Yahsu Le Mars -- that's Greek for 'Hello'

(Sentinel photo by Magdalene Landegent) Dancers from the Hungarian group of traditional Greek performers are taking the stage all week long at the music festival at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. This is their first visit to Iowa and they hope to captivate audiences with their colorful show. [Click to enlarge]

The men leap and shout and whistle. The ladies shyly lift dainty ankles and move in graceful circles.

Dressed from head to toe in red, black, white and gold, a group of Greek dancers from Hungary are bringing a new heritage to the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival this week in Le Mars.

The 22 people from Budapest, Hungary, arrived early this week and will continue dancing and playing Greek music through Sunday at the festival.

(Sentinel photo by Magdalene Landegent) The men in the Greek dancing group aren't shy about letting out a few whistles and hollers to stir up the spirit in the room. [Click to enlarge]

"We are from a minority of Greek people in Hungary," says Laslo Palicska, one of the dancers. "We are traditional Greek dancers. We do dances from all different provinces. And we have the traditional clothing, typical for that area."

But this isn't their actual job.

"Everybody works somewhere in Hungary," Palicska explains. "After work, we dance together."

(Sentinel photo by Magdalene Landegent) Women in the Greek dancing group swing white handkerchiefs while they dance in circles at the music fest at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. They will be performing Saturday and Sunday. [Click to enlarge]

Through Bob Everhart, one of the music festival's organizers, the group heard about the Le Mars event and decided to come.

Although the heritage the group shares is not from the United States, like most of the music at the festival, these dancers are working to carry on their own tradition, Everhart explains.

Their group was formed in 1993 to carry on Greek heritage for festivals and gatherings in Europe.

"It is to show young people there is tradition -- you don't just have hip hop," Palicska says.

At the music fest in Le Mars, live musicians play the clarinet, drum, accordion, bass and guitar as the dancers march to the stage bearing a Grecian flag.

The dancers' moves portray boisterous masculinity for the men and soft femininity for the women with a flirtatious and youthful spirit among them all.

The dances celebrate happiness at being together, Palicska says.

"The Greek man is very proud," he says, explaining the whistles, hollers, kicks and strides in the men's dancing. "They are like, 'Let's do it. All right!'"

The women's movements are more subtle.

"The ladies are a little bit behaved," Palicska adds.

Throughout each song, all the dancers swing handkerchiefs in the air. That adds to each dancer's motion, he says.

It's not too late to catch the group -- they will be performing this weekend at the festival both at 8 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the Dance Hall stage.

The Greek dancers and musicians have performed in many countries in Europe, and have traveled to Greece many times to perform and learn new dances, but their biggest trips have been to America.

This music festival is their second American tour.

Before returning to Hungary, the group is visiting New York and Chicago.

But for now, they are excited to be in Le Mars.

"It's a kind little town," Palicska says. "And we will be going to try the ice cream."

The cultural exchange goes both ways, he says.

The group has been inviting members of the audience to learn a few dance steps.

"I hope they like our music and our group," Palicska says. "Maybe we can make the people's life more interesting."