NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Authentic dances from various islands and mainland Greece will be performed by costumed members of the Holy Trinity Dance Troupe, of the New Rochelle Greek Orthodox Church, on Sunday, April 30, from 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm, in the Ossie Davis Theater of the New Rochelle Public Library.
The Holy Trinity Dance Troupe, coordinated by Eirini Metaxas, is comprised of enthusiasts who gather weekly to share their Hellenic heritage through dance. The Troupe is led by Nick Gregory, who has been involved in Greek Folk Music and Dance for more than 35 years. He has studied under the directors of the renowned Dora Stratou Dance Troupe and the Lykion Ellinidon both located in Athens, Greece and under the direction of the late Paul Ginis of The Greek American Folklore Society in New York City. Nick has been an assistant director and director of dance groups in Atlanta and New York and has performed across the United States, in Canada, and in Greece.
The dancers wil be joined by Leonidas Tsantiris, an internationally-acclaimed Greek musician specializing in the folk traditions of the Greek mainland, Crete and the Aegean islands and Asia Minor. Using traditional instruments, he plays the distinctive songs of the fishermen, sailors and farmers of 19th and 20th century Greece and Asia Minor. He also celebrates the urban folk traditions of 20th century Greece with selections of rembetika and recent compositions featuring the bouzouki and tzoura. Tsantiris performs in a variety of educational and cultural venues, from local schools and museums to regional music festivals in Chicago, New York and Florida. During the summer months, he tours the Aegean islands, keeping Greek islanders in touch with the folk roots of their culture.
The performance is made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. A suggested donation of $2.00 for adults will be collected at the door.