DIARY of EVENTS for the UK GREEK COMMUNITY

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Costas Balafas: Photographic Memories of Modern Greece Costas Balafas is one of the post-war humanist photographers whose work determined the course of Greek photography. His photographs are a unique testimony of Greek history and society, where the struggles of the ordinary Greeks in their daily life feature predominantly. The residents of the remote villages of Epirus, his birthplace, and especially the women of Epirus, who fight for survival under the harshest conditions, occupy a special place in his work. In the photo-graphs exhibited at the Hellenic Centre, Balafas, employing the admiration of a small child and the intuition of an artist, depicts the pulse of Greek life and space, ranging from the salt pits in the Ionian islands to the lignite mines in Aliveri and from the sheepfolds in Epirus to the ironworks in Athens. Free entry. Private view with a short introductory talk by Aliki Tsirgialou, Benaki Museum on Tuesday 7 October at 7.30pm. For opening hours please call 020 7487 5060.

1864-2014: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of the Ionian Islands with Greece  An exhibition and illustrated lecture in English by Dr Victoria Solomoni-dis, FKC followed by display of traditional dances from the Ionian Islands by the Lykion ton Hellinidon. Free entry; booking essential on 020 7563 9835 or at press@helleniccentre.org  Organised by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture UK, the Hellenic Centre, the Ionian Society and Lykion ton Hellinidon.

25th Anniversary Celebration of the Macedonian Society of Great Britain. Free entry; booking essential on 07904 086677 or at sec@macedonia.org.uk  attendance to be confirmed by 10/10/14.

Dinner-Dance with live music organised by the Macedonian Society of Great Britain. Further information and bookings on 07904 086677 or at sec@macedonia.org.uk

Sunday 19 October, 6pm - Great Hall, Hellenic Centre

Live the Swing: Diminuita Come and swing to the rhythms of gypsy jazz! The Hellenic Centre presents DIMINUITA, a Swing Trio from the orchestral gypsy jazz scene, for an amazing live performance. What is more, you can let yourselves be swept off your chairs and onto the dance floor, with one of London’s most promising swing clubs showing you the way! Cash bar available with wine and beer to further lift your spirits – don’t miss this chance. DIMINUITA (Giorgos Papadogiannis, lead guitar; Effie Saranti, rhythm guitar; Kostas Patsiotis, double bass) have been performing since 2007 in Greece and abroad. They are a part of the orchestral gypsy jazz scene, with their tunes alluding to Reinhardt, Grappelli and other composers of that era. Tickets £12, £8 for Hellenic Centre Members. Bookings at ark4art.eventbrite.com or on 020 7487 5060.

Greece at War: Marking 70 Years since the End of ‘Hitler’s Greece’ A series of short talks in English by Dr Violetta Hionidou, Newcastle University, author of Famine and Death in Occupied Greece, 1941-44 (2006); Alan Ogden, author of Sons of Odysseus: SOE Heroes in Greece (2012); and John Carr, author of The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-41 (2013). Chaired by Dr David Wills. Free entry; booking essential on 020 7563 9835 or at press@helleniccentre.org  Organised by the Society for Modern Greek Studies.