Thessaloniki, Greece. Thessaloniki set a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous zeibekiko choreography after 830 people gathered in Aristotelous Square to dance and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. The event also supported the work of Alzheimer Hellas.
Record-setting performance
The dancers performed to Konstantinos Argyros’ song “Mia Thessaloniki”. Participants came from different parts of Greece and from Bulgaria, Romania, France, Germany, Austria, Norway, Serbia, Poland, Turkey, Cyprus, China and the United States.
Their coordinated performance surpassed the previous record held by Cyprus, which had 754 participants.
Organisers and purpose
Dance teacher Themis Parastatidis told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that some dancers were residents of Thessaloniki, while others travelled from elsewhere in Greece and from abroad specifically to take part in the event.
He said the idea for Thessaloniki to claim the record while also promoting awareness of Alzheimer’s disease came to him a year ago, when he realised how much people abroad also appreciate zeibekiko. The initiative was implemented in cooperation with the Greek Alzheimer’s Association.
The initiative also involved the Friends of the Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders.
Message behind the event
Parastatidis said that although the Guinness World Record does not include a cash prize, the moral satisfaction from achieving it is significant because the turnout showed that dance can unite people and offer support.
He has been teaching dance for several years to elderly people with Alzheimer’s. He said dance is not only a form of exercise but also helps train memory, since dancers must remember steps and maintain coordination. He added that dance can improve mood by allowing people to participate in a collective activity, interact with others and meet new people.
