LEWISTON – Local residents will have a chance to learn the basics of Greek folk dancing in a free workshop scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

The event is planned as a warm-up to the annual Greek Festival taking place next weekend at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 155 Hogan Road. Leading the session is John Rozos, a church member who was first introduced to the traditional dances of his Greek heritage when he was a boy living in Bangor. His enthusiasm and charisma on the dance floor have since become a trademark of the Lewiston celebration.

Rozos – whose father and maternal grandparents were born in Greece – will provide a relaxed, beginner-friendly tutorial in three common line dances that hail from his ancestral homeland: Tsamiko, Kalamatiano and Sirtaki, often recognized in the United States as the “Never on Sunday” dance.

Everyone is invited to participate, said Rozos, from those with no prior dance experience to those who have done some Greek dancing but would welcome a brush-up on the steps. “And we encourage any available Greek-dance stalwarts to join us, too, of course. It’s an ideal opportunity to share the culture with the larger community and to help get everyone in the mood for our festival.”

“As we like to say, ‘Once a year, everybody is Greek,'” said Rozos.

The Lewiston-Auburn Greek Festival will take place on the grounds of the Greek Orthodox Church. Opening day is Thursday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m., with festivities continuing from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7-8. Greek music will be provided by keyboard player Jim Karvelas for the majority of the festival, with the Kostas Taslis Band taking over the spotlight Saturday night.

Admission is free, with a delectable selection of authentic Greek food specialties, including spanikopita, moussaka and pastries, available for purchase in the food tent.

For more information on the festival, call the church at 783-6795.

More information on the prefestival dance workshop is available by contacting the library at 784-0135, extension 200. The library is at 200 Lisbon St. Callahan Hall, the workshop site, is air-conditioned and features a spacious wooden dance floor.