Journeys in Movement: A Multicultural Dance Showcase

Anna Harsh

Dancer, Author, Director

Experience the powerful storytelling of Anna Harsh, Artistic Director of Allegro Dance Company, as she brings her family’s coal mining heritage to life.

Rooted in memory, resilience, and cultural legacy, Anna’s work illuminates the human spirit through dance. The Light He Carries pays tribute to her grandfathers who worked deep in the West Virginia coal mines of the 1920s, honoring their strength and sacrifice. Pepperoni Roll Story celebrates the resourceful lunches prepared by her grandmothers simple, sustaining foods crafted with love for those long underground shifts. The performance concludes with Tarantella, a joyful homage to the Italian traditions and homeland her family carried with them to America.

Through expressive movement and heartfelt narrative, Anna invites audiences to step into a story of endurance, heritage, and the threads that connect past to present. Join her for an unforgettable evening where history, culture, and dance beautifully collide.

Anna holds a Masters of Arts in Communication from West Virginia University, a Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Slippery Rock University and is a yoga E-RYT200 and Pilates certified instructor.

Grecian Odyssey Dancers

The Grecian Odyssey Dancers of Ypapanti first represented the Presentation of Christ Greek Orthodox Church of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in may of 1981, at the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Folk Festival. The Ypapanti dancers invited interested young Greek-Americans from the neighboring Greek Orthodox parishes to join with them to represent the Greeks of the Pittsburgh area at the International Folk Festival. After that first performance, the twenty-six dancers decided to form a permanent group, that has danced before more than 800 audiences since then.

The Grecian Odyssey Dancers perform most frequently in the tri-state (PA, OH, WV) area, at Greek festivals, international shows, academic institutions, religious and civic celebrations, and private parties. They have also performed in Michigan, Florida, and on three performance tours of Greece. Their repertoire includes approximately thirty Greek folk dances from the islands, as well as the mainland of Greece. All of their shows are presented in native costumes, of which they have five sets, representing various regions of Greece.

The group practices at the Presentation of Christ Greek Orthodox Church in East Pittsburgh, and welcomes dancers from all around the city of Pittsburgh to join with them in representing the Church and their Greek traditions. The current roster includes forty young men and women, between the ages of 15 and 55, comprised of students and professionals who are dedicated to sharing their Greek heritage with others. Mary Doreza has served as the Director since 1981, and appreciates the help of the current Assistant Directors, Michelle Kotsagrelos and Jamie Orfanopoulos. The Assistant Directors also instruct the Junior Olympian Dancers of Ypapanti, who range between the ages of 7 and 15. The efforts of everyone are entirely voluntary.

Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance

Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance has been teaching this wonderful form of dance for over 25 years. Together, sisters, Sheila Shovlin and Liz Shovlin Grinko, offer solo and figure dancing instruction to students ages five and up. Participation in the academy provides each student with the opportunity to grow physically and mentally in a supportive environment while developing an appreciation for Irish music and dance. Students are trained with what they will need to enter an Irish dance competition called a feis (pronounced "fesh"). A strong part of the Irish dancing culture is performing. We encourage students to be proud of and share what they've learned with others.