By Alesha Capone
Opa! A mother and daughter duo are bringing Greek dance fitness classes to Wyndham.
Dahlia and her mother Dora have been running OPA-cize classes in Yarraville for almost five years.
They started holding classes in Werribee about a month ago.
OPA-cize, which is based on Greek music and dancing, has taken off around the world since it was developed by Sydney dance instructor Kathy Skettos in 2015.
Dahlia said she enjoyed attending OPA-cize classes so much that she became an instructor.
Being half-Greek and half-Serbian, she also studies Serbian dancing.
Dora said she wanted to support her daughter but that becoming an instructor never crossed her mind until Ms Skettos suggested the idea.
Dora said her father Chris, who passed away about 12 years ago, taught her traditional Greek dancing as a child.
The mother and daughter said their OPA-cize classes were attended by people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
“I think it’s inclusive, what is we get out of it is that there is no discrimination, no sense of feeling that you don’t belong or can’t do it,” Dora said.
“You feel like you are at a Greek venue, waiting for some plates to break.”
Dahlia said: “We understand what it’s like to be new in a class and intimidated, we want to dispel this and we want to make you have a great time.”
OPA-cize classes are held Tuesdays at 7.30pm at Werribee Secondary College and Wednesdays at 7.30pm at Yarraville Senior Citizens Centre. Details: www.opacize.com/classes/australia/vic
