Opa! Learn Greek folk dance for free at the Montgomery Ballet
What makes Greek folk dance more than just dance? That’s something you’re going to have to see and experience for yourself.
Luckily, you’ve got a chance to do so for free in Montgomery — learning different styles from someone who has danced them since childhood.
“What sets it apart is probably the high spirits,” said dance instructor Rania Charalambidou, principal dancer and outreach coordinator for Montgomery Ballet. “It probably resembles other folk dances of other cultures, but in particular Greek folk dance has a lot of different styles. People get the opportunity to experience different emotions while doing these dances because they’re all very different in styles.”
Dances the classes have covered include:
Tsifteteli: A form of Greek belly dancing. “I teach them the rhythm. I teach them the hand gestures,” Charalambidou said.
Kalamatianos: One of the best known Greek dances, thought to be from Kalamata, a city is south Peloponnese in Greece. The circular 12-step dance is ancient, from the time of the Greek poet Homer in the 8th or 9th century. “It’s probably the one dance people will find at every Greek festival in the United States, or any Greek wedding,” Charalambidou said.
Hasapiko: Standing in a row, people hold each other with arms outstretched, shoulder to shoulder. This translates as “butcher shop,” and is seen in the 1964 movie “Zorba the Greek.”
Tsamiko: A dance from central Greece similar to Hasapiko with the shoulder to shoulder, arms stretched out, but with more circular movement. It is used for national Greek events.
Podaraki: Translates as “little foot” and is danced in straight line holding hands.
They’re moves that Charalambidou has been doing since she was an elementary school student in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus — an island in the Mediterranean Sea.
“It was part of our schooling for 12 years,” she said.
Now you can learn to do several of these styles for free, thanks to a grant Charalambidou received from the Alabama Arts Council. Classes began in January, and will continue until the end of May.
“It’s been great. I’ve had anywhere between 15 and 25 people in each class,” Charalambidou said. “It’s so fun to see people of all races and backgrounds come together and learn this. I think they have fun because they keep coming.”
Classes are held each Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Montgomery Ballet’s studio, 1044 E. Fairview.
“It’s for very beginners,” Charalambidou said. “I gear the classes for people who never have seen Greek folk dance, and I go very slow. We slowly build up together.”
When new guests join the class, Charalambidou goes back and slowly breaks down what she has already covered.
“Everybody gets a chance to dance,” she said.
The idea for the classes sprang from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Montgomery, which is planning the full return of its Greek Festival on June 2-3. The festival had been replaced with drive-through food pickup since the start of the pandemic.
“I thought what a great opportunity for the community to actually know how to Greek dance, show up at the festival and know how to do that,” Charalambidou said. “People that come (to lessons) will have the opportunity to come to the festival and practice their new skill.”
Here’s a few tips for getting started with these Greek folk dance lessons:
Just show up: Charalambidou said there’s no need to call ahead or register.
Wear comfortable clothing: “Anything they’re comfortable in, and shoes they’re comfortable in,” Charalambidou said.
There is no commitment: It’s just there, and open to anyone who wants to participate.
For more information about classes, text or call 334-721-3687.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Opa! Learn Greek folk dance for free at the Montgomery Ballet
