The Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society proudly announces that the Festival of Greek Music and Dance will take place again in 2002!  The Festival includes a musical presentation from notable folk artists from Greece that will tour the U.S.  Last year’s sold out concert included music groups from Greece’s northern regions, Macedonia and Thrace.

The 2002 Festival will include music and dances from the Greek islands.  The upbeat and sweet sounds of the violin, lute, dulcimer and tsabouna (island bagpipe) will transport us to the sunny beaches and traditional villages of beautiful destinations.  The event will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2002 at the Niles West High School auditorium, 5701 West Oakton St., Skokie, at 7:00 p.m.  The organization of this event is in cooperation with the World Music Institute of New York and the Hellenic Club of Niles West High School.

Next year’s musical group includes ten artists lead by Nikos Economides who is one of the most popular and recognized authorities on island musical traditions.  The program will include music and dances form the islands of the Northeastern Aegean Sea, the Dodecanese, the Kyklades and the island of Kythira.  The Orpheus Dance Troupe is scheduled to perform dances from these areas accompanied by the visiting musicians.  Make sure you mark your calendar for this unique and inspiring event.  Assigned seating will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $20 for children 18 and under.  Call 847-729-3406 for ticket purchases or further information. Check the OHFS web site, www.ohfs.org, for updated information about this concert.  We hope to see you there!

Nikos Ekonomidis is one of the most highly acclaimed violin players in Greece. He was born on the island of Shinousa in the Kiklades to a musical family. His grandfather and father, both well-known violinists, sparked his interest in music.  Ekonomidis studied classical violin at the Athenian Odium under Ismini Carter-Chrysochoos and at the National Odium with Kosta Setta.  At the same time, he never ceased to research and study the style of music that interested him the most, that is, traditional music.   He began his professional career at the age of 15 with Dora Stratou and involves himself in the official registration of our national music, from Evros to Cyprus, in records and films for the national TV network.  He is engaged in teaching traditional music and archiving traditional pieces like those included in the records "Perasma sta Kythira" and "Sea Passages" containing songs executed by himself, along with Mariza Koh and others.

Ekonomidis recorded and released two albums, "Arhondisa tou Limaniou" (Mistress of the Seaport) and "Choros sta kymata" (Dance in the Waves), and two others "Agapi kai Thalassa" (Love and Sea) and "Otan akoun to violi" (When I Listen to the Violin) with Eleni Lekaki, which were both very successful.  Songs from those records, such as "Opa Opa" and "Gianda na min theleis gianda" became big hits throughout the country.  He has participated in International Festivals and has contributed to the formation of traditional music bands such as   "Keros" and "Akrites".  He has worked with many great artists of traditional music (Chronis Aidonidis, Domna Samiou, etc.) as well as Mariza Koh, Haris Alexiou, Giorgos Dalaras at the Music Megaron of Athens and in concerts in Greece and abroad.  Ekonomidis has taught traditional music at the University of Southern Maine as part of a cultural exchange program sponsored by the ministry of Aegean and U.S.M.  He is currently preparing to release "Nissiotiki Zigia", a record with traditional songs from the western Cyclades and other neighboring regions.   During the summers, he gives concerts accompanied by the music group "Keros".  In 1998, Nikos Ekonomidis completed the research and registering of the musical tradition of the North and East Aegean, which he presented to the public in a record entitled "East of the Aegean" released by Verso.  Recently, he completed the research and registering of the traditional music of Amorgos, which is presented in the record "Passage to Amorgos", released by Keros Music.  In his record we find remarkable artists such as Domna Samiou, Giasemi Saragoula, Popi Kovaiou and others.

The Educational and Cultural Society of I Vokaria of the island of Chios was the producer of Nikos Economides’ CD, “East of the Aegean”.  In its introduction, the Board of Directors mentions that it was a great honor and pleasure to see that Mr. Economides had accepted the undertaking of this album.  He is considered to be one the most recognized, beloved and superior artists whose expertise is endorsed without any hesitation.  The Board absolutely trusts his ethos, style, musical education and respect for the true meaning of folk traditions.
The Board greeted Niko’s initiative from the bottom of its heart, realizing the immense effort that such work required. It hopes that the final product will stand for a long time and that it will be inscribed in the musical pantheon of peoples’ consciences and histories.

Ever since I can remember, I have been going to Greece for my summer vacations!  I look forward to leaving and being able to spend time in my cwrio RizeV (village named Riza), which is a few minutes away from the city of Tripoli.  There, I spend many hours with friends, relatives and cwrianoi (townspeople). One of my most favorite things to do is going to the plateia (town square) to play volleyball. Another thing that I enjoy is dancing in my cwrio (village’s) dance troupe.

Since my cwrio has many festivals throughout the year, a dance troupe has been formed.  The dance troupe performs at the cwrio biggest festival, Agia MarinaV (St. Marina) in July and also at many other festivals throughout the Tegea (Tegea) area (Riza is located in the Tegea section of Tripoli).  For the past four or five summers, I have been joining the troupe for the summer months.  I learn many new and interesting dances from all over Greece; many like those that I learn at Orpheus.

