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Hellenic Dancers of NJ to Host 11th Annual Tavern Night |
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Lost Greek Dances of Asia Minor featured |
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HOLMDEL, NJ – Saturday, February 11, 2006 the nationally famous Hellenic Dancers of NJ present their annual Taverna Night dinner-dance at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 20 Hillcrest Road in Holmdel. Beginning at 7 pm, this annual event offers traditional Greek food, dancing, music by DJ Pegasus, and a two-part performance by the Hellenic Dancers of NJ. General admission is $50; $25 for students and $20 for children 12 and under; reservations are required. The 2006 Taverna Night performance will be presented in two parts. Part one will focus on the dances of Kappadokia and Ikonion. These provinces of Asia Minor (present day Turkey) had been home to huge Greek populations until the early part of the 20th century. The dances are considered 'lost" as this specific culture no longer exists in these regions. Part two features dances from various regions of Greece including: Macedonia, Thrace, Crete, the Northern Aegean Islands and Pontos. Proceeds from this event will assist the Hellenic Dancers of NJ in continuing its 34-year-tradition of perpetuating the beautiful heritage of Greece through music and dance, and assist in restoring its performance wardrobe which was severely damaged by a flood in the fall of 2004. This priceless collection, created by Hellenics Director and Co-Founder, Eleni Chakalos, consists of almost 600 handmade, complete regional folk outfits from all over Greece. For more information about the Hellenic Dancers of NJ, or to make a reservation for Taverna Night, please contact Executive Director, Eleni Chakalos, 732.229.3998. Kimisis Church is an accessible site; an American Sign Language interpreter can be provided with a two-week advanced request. Large print and Braille brochures are also available with advance request. This event is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. |
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The Hellenic Dancers of NJ, founded in 1972 by the Reverend James and Eleni Chakalos, is a group of young adults from all over New Jersey, who are first, second, or third generation Greek-Americans, and are dedicated to perpetuating their heritage through enthusiastic performances of the regional folk dances of Greece. Under Executive Director Eleni Chakalos over 300 dances have been preserved and passed on to two generations of Greek Americans. Their traditional music and folk dance selections represent a cross-section of the diverse regional customs of Greece, past and present, performed in authentic ethnic dress. The Hellenic Dancers' desire to share their cultural identity and the pride that they feel for their Greek heritage is evident in the precision and enthusiasm that they bring to each performance. They continue their mission by sharing the richness of their Greek inheritance with younger dancers and the American public, and by assuring a sense of pride and cultural awareness with each generation. |
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HCS readers can view other similar articles and releases in our extensive, permanent archives at the URL http://www.helleniccomserve.com/contents.html. For additional information about the organization in this article, see its official website or contact it directly. |
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