Alexis Ellis isn't shy about showing off her Greek heritage, and next weekend she'll share it with anyone who visits the convention center in Pittsburgh.

Ellis, a junior at Franklin Regional High School, will perform with the Grecian Odyssey Dancers at the Pittsburgh Folk Festival on May 16 through May 18 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

The group, which is comprised of 39 dancers, performs different dances that represent the islands of Greece. Ellis began performing after watching a performance.

"I just saw them at the festival and thought it would be fun," she said.

Ellis began dancing with the troupe after performing with the Junior Olympians, a beginners group that leads into the Grecian Odyssey Dancers. As soon as she was old enough to join the main dance group, she signed up.

That made her mother, Marguerite Ellis, proud.

Marguerite performed with the same troupe for about 10 years. Her mother and grandmother have passed the tradition of dancing down through their family.

"That was their social activity," Marguerite said. "Now I get to see her doing it."

Dance isn't the only aspect of her culture that's on display. Alexis has six different costumes that fit with different performances and dances.

While her mother has instilled in her an appreciation for Greek culture, Alexis has found more outlets to dance than just Greek festivals. She also performs tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.

Performing at different festivals has given her the chance to experience other kinds of dance.

"The best thing is getting to see other cultures and see how they compare," Alexis said.

The annual folk festival will feature 3,000 different artists and dancers performing throughout the weekend. Foods from various cultures also will be available throughout the weekend.

While her interest in other dance styles might fade as she gets older, Alexis hopes to always find time for the one that's closest to her roots.

"I'll probably keep doing Greek dancing for a while," she said. "There's a lot of college kids in it."

The Pittsburgh Folk Festival begins May 16 from 4 to 10 p.m. It opens on May 17 from noon to 10 and May 18 from noon to 6. Adult tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. The cost is $4 for children between 4 and 12. Children up to age 4 are admitted for free. For more information, see www.pghfolkfest.org [1].