance group’s director.
Dressed in traditional Cretan attire, Nicholos performs at the 2014 Raleigh Greek Festival.
At Robinson’s 2023 staff retreat, attendees completed a StrengthsFinder analysis and explored the results. Not surprisingly, Nicholos’ number two theme was Context, which encapsulates people who “understand the present by researching its history.” Professionals with strong Context feel more confident in their decisions after analyzing why things are done a certain way, and can be a better colleague after developing an understanding of the background behind coworkers’ personalities and behaviors.
Nicholos has taken brief breaks from dancing—during graduate school and while adjusting to motherhood—but is sure to rejoin Areti before long. For her, dancing is more than a hobby.
“To me, dancing isn’t just a fun way to get some exercise,” she said. “It’s about celebrating my culture and keeping that part of me alive.”
Dressed in traditional Cretan attire, Nicholos performs at the 2014 Raleigh Greek Festival.