This summer, I was very happy to dance with the dance troupe.  With the help of Gianni and Kosta, who wrote a recommendation for me, and with the help of Orpheus teaching me many dances, I was able to dance with the advanced group (older kids) as opposed to dancing with the beginners group (younger kids).  I knew many of the dances that were performed.  The cwrianoi (townspeople) were very surprised to see a Greek-American dancing all the difficult dances.  They realized that we Amerikanakia (Greek-Americans) could rise to the occasion!

Dancing this past winter with Orpheus made it much easier for me to dance and learn the figoureV (variations).  I found dancing in Greece just as fun as dancing here in the United States.  The kids were just as excited and enthusiastic!  When the performance came around, I was so excited.  I couldn’t wait for the presentation to start!  I was so confident because I had performed the dances many times throughout the year.  The performance was great fun compared to the practices we had!  We had many hours of daily practices in the mornings AND afternoons.

The performance was much like other performances.  There were picture-takers, video-tapping parents, excited giagiadeV and pappoudeV (grandmas and grandpas) and proud cwrianoi all waiting to see what the children had prepared for them.  I will never forget how the spectators were so excited to see us perform.  After the performance, all the kids stayed in their traditional costumes and opened up the dance for everyone.  Everyone got up and joined.  We all danced until xhmeromata (dawn).

I will never forget the fun times I have had in Greece, especially this summer’s memories.  I was so happy to be dancing with the advanced group, finally, and I owe it all to Orpheus for teaching me the dances. (Thank You Orpheus!!)  I can’t wait to go back next summer and show my cwrio once again what I have learned!!

During the first week of the camp-type program, each group watched the others perform their play. Although they were competing against each other, strong friendships were formed. At the end of the week, the winners were announced. Australia was first, Germany and Russia tied for second, St. George received third place and Canada came in fourth. Even though St. George did not receive first place, they did a fantastic job. They won first place for best costumes, thanks to Mrs. Sianis who made all the costumes as well as the scenery for the play. Also, Elisseo Sianis won first place for best actor.

During the second week, the group toured many ancient sites. They went to Chania, Heraklio, the remains of Knossos, the archaeological museum close in Heraklio, and many monasteries throughout Crete. They also had a great time at various beaches, restaurants, and taverns. The group will never forget such a wonderful experience. They met and made many friends, they learned a lot about Crete from the tours, and they learned how to improve their acting skills. The group would like to thank Mrs. Julia, Mrs. Sianis, and Mrs. Gouvas (the students' teacher) for putting up with them, "tous trelanamai," we drove them crazy! Congratulations to all the high school students of St. George!

The Orpheus Dane Troupe, after practicing for nearly ten years at River Park in Chicago, has moved its Thursday dance sessions to a new practice facility.  The new site is the multipurpose room of St. John Lutheran Church, 3020 Milwaukee Avenue in Northbrook.  The facility is located a mile north of the intersection of Lake (Euclid) and Milwaukee.

Thursday practice hours at the new facility will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Youth Group), 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Adult Group - beginners/intermediate) and 7:30-9:00 p.m. (Adult Group - intermediate/advanced).  The new location will enable the Orpheus Dance Troupe to be more accessible to a larger part of the Greek American community.  It has been encouraging to see the increased participation of our young members in the Orpheus Youth Group, who have demonstrated remarkable dedication and enthusiasm in promoting our Hellenic culture and traditions.

Practices will continue to be held at the Glenview branch for Youth Group members only.  Saturday sessions take place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room of New Church, 74 Park Drive in Glenview (1 block west of the intersection of Shermer and Glenview Rd.).  For more information, maps, schedules and fees visit the Troupe’s web site at www.ohfs.org or contact one of its directors.

Algonquin IL.

Filiatra, Greece.

Radio Frequency Electrical Engineer.

Seven years.

Greek dancing is comparable to riding your bike downhill through a water sprinkler during a hot summer day.

Zeibekikos

Post-performance celebrations at the famous Bubba's establishment in Saginaw, Michigan.

French fries with eggs.

Actually, there are quite a few places of which I am particularly fond (not limited to Greece).  Some of these include:  Stomio beach in Filiatra, the island of Mikonos, the Monastiraki district in Athens, the Plaka district in Athens, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans and Cancun, Mexico.

Playing bouzouki, zourna, baglama, violin, guitar, dumbek, dancing, card magic, philosophy and cosmological physics, working out, playing basketball, going to movies, clubbing, playing tavli and chess, collecting stamps, collecting comic books, collecting coins, collecting various rocks and minerals, and politics.

I heard about Orpheus through the mother of a friend who in turn had heard about Orpheus on the radio!!

Na ta ekatostisete!

Chronia Polla!