by Ben Arthur |
It’s a Sunday afternoon in the gymnasium at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Northeast Portland and a group of 20 middle schoolers are linked together in a circle learning Syrtos Xaniotikos, a traditional Cretan dance. University of Portland tennis player Michail Pervolarakis and the other dance instructors are guiding the kids through the basics. The small details are key to success in the dance. One boy takes the lead position and his confidence vanishes. He forgot the movements he rehearsed. Pervolarakis takes him to the side and the two work in private. They start from beginning, going through the basic steps over and until it is firmly imprinted in his mind.
Footwork. Eye positioning. Body Posture.
Other instructors had tried to help the boy for months to no avail. Pervolarakis’ instructions hit home in a few minutes. The boy had a pep in his step when he rejoined the group.
Pervolarakis’ work with the boy and other youth in the Holy Trinity Greek Dance program has not gone without recognition. The Oregon Sports Awards named him the Play It Forward college athlete of the month for February. The award recognizes student-athletes who are committed to helping kids in Oregon stay physically active.
Pervolarakis enjoyed sharing his knowledge of traditional Greek dance and is eager to do it again next year.
“Being at UP, we don’t always get to do something,” Pervolarakis said. “We’re always here. Going one day a week to the church to do something I like is definitely an escape.”
Pervolarakis has thrived at the No. 1 singles position for the Pilots tennis team. The sophomore was named October’s U.S. Bank student-athlete of the month following an impressive outing against some of the nation’s elite at the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships. He snagged WCC player of the week honors for the week of Feb. 9. Pervolarakis’ prowess on the tennis court stems from his superstitious preparation. He always sleeps eight to nine hours the night before a match. He wakes up two hours before he is scheduled to play and gulfs down a bowl of cereal for breakfast before warming up with teammates. Cheerios are his favorite.
He was four years old when his parents introduced him to tennis. They were playing for fun one day when they asked if he wanted to give it a try. A native of Limassol, Cyprus, Pervolarakis spent much of his childhood outdoors enjoying the beach. He stayed active with spearfishing, racquetball and soccer.
Pervolarakis hasn’t looked back since the first day he picked up a racket. He competed on the Cyprus junior national team and ranked as a high as the No. 3 player in his home country.
University of Portland men’s tennis head coach Aaron Gross said that he recognized Pervolarakis’ talent from his strong performances in international tournaments before arriving at The Bluff. He uncrossed and smiled when he spoke of Pervolarakis’ work ethic.
“(Mike’s) strength is that he doesn’t have obvious weaknesses,” Gross said. “I feel like two years from now he’ll be at that place where he can try and earn money playing the sport.”
A calm disposition sweeps over Pervolarakis on the court. When frustration creeps in, he remains patient. He waits for the opponent’s slightest hint of relaxation and makes his strike with a lob or netpost.
Pervolarakis is laser focused in the heat of a match. His attentiveness to detail has been nurtured through his immersion in Cretan Folk Dance.
Pervolarakis’ father, a Greek native, began teaching him the dance when he was 14 years old.
Panos Stratis, a dance instructor at the Greek Orthodox church, caught wind of Pervolarakis at a Greek Festival last October. He was so impressed that he asked him to be a volunteer teacher for middle school kids in their dance program.
From November through February, Pervolarakis would head to the church most Sundays to help instruct the kids. But there was no joking around. For two hours, he had their undivided attention. He was vocal and hands-on in teaching the different dance variations.
Stratis says that the kids were best behaved when he was around.
“Mike embodies the spirit of the folk dance,” Stratis said. “I sensed it from the moment I met him. He doesn’t kid around.”
Pervolarakis’ “serious” style comes from appreciation of the history behind the dance.
“You can have fun and enjoy what you’re doing, but at the same time you have to respect the tradition,” Pervolarakis said.
Back on the tennis court, Pervolarakis is locked into his regimen. His ritualistic approach carries into the match. Win a point? Grab the same ball for the next rally. A particular shirt that he is victorious in? Wash it and toss it back on for the match the next day.
Pervolarakis is dialed in, just as he would be performing his favorite traditional Cretan Dance: Syrtos Xaniotikos. A dance that he is eager to teach the kids when the Holy Trinity Dance program starts up again in the coming months.
Contact sports reporter Ben Arthur at arthur17@up.edu or on Twitter @King_Arthur425.
