Boston Lykeion Ellinidon

Today, we remember and mourn the 353,000 men, women, and children killed during the Genocide of the Pontian Greeks from 1914-1923. One way we honor those who were lost is to share our culture through music and dance. We dance together to celebrate the survival of our people, our language, and our traditions

Claire Aliki Collins and Irene Galarneau of the Boston Lykeion Ellinidon joined forces with and Nikos Apazidis to inspire the next generation at with the music and dances of Pontos

Did you know that the first major performance by the Lykeion ton Ellinidon took place on May 1, 1911 at the Zappeion in Athens, Greece? Led by founder Kalliroi Siganou-Parren, the women from the Lykeion celebrated Protomaia with an Anthesteria – the Festival of the Flowers. The women wore recreations of ancient Greece dress and traditional attire of Megara and performed dances including sytros, ballos, kalamatiano, and the pentozalis.

Tonight, members of the Board of the Boston Lykeion Ellinidon met with the Presidential Guard of Greece.

We look forward to participating with them tomorrow in the Boston Greek Independence Day Parade (start time: 1:00 pm).

The Boston Greek Independence Day Parade is tomorrow, starting at 1:00.

After the parade, come on down to the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common for traditional Greek dance performances, including the Boston Lykeion Ellinidon Dance Troupe.

See you there!

Since the inception of the Boston Marathon Wreath Ceremony, the women of the Boston Lykeion Ellinidon have had the privilege of presenting the wreaths to be awarded to the Marathon winners. The BLE was honored and proud to be invited again to participate in this year’s ceremony. We had the pleasure of celebrating with Consul-General Tegos, the Alpha-Omega Council, the Boston Athletic Association, and, this year, with the son of 1946 famed Marathon winner Stylianos Kyriakides.