Kyklos

"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

Photo Gallery

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

• Hellenic Dance Info Page.
• Folk Fire Music & Dance.
• Greek Folk Dance Resource Manual by Charles Kyriacou.
• Greek Orthodox Folk Dance Festival Home page.
• Music From the Hills (well worth listening to!)
  

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