Lyra Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society Newsletter
Winter 2000
PDF version of newsletter
Orpheus Youth Group Performs at MSI |
Orpheus Volunteers for Channel 11 Pledge Night |
Web Updates |
Letters to OHFS |
Orpheus Showcases Cypriot and Chian Dances |
Orpheus Costume Collection Additions |
OHFS Celebrates Vasilopita 2000! |
A Journey Through The Greek Isles |
Spotlight on Orpheus Youth Dancer |
Personals |
Orpheus Youth Group Performs at Museum of Science and Industry |
The Orpheus Dance Troupe has been
performing for the past several years at the annual "Christmas Around the World"
Festival at the Museum of Science & Industry, but this year's performance was a
special one. For the first time, the Orpheus Youth Group performed at the festive event,
which is held each holiday season at the museum. Nearly 30 members of the Youth, all dressed in traditional costumes, performed a program of mainland Greek folk dances which included a dance suite from Epirus and other selections from central Greece and Macedonia. The group was received enthusiastically by the audience, which included Metropolitan Iakovos, head of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, and many proud family members and friends. Dancers from the adult group cheered the Youth on from the sidelines, and later performed a lively suite of island dances to complete the Orpheus program. OHFS supporter and friend, Mrs. Dina Sianis, along with other parents of the group's members, spent many hours making replicas of authentic costumes from Thrace and Epirus. The end result was a very professional and impressive presentation by the Youth. The future of the Orpheus Dance Troupe is indeed bright! Many thanks also go to the dedicated team of instructors who were responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Youth Group. Future presentations of the Orpheus Youth Group will take place on Friday, February 25 at St. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church and then later in May at the 10th Skokie Festival of Cultures. Registration for both Youth Group branches in Chicago and Glenview is always open and we encourage new members to register. Please contact any of the individuals listed in this newsletter for more information. |
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Orpheus Volunteers for Channel 11 Pledge Night |
"Channel 11 -
May I take your pledge?" The public television airwaves were taken over by Greek
filoxenia and traditional music as the Orpheus Dance Troupe and other members of the
Chicagoland Greek community participated in the Channel 11 airing of "The
Greek-Americans II" last December 6. Orpheus members (dressed in traditional folk costumes and official OHFS T-shirts) spent a fun evening at the WTTW Channel 11studios working as pledge drive volunteers to raise funds for the public television station during the sequel episode of the popular Greek-American series. The second show in the series further highlighted the important contributions made by Greek immigrants and their families to American culture, the political arena, popular entertainment and successful business ventures all around the nation, and featured commentary from an impressive array of prominent Greek-Americans. In preparation for the hard work ahead, the evening began with dinner, which was kindly provided for the hungry volunteers by WTTW and even included some Greek favorites, which were donated by local businesses. After station employees briefly explained the volunteers duties for the night, the group of about 60 volunteers settled into their seats and eagerly waited for the countdown to airtime! At the signal for each pledge break, the OHFS members and their comrades turned on their phones and went to work, diligently (tirelessly)taking pledges from callers who pledged money in hopes of reaching the designated goal of $50,000 set for the night. Well, we can proudly say the Greek community came through with flying colors, as the enthusiastic group of volunteers succeeded in surpassing their goal!! During the course of the evening, the volunteers were taken on a tour of the impressive WTTW studios, and even took some calls from friends and relatives, who were treated to a shameless show of mugging for the camera! Our thanks to Voula Drougas, Orpheus member and Channel 11employee, for all her help in arranging the OHFS participation in the membership drive. A good time was had by all! |
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Web Updates |
The Orpheus web site has truly
evolved since its inception in September,1997! The web site was originally created to
mirror the Orpheus newsletter, a medium which informed members and friends of performance
