Troupe presents Greek dances

By Virginia Ross

Outfits can reflect the dancer’s family, marital or economic status.

NORTH LIMA — Step by step the Athenian Dancers lay out the moves of dances such as the Pendozali.

The young women, dressed in authentic Greek attire, add their own elements to the high-energy performance of the Cretan folk dance, also known as the “dance of five steps.”

On Saturday, members of the dance troupe were on hand to perform and explain Greek dance and tradition during Greek Culture Day at Woodworth Park in Beaver Township. The troupe is part of the Maids of Athena Greek Club of Warren.

“Most of us have danced our whole lives and have spent a lot of time practicing and working out these dances,” said Nicole Nicholas, Athenian Dancers president. “We love it because each dance tells a story and represents a certain area of Greece.”

Nicholas, 21, a senior at Kent State University studying special education, explained most Greek folk dances originate in ancient tradition. In Greece, she said, each region and island has its own dances that have contributed to and enriched Greek cultural heritage. The variety of dance depends on the interpretation as the steps differ from town to village and even from one family to another, she said. She noted outfits worn during various dances can reflect the dancer’s regional origin, family, marital or economic status.

“It’s all part of the entire heritage,” she said. “A dance can bring it all together.”

The local dance troupe, established last year, has 12 members ranging from age 15 to 22. Eligibility in the female dance troupe is open to age 14 through 24, and each member must be of Greek descent, meaning a parent or grandparent must be of Greek origin. Lilli Radu, adviser, said the members must also maintain their grades to participate in dance performances.

“If their grades start slipping, they can’t perform,” she said. “They can attend our functions, but they have to sit out the dances. School work is very important. I haven’t had to enforce that requirement yet. These girls are very dedicated and professional in how they dance and act. They do a great job.”

Radu is president of the Daughters of Penelope, the parent group of the Maids of Athena. She said the dance troupe performs at various festivals and other events throughout the year, especially during summer and into fall. The members practice at least once a week and choreograph their own steps to add their own influence to the traditional dances.

“It’s a lot of work, but we love it,” said Christina Marion, 19, vice president of the dance troupe. “People will comment that we’re all so young yet we want to keep up with our own heritage and tradition. A lot of young people today don’t do that. But we all want to keep our heritage alive and work to learn more about it and share it with others. That’s important to us.”

Saturday’s event also featured gyros, with ingredients donated by the Vlahos family of Warren, and homemade Greek pastries provided by members’ parents. Proceeds from Saturday’s event will be used to help victims of Hurricane Ike. She said the club conducts various fundraisers to raise money for its scholarship fund and other community outreach efforts.

The local chapter of Maids of Athena was established in 1955. Members of the Athenian dancers, along with Nicholas and Marion, are Marcella Economos, 21; Sophia Economos, 21; Demi McNally, 16; Christina Synodinos, 20; Rayna Rintala, 18; Natalie Rintala, 15; Juliana Radu, 16; Sofia Mavrogianis, 17; Kalin Nicholas, 18; and Alycia Trekur, 18.

For more information about membership or club activities, contact Radu at 330-766-0993 or ThetaPiALMR@aol.com.