"Snapshots
From Athens" By: Christina Pagones |
Dance, and in particular, Greek folk dance, has always been a
special joy for me, and I had secretly hoped to someday perform in my grandparents'
homeland, never thinking I would have the chance to do so. This September, that
lifelong dream came true for me. I, along with another member of the Orpheus Dance
Troupe, Alexander Kapotas, had the privilege of performing at the famous Herodus Atticus
Theatre on the Acropolis. The significance of this trip to me was experiencing
firsthand how deeply ingrained our Greek roots are in those of us who live outside of
Greece and how much it means to us to continue the old customs and traditions. The Hotel Stanley in Karaeskaki Square in Athens became our headquarters: 250 performing artists, dancers and singers from all around the world who shared two things: our Greek heritage and our love of Greek folk music and dance. Alexander and I were part of a global dance troupe, with folk dancers from Australia, England, Czech Republic, Mexico -- but we also shared the program with Greek-Bulgarians, Greek-Italians and Greek-Ukranians. My favorite moments are mere snapshots of the trip, but remain my strongest and fondest memories. The first morning in the hotel, I woke up to the music of a clarino playing a familiar tsamiko through the open door of our balcony. I stepped outside, and perched on the railing of another balcony was a man playing his heart out. Later that day, I met the musician from Bulgaria who had greeted the morning and me with his folk song. At dinner one night, we shared our table with a musician from England, who has dedicated his life to the gaida. He described the intricate craftsmanship needed for him to make his instrument and explained how each piece works; then he played for us, the bagpipe-type notes echoing through the hotel dining room (much to the dismay of the hotel manager!). One of my favorite moments was an impromptu panegyri we had one night on the street outside of the hotel while we were waiting for a bus to take us to the Acropolis for a practice. The group of Bulgarian musicians took out their daouli and clarino and just started playing, one song after another, and we took over the street in a continuous set of folk dances and improvisational tsamika. We were from different countries, but we all recognized the familiar steps of tsourapia (a dance from Macedonia) and tsestos. We communicated not in our native languages, but in Greek, and through our music and dance. On our last night in Athens after the performance, we were treated to a dinner in Plaka by the event's coordinators, and the friendship and filoxenia we all felt was electric and truly indescribable. It was well past midnight, but our energy was palpable and we broke out in the song from "Tsakonikos", one of the dances we had performed that night, while the musicians played together for the last time of our stay together. How exhilarating it was to know that we have not lost our heritage -- it remains strong within our hearts, along with the melancholy strains of the bouzouki and the plaintive tune of the clarino. |
Top of Page |
Sister Cities: Athens and Chicago |
In September, the Orpheus Dance Troupe performed
at a gala dinner dance celebrating the friendship agreement between the cities of Athens,
Greece and Chicago. The event took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton
and Towers and was sponsored by the Sister City Program of Chicago's Department of
Cultural Affairs and the local friendship committee. Present were local officials
and dignitaries from the city of Athens, led by Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos. Athens'
mayor was one of the instrumental figures in the city's successful bid for the 2004 summer
Olympic Games. The capacity crowd had the opportunity to watch a video presentation
that was part of Athens' bid for the Olympics. In addition, accompanying the Greek delegation was the renowned Athens Chamber Orchestra which performed classical and popular musical pieces. During his meeting with Orpheus members, the mayor of Athens was informed about the troupe's recent participation in the Athens Festival and was particularly interested in the specifics of the trip. The Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society was honored to be part of this historic event which is only the beginning of a broader relationship between Athens and Chicago in the cultural, commercial and scientific sectors. |
Top of Page |
Christmas Around The World |
Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 14 for an afternoon
filled with Hellenic Christmas traditions! The holiday season is fast approaching
and the Orpheus Dance Troupe is preparing for another presentation at the annual
"Christmas Around the World" festival at the Museum of Science and Industry. The festival features Christmas trees and holiday decorations from many ethnic groups from the Chicagoland area while an array of ethnic performances will be featured. Last year, the event was ranked as the most popular Christmas attraction in Chicago with over 350,000 visitors! The Orpheus Dance Troupe will perform on Sunday, December 14 at 2:45 p.m. This year's performance will include Greek folk dances from mainland Greece and the Greek islands. Traditional costumes representing the corresponding regions will be worn by the dancers. |
Top of Page |
Web Site Update |
Our Web Site has been a cybercosmic success! Thank you to everyone who has contacted
us through the Web from as far away as Australia, Alaska, and Greece! Some
recent comments: |
Top of Page |
Spotlight on Orpheus Dancer... |
Nikos Paraskevopoulos |
Hometown: |
Parents/Family From: |
|
Occupation: |
Student at University of Illinois at Chicago |
Time Dancing with Orpheus Youth Group: |
|
Thoughts on Dancing: |
|
Favorite Dance: |
|
Most Vivid OHFS Memory: |
|
Where I heard about Orpheus Dance Troupe: |
|
Editors Note: The preceding feature
"Spotlight On Orpheus Dancer will include short biographical profiles of
Orpheus members. |
Top of Page |
Personal Announcements |
Orpheus welcomes Vicky Karabelas, Constandina Giannakopoulos, Vasso Melachrinidis, Xanthie Melachrinidis, Panagiota Pappas, Joanne Antonopoulos who joined the troupe in September. |
Congratulations to Vicky Karabelas, Maria Tottas, Constandina Giannakopoulos, Tom Bonaris, Christina Rigas, Panagiota Pappas, Elias Christopoulos on their first performance with the Orpheus Dance Troupe! |
Congratulations to James Papanikolaou and Demetra Callas on their engagement. |
Congratulations to Michael and Patricia Dimoutsikos on their wedding. |
Top of Pages
Return to Newsletter
Last Revised:
12/02/2012 11:40:15