It is my great pleasure to congratulate the Orpheus Dance Troupe of Chicago
on celebrating its 20th anniversary. Almost since the beginning of Orpheus,
I have had a relationship with the group and the directors, the Economou
brothers. Remembering the beginning and seeing now what the group has become
is an incredible story and journey.
So many times the dancers have come to Tarpon Springs to participate in the
many dance conferences we have had. They have supported the folk dance scene
and through their participation they have helped many other groups. The
Economou brothers have given so much of themselves and I hope that is
realized by the many that have benefitted from their hard work.
Congratulations again and good luck on continuing another 20 years!!!
Keep up the great job you are doing.
John Lulias,
Director, Levendia Dance Troupe,
Tarpon Springs, FL
We, as Greeks, carry with us our history and our identity through our
traditions, dances, songs, and ethnic dress. This is why we are able to
retain our characteristics and our self-knowledge during difficult times,
and in far away lands. I verified this while visiting many U.S. cities,
teaching Greek dances to hundreds of Greek-American youngsters.
Even though I never had the chance to visit Chicago, I did have several
opportunities to meet and teach young members of the Orpheus Hellenic
Folklore Society, and naturally, its instructors, Yanni and Kosta Economou.
Orpheus has done an excellent job in dutifully imparting traditions and
knowledge to our younger generations, having devoted 20 years to
passionately perpetuating the Greek culture abroad.
It is my pleasure to have taught these kids, and I sincerely wish them
continued success for many more decades to come, as they continue their
efforts with even more zeal and passion, with the support of Chicago’s Greek
community.
Kyriakos Moisides,
Dance instructor and researcher of Greek dance traditions,
Thessaloniki, Greece
Dancer, youth instructor, board member and editor of the Lyra newsletter:
I’ve contributed to OHFS in many different ways and it’s truly been a
wonderful part of my life! I’m proud to say I was a member for over 10 years
(my brother Andy also a member) and I can spend many hours relating fun,
crazy and yes, sometimes even maddening experiences which come from being a
member of OHFS.
Let’s go down memory lane... Some of the girls will remember that most of
the female costume hats didn’t fit me and I usually needed help to secure
them (why—my head is too small!). Late nights spent writing and editing the
newsletter with Kostas, Yannis and Christina K.—always on deadline, but
determined to make it perfect! Or the time we descended on a Denny’s
restaurant in the wee hours of the morning accompanied by instructors Nancy
and George from the Lyceum in Athens, who related stories of traveling to
remote villages to learn obscure dances—legendary. Outside a hotel on an
Athens street, joining a Bulgarian troupe dance their version of Baeduska,
and smiling at the surprise on their faces! Or wandering through Athens at
night with Alex and trying to sneak onto the Acropolis during our trip
abroad to perform in the Athens Summer Festival…
So many wonderful memories…innumerable dances we’ve learned, friendships
forged, countless performances, but the integrity and collective mission of
the group remains.
The 20th anniversary is an important milestone—here’s to many more!
Christina Pagones,
former OHFS member
It’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago that my sister, Tina, and I
started Greek dancing! We started with just a few of us with our instructor,
Nikos. We were always trying to recruit new members—I even persuaded an
Irish girlfriend of mine to join! But when I think about Orpheus, most of my
memories are at River Park.
Yanni and Kosta forever stopping and rewinding the tape player (pre-iPod
days!), and of course, I can’t think of those days without thinking of all
the times spent trying not to laugh too hysterically with Christina Kakavas
while learning new dances!
But it wasn’t all about practice—some of the best memories are the times we
spent at performances, getting dressed, talking and, of course, laughing.
One performance I will never forget was one at Daley Plaza. We were dancing
on a 3-4 foot high platform and during Zonaradikos one of the girls stepped
just a little too far back and fell off the back of the stage! What was
hilarious was that the dancers she was next to just joined hands and kept
dancing! It was definitely a moment we all would never forget!
When I think back to those early days, it’s really impressive to see how the
dance group has evolved. Though I’m no longer dancing with Orpheus, I have
wonderful memories and friendships that have remained.
Congratulations on all of your success, Orpheus!
Linda Damianides,
former OHFS memberDear friends,
I am very happy to be able to participate, through this message, in this
very important celebration. Naturally, I would have preferred to be there in
person, like old times.
