By Stamatina Notaras
There are few things I am sure of in life: chocolate belongs in the cupboard, pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza, and the Greeks know how to party (myself being one of them).
If the Melbourne air felt a little saltier last weekend, with hints of aniseed about, it’s because the essence of Greece landed smack bang in the heart of Melbourne for the annual Zeibekiko Festival Australia – the second of its kind.
After a successful inaugural year in Sydney, and with the walls of Brunswick Ballroom draped in red velvet curtains and a disco ball as the ceiling’s centrepiece, it was all dance, eats, and knocking back ouzo as Melbourne Greeks congregated to celebrate Greek culture and heritage the best way they know how.
The crowd was treated to dinner and a show as the seven-piece special guest band Estudiantina of Melbourne occupied the stage, playing songs of Smyrna and Rembetika all night long. Four tables of dapperly dressed dancers sat casually in front, mimicking a summer’s night out in bygone era Greece.
Among the troupe of dancers was internationally renowned zeibekiko master from Cyprus, Christos Shakallis. His background in dance spans decades, specialising in Latin, freestyle Greek, club dance, flamenco, and traditional Cypriot dance. His talent has led to performances at the World Congress and the Eurovision stage in 2008, as well as serving as a panel judge for TV talent shows and national dance competitions. So, it was no surprise that with this repertoire under his belt, every step he took was intentional, allowing his passion to take the reins.
As the dancers partnered up, taking turns at the traditional zeibekiko, it wasn’t long before they peeled off into the crowd, returning to the dance floor with a string of willing participants trailing behind. And if you know Greeks, it’s come one, come all. Everyone danced in circles until their feet called for a break and clapped their hands along to songs from the the ages.
It’s nights like this that remind us that our connection to culture is what keeps tradition alive and binds us together like a secret society – a secret society that knows that when it’s time to pay the bill, the gloves come on, and when your theia waves you over during the zeibekiko, you join her, no questions asked. So, as I looked around the room and overheard the familiar twang of Greeklish, and saw plates filled with calamari and chips, I felt right at home, even in a room full of strangers.