schedules and general news about the dance troupe. Due to improved computer technology and
frequent updates, the web site has evolved into a fun and educational tool serving the
Greek folk dance community in Chicago as well as around the world! |
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Letters to OHFS |
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Orpheus Showcases Cypriot and Chian Dances |
During the past
year, the Orpheus Dance Troupe had the challenging opportunity to showcase folk dances
from three particular regions of Greece at dinner dances hosted by organizations whose
members trace their origins from those regions. The first such appearance, as mentioned in
a previous edition of "Lyra", took place at the Metsovion Association Dinner Dance last May, where the
group performed a suite of dances from the Epirotan village of Metsovo. Last November, the Orpheus Dance Troupe performed at the Cypriot Brotherhood Dinner Dance, where a program of dances from the island of Cyprus was featured. Traditional costumes from Cyprus were worn for this event. The male island costumes in the OHFS collection are from Cyprus, and the men performed wearing traditional vrakes. The female dancers wore traditional Cypriot costumes as well, some of which were made available by Orpheus dancer and Cypriot Brotherhood member, Rebecca Moraris. The majority of the Cypriot dance repertoire consists of dances that are performed strictly by men or women, in couples or solo. The principal dances of Cyprus are the antikristoi, face-to-face dances performed by men or women at weddings or festive gatherings. The Cypriot antikristoi are always danced by pairs of either men or women but never by mixed couples. However, in years past on the second evening of the wedding, the bride and groom danced the women's antikristoi together. Both types of antikristoi consist of five dances: the "first","second", "third", "fourth", antikristoi and the ballos. Today, the ballos is usually omitted and the accompaniment is instrumental: violin and lute, violin and tsamboutcha (a large tambourine), when there is no lute. Formerly, a song followed the third women's antikristoi and accompanied the men's ballos. The "third" antikristos is also called mandilouthin (from mandili which means handkerchief), because each dancer carries a handkerchief. Later that same month the Troupe performed at another dinner dance sponsored by the association "Karies", whose members come from the island of Chios, which is located in the eastern Aegean Sea. The Orpheus Dance Troupe performed a suite of dances from various villages of Chios. Apart from the violin, another characteristic instrument utilized in this area is the tsabouna, a kind of bagpipe that is commonly played on certain Aegean islands. The most common dances from the island of Chios are the Syrtos, Ballos, and dances performed during the Apokries (carnival season). A lot of festivities take place during the Apokries that can last for several days and usually take place at the mastihogoria villages where the famousmastiha (mastic) is produced. A moving moment for the orpheus members occurred when a couple of guests who were from those same villages, approached them and expressed their enthusiasm and surprise to see these dances for the first time in Chicago! The Orpheus Dance Troupe is always looking for similar opportunities to research, learn and showcase material that is representative of the many different regions of the Hellenic world. |
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Welcome aboard new Orpheus members Fani Daskalakis, Bess Chidicimo, Sophia Chidicimo, and George Katris. |
Congratulations to Emmanuel Bistas and Barbara Siargos on their first performance with the Orpheus Dance Troupe. |
Best wishes to the recently-engaged Angie Beltsos and Greg Poulos! The couple plan a July 2000 wedding in Michigan.Congratulations also to Angie who passed her medical board certification! Kala Stefana. |
Birthday wishes to: Valerie Pontikis, 1/6; Christina Rigas,1/17; Emmanuel Bistas, 1/19; Niki Rigas, 1/30; Eleni Liberis, 1/31; George Logothetis, 2/3, Sophia Tsipianitis, 2/15; Victoria Arvanitis, 2/19; Amanda Stamelos, 2/28; Kiki Kakavas, 3/14; Bia Adams, 3/19; and Eleni Nikols, 3/29. Na taekatostisete! |
Namesday greetings to Kiki Kakavas, Bessie Grosso, William Pierce on January 1; Fani Daskalakis on January 6, Yannis Economou on January 7; Antonis Giannopoulos on January 17; Athanasios Arvantitis, Athanasia Dagrizikos, and Athanasia Kyriakakos on January 18; Angie Beltsos on March 25. Hronia Polla! |
Kiki Kakavas has accepted a managerial position at National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Congratulations Kiki and good luck! |
Last revised:
15 Aug 2023 03:44 PM