For me, my participation with the dance troupe was more than just an
activity to occupy my free time or an opportunity to meet new people or
simply to grant my parents’ wish for me to learn Greek dance. I believe that
the powerful and touching memories I have of my years in Chicago and with
the dance troupe, that have followed me in life even until today, are
priceless and I feel lucky to have had this privilege.
Orpheus was, for me, a true school of sorts, fostering the self-growth,
development and evolution of my Greek identity, which had a significant
impact not only on the development of my personality and character, but also
on my conscience. This is
something that I would like to believe also holds true for other young
adults in our society. After so many service and dedication, it would
not be an exaggeration to state that Orpheus is the most priceless depiction
of Greek cultural tradition in Chicago, and in the US in general.
This journey certainly would not have been possible without sacrifices, and
was made possible because of your love, enthusiasm, patience, determination
and tireless efforts. I hope that this astonishing, priceless, immense
undertaking, with the immeasurable contributions from all the participants,
will continue with endless perseverance for many more years to come. The
legacy or “dowry” that Orpheus carries on its shoulders is a direct result
of contributions from all its members, particularly the younger ones, and
becomes richer and grander, day by day.
Congratulations to all of you for your great efforts, and solid commitment
that you have demonstrated throughout the years, because I know how
demanding and labor-intensive it can be. Continue to perpetuate the worthy
traditions, ideals and all those elements of the genuine Greek traditions
and culture that make us stand out in the history of the world. Traditions
that only the Greeks of the diaspora know how to honor in the proper way.
And remember that…
It’s not the destination that’s important, but the journey.
Vaggelis Zartaloudis,
former OHFS member,
Thessaloniki, Greece
Twenty
years--truly an accomplishment worthy of praise! It has been my privilege to
work with members of Orpheus Dance Troupe at various times for more than
half of that time, both in Chicago and elsewhere. The instructors, Kostas
and Yannis, as well as the dancers and other members with whom I’ve had the
pleasure of working have always had open, inquiring minds, always ready to
listen and learn. That attitude has undoubtedly helped them to achieve and
maintain their high standards through the years.
It’s been a great 20 years of steady growth and I’m very pleased to have
been a small part of it. I am looking forward to what Orpheus’ next 20 years
will bring. Congratulations to all Orpheus members past and present!
Yvonne Hunt
Instructor/researcher of traditional Greek dances
and related traditions
Seattle, WA
Αγαπητοί φίλοι,
Με αφορμή την 20η
επέτειο του χορευτικού συλλόγου σας, χαιρετώ την Ελληνική καρδία
σας που κρατά τόσα χρόνια άσβηστη τη φλόγα του Ελληνισμού!
Το
ταξίδι σας στην Καλαμάτα, το προσκύνημα στον ιερό τόπο των
προγόνων σας, τα τραγούδια και οι χοροί σας, με πλημμύρισαν από
αισιοδοξία και πίστη, καλώντας με να φωνάξω ότι ο Ελληνισμός της
διασποράς είναι πιο Έλληνες και από εμάς της Μητροπολιτικής Ελλάδας.
Πρεσβευτές εσείς της
πατρίδας μας έχετε χρέος και η αδάμαστη ψυχή σας το αποκαλύπτει,
να κρατάτε ζωντανό τον οικουμενικό Ελληνισμό όσες γενιές και αν
έρθουν και με όποιο τίμημα.
Και τούτο γιατί δυστυχώς
ο κόσμος μας οριζοντιώνεται και μαζοποιείται αντί να υψώνεται
κάθετα και να έχει ως λάβαρο τη διαφορετικότητα.
Διατηρώντας λοιπόν τη
γλώσσα μας, τους χορούς μας και την παράδοση μας ζωντανά, παραμένουμε
και εμείς όλοι ζωντανοί μέσα στην οικουμενικότητα!
Η σκέψη μας είναι κοντά σας!
Αδελφικά
Αγησίλαος Τσακαλάκος
Δάσκαλος Λ.Ε.Κ
(translation)
In light of your dance group’s 20th anniversary, I salute your
Hellenic heart which has been keeping the flame of Hellenism alive for years
now.
Your
trip to Kalamata, the worshipping of the sacred ground of your ancestors,
your songs and dances filled me with optimism and faith, prompting me to
declare that the Greeks of the diaspora are “more Greek” than those of us
who were born, raised and are living in Greece. You are ambassadors of our
country, keeping Hellenism alive for current and future generations, and
this is evident by your untamed soul and spirit.
Unfortunately, we have learned to assimilate rather than elevate our
culture, like a banner in this world, and celebrate its uniqueness.
