Upper Darby, PA – It’s an annual tradition that continues today, more than 25 years later. The post-Greek Independence Day parade performance at St. Demetrios unites the community over dancing. Olga Tsaousidis was the Master of Ceremonies on occasion. Her home church, St. Demetrios led the afternoon off with the flag presentation and the singing of the United States and Greek national anthems. That was followed by several speeches, including that of the president of the Federation Nikolaos Spiliotis and Mayor Tom McCozzie of Upper Darby.
More than twelve dance groups performed from across the Delaware Valley. They demonstrated the great variety of dances that come from as far as Pontos, in Turkey and as close as the islands where Nisiotika comes from. Family members, friends, and grandparents looked on as the next generation of Greek Americans flaunted their stuff on the stage. Colorful costumes and pleated dresses kept you guessing as to the region of Greece the folk attire represented.
The afternoon-evening celebrations closed out with the Macedonian Spirit dance troupe performance. A reminder of the theme of this years parade, “Macedonia is Greece.”