Child & Youth Dance Lessons

Zéfyros Hellenic Dance Society, in collaboration with the Hellenic Community of Vancouver, offers weekly classes in traditional Greek dance for all ages. The dance instructor is Dimitrios Kontogiannis, who has over 25 years of teaching experience. Classes take place at the Hellenic Centre (4500 Arbutus), and are open to dancers of all levels, with no previous dance experience required.
Adult classes: Tuesdays 6:30 – 7:30 (beginners) 7:30 – 9:00 (advanced)
Beginners are encouraged to stay for the advanced class as well (no extra fee.
Children / Youth classes: Saturdays 10:30 – 11:45 (advanced) 12:00 – 1:00 (beginner-intermediate)
Children/youth are also welcome to attend the Tuesday evening classes.
Fees: $35/month (adults & advanced children/youth) $30/month (beginner-intermediate children/youth). Special rates are available for families with more than two members attending classes. A discounted rate is also available for low-income households. Please contact the instructor.
Fees are shared with the Hellenic Community, to cover the rental cost of the space.
Zéfyros Hellenic Dance Society (formerly Dimitrios Greek Dance Group) is a society devoted to the preservation of traditional Greek dance. This type of dancing is very much a living tradition, occurring regularly at special occasions, weddings, holidays, and festivals. Greece possesses a vast number of different regional folk dances, which have been well preserved and documented over time; there is consequently an abundance of material for dance groups to study and present. These regional dances, which often vary in detail even from village to village, differ greatly in the style of both their movement and their musical accompaniment.
In our presentations, we aim to provide both dancers and audience with an understanding and experience of this rich heritage of communal dance. Our ensemble makes every effort to remain as close as possible to the original forms of the dances, focussing not only on steps, but also on the styling appropriate to each region of Greece. We also endeavour to present the dances in authentic reproductions of traditional costumes, which are an integral part of folk culture.
The name of our society comes from ancient Greek mythology. The Anemoi were the gods of the four winds, with Zéfyros representing the West Wind. The word “zéfyros” also refers to a warm breeze, and is associated with the season of spring.
FAQ Q: Do I need to be Greek to dance with the group? A: Absolutely not! Almost half of our dancers come from other backgrounds. Q: What should I wear to dance class? A: No specialized attire is necessary. It’s best to wear comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes (e.g. runners) or dance shoes. Q: Do you do presentations? A: Yes, we dance at local events in Vancouver. Participation in performances is always optional. For more information or to register, please email zefyrosdance@gmail.com. You can also check out “Zefyros Hellenic Dance Society” on Facebook.