East Brunswick, NJ – The nationally famous Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey will celebrate Greek Independence Day on Sunday, March 21, 2010, at East Brunswick Vocational School, 112 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ, with a performance of traditional Greek folk dance from 3 – 5 pm. Light refreshments will be available for purchase during intermission. This event is funded in part by the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, Inc., New Jersey State Council on the Arts - Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Coby Foundation, Ltd.

Advance reservations for this event are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. For reservations, please contact Eleni Banis, 908.281.5992; magaritsidis@comcast.net. Tickets the day of the event are $30 for adults; $20 for children 12 and under. Proceeds from this event will assist the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey in continuing its mission of researching and presenting the numerous regional folk dances of Greece, and perpetuating Greek heritage in American. All donations are tax deductible.

Journey to Greece Through Dance delivers some of Greece’s most meaningful folk dances as the event celebrates Greek Independence Day. On March 25, 1821, the people of Greece rebelled against the Ottoman Empire and 400 years of Turkish rule, becoming the first country to break away from the tyranny of this empire.

Part one of the performance focuses on the dances of Macedonia in northern Greece. Hailing from the birthplace of Alexander the Great, these dances are proud, much like the people found in this region, and are executed with precision and poise. Dances like Kyra Maria, Kageleftos, Trita Pota, and Nizamikos which are featured in the program are rarely seen outside of the region.

Part two features dances from all over Greece, its islands, and Cyprus. Dances like Gaitanaki (Thessaly); Tsamikos (Epiros/Pan-Hellenic); Maleviziotikos (Crete); Kritikos (Rhodes); Stamna (Cyprus) and Letsina (Pontos) offer a lively look at traditional Greek life and the spirit of the Hellenic people. It is an event not to be missed!

Founded in 1972, the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey is a group of young men and women, 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 founders, Fr. Jim and Eleni Chakalos, over 300 folk dances, songs, and traditions from mainland Greece, its islands, Cyprus, and Asia Minor, have been preserved and passed on to two generations of Greek Americans. This outstanding troupe is nationally recognized for its presentation of Greek traditions and has performed at a number of local and national events. For more information about the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, please contact Eleni Chakalos, Executive Director, 732.229.3998, email info@helenicdancersofnj.org, or visit www.hellenicdancersofnj.org.