Kyklos
Do Greeks like dancing? Is water wet?
"There is something about the Greek people; everyone likes to dance",
says Dean Bellos, when prompted to explain the zest with which both elder
Greek born and younger generations of Greek Americans approach dancing. Dean
is the leader of the Kyklos ethnic dance group, a group whose foundations
lay deep in the local community, in this case the Assumption Greek Orthodox
Church of St. Louis. Currently a twelve-member ensemble of men and women,
Kyklos, also known as the Hellenic Dancers of St. Louis, perform in traditional
attire dances and songs from Greece, Asia Minor and the Greek Islands.
The group strives to preserve and promote the Greek culture and heritage
and prefers to present older, authentic versions of dances rather than
some of the modern day offshoots which while possibly more showy and choreographed
are not true to their roots. The performers appear wearing faithful replicas
of traditional Greek clothing representing the region from which the dances
come from. While the men may wear woolen pants and vests for Thracian
dances, they switch to vrakas and white blousey shirts for Dodecanesian
or Cretan dances. Similarly, the women switch between multiple sets of
dresses, aprons, scarves and gold jewelry depending on the dances, each
time according to a different pattern.
Future Kyklos Performances
- Kyklos will be performing 4 times a day at 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm
and 7:00 during the May Festival of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
in Des Peres, MO in May of 2005.
Other Upcoming Dance Events
Please submit news of upcoming events,
which we will gladly publicize here.
Photo Gallery
Wearing costumes from the Thracian neighboring villages of Metaxades (women)
and Krios on May 24, 1998.
Other Hellenic and local dancing groups
- Asteria Dancing Group of
Knoxville, TN, USA.
- Erato Hellenic Folk Dances Group,
Zurich, Switzerland.
- The International Folk Dance
Association, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society
of Chicago, IL, USA.
- La Troupe Syrtaki,
Montreal, Canada.
- Tamburitzans of Duquesne
University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Resources
Past Performances
- West County Greek Festival at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church.
Zaharoula, Leventikos, Kori Eleni, Tis Marias (aka Kura Maria), danced by
women only,
Patrounino (aka Rogatsarikos), danced by men only and Katsa.
- University Club Member's Night, University Club Tower, St. Louis,
MO, USA. Nov. 11, 1998.
- September 25, 26 and 27, 1998. West County Greek Festival, Assumption
Greek Orthodox Church, 1755 Des Peres Rd, 63131.
Performed dances:
Thracian Program: Souroudina, Argos Tsamikos, Koutsos, Souflioutouda, Tis
Partalos.
Island Program: Lefkada Suite, Ikariotikos, Syrtos, Antipatitis, Trata.
Gratuitous crowd pleasers: Hasapikos, Zeibekikos.
- May 23, 24 and 25, 1998. West County Greek Festival.
Performed dances:
Northern Greece Program: Fezodervenagas, Zagorisian Suite, Gaida (Flambouro-style),
Zonarathikos, Souflioutouda, Tis Partalos, Sugkathistos
Island Program: Antipatitis, Sirtos, Kefallinian Suite, Ikariotikos.
- October 11 1997, International Festival, 12:00pm, Queeny Park, St.
Louis, Missouri.
- October 4 1997, Flora, Illinois.
- September 20, 21 1997. West County Greek Festival.
Performed dances: Mantilatos, Zonarathikos, Zervos, Koutsos, Xasapia, Sigkathistos.
- August 17,18 1996. West County Greek Festival.
Performed dances: Argos Tsamikos, Omorfoula, Levendikos, Sire-Sire, Gaida,
Tis Partalos.
- May 28 1996, Olympic Torch Festival, St. Louis Arch.
Performed dances: Haniotikos Syrtos, Ikariotikos.
- May 25-27 1996. West County Greek Festival.
Performed dances: Haniotikos Syrtos, Ikariotikos, Antipatitis, Vlaha, Kefallinian
Suite.
Contact Information
Please send any questions or requests regarding the group via e-mail
to the webmaster.
This site is part of the Greek Dance Web Ring.
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© Menelaos N. Karamichalis, M.S.
Fri February 4, 2005