By maintaining our language, our dances and our traditions,
we are keeping our sense of self alive in society!
Our thoughts are with you!
With brotherly regards,
Agisilaos Tsakalakos
Dance instructor, Lyceum of Ellinidon, Kalamata Greece
Αγαπητέ Γιαννη,
Θα ήθελα κατ’ αρχήν να στείλω τις θερμές μου ευχαριστίες για την πρόσκληση
να είμαι απόψε σε αυτήν την υπέροχη βραδιά.
Περίμενα αυτήν την πρόσκληση με λαχτάρα εδώ και πολλά χρόνια. Ειλικρινά
λυπάμαι που δεν κατόρθωσα να βρίσκομαι κοντά σας.
Θα ήθελα πολυ να σας δω μετά είκοσι χρόνια μπροστά στο υπέροχο κοινο του
Σικάγου να χορεύετε , να πετάτε ψηλά ,να ενθουσιάζετε τον κόσμο.
Μαζί με τον χορό θα ήθελα να μου πείτε περισσότερα για αυτό το μακρύ ταξίδι,
αυτήν την Οδύσσεια, των είκοσι χρόνων, που είναι γεμάτο με επιτυχίες αλλά
φαντάζομαι μέσα από μεγάλες προκλήσεις και τεράστια εμπόδια.
Μείνετε σταθεροί σε αυτό που εδώ και είκοσι χρόνια με αφοσίωση και συνέπεια
, μέρα με τη μέρα.έχετε οικοδομησει.Μοιάζει θεόρατο.
Κρατήστε το σεβασμό στους ανθρώπους και την παράδοση.
Νάχετε πίστη στην ελπίδα. Νάχετε συγνώμη στην καρδιά σας. Το ίδιο ζητάω και
εγώ από σας.
Είμαι πραγματικά πολύ συγκινημένος.
Όταν ξεκινούσαμε ποτέ δεν θα μπορούσα να φανταστώ την τεράστια επιτυχία που
θα έφερνε αυτό το εγχείρημα.
Όλα τα συγχαρητήρια ανήκουν σε σας. Σε σένα Γιάννη. Σε σένα Κώστα. Σε σένα
Μαριαννα.
Σε όλους εσάς παιδια και ζητώ συγνώμη που δεν μπορώ να σας αναφέρω τον
καθένα σας προσωπικά.
Εγώ απλώς σας βοήθησα να ανακαλύψετε αυτον τον δρόμο. Και πιστέψτε με είναι
από τα ωραιότερα πράγματα που έχω κάνει και αισθάνομαι πολυ περήφανος.
Γράφω αυτές τις γραμμές ανάμεσα σε δυο συναντήσεις για το φθινοπωρινό
Πρόγραμμα της ERTWORLD.
Εδώ στην Ελλάδα είνα 12 το μεσημέρι .
Σας εύχομαι καλή Δύναμη. Και ελπίζω την επόμενη επέτειο να τη γιορτάσουμε
μαζί. Ο Ορφέας ελπίζω να γιορτάζει στους αιώνες όπως και ο Ελληνισμός της
Διασποράς στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες διατηρώντας τις αξίες και τις παραδόσεις
σαν Αγιο Φως για όλον τον κόσμο.
Νάστε όλοι καλά.
Με αγάπη και συγκίνηση
Νικος Κουρτης
Διευθντης ERT WORLD
Note: Nikos Kourtis was the first instructor of Orpheus when the group
was first established on May 1989. He now resides in Athens, Greece.
(Translation)
Dear Yanni,
First of all, I would like to send you my warmest thanks for inviting me to
this wonderful event. I’ve been eagerly waiting for such an invitation for
quite some time now and I am truly sorry that I will not be able to make it.
I would very much have liked to have seen you all, after twenty years,
performing for Chicago’s Greek community, dancing with such exuberance and
delighting the crowd.
In addition to the 20th anniversary celebration, I would like you to tell me
more about your long journey thus far, this twenty year odyssey that is full
of accomplishments and success, but also has had its share of challenges and
obstacles, I imagine.
Stay true to that which you started twenty years ago, which you built upon
day by day, and consequently, has become something huge. Respect people and
traditions. Believe in hope.
I am truly quite touched, because when we first started out I could never
have imagined the immense success that would be derived from this
undertaking. Congratulations are in order for you Yanni. For Kosta. For
Marianna and for the rest of the members of Orpheus, that, regrettably, I am
not able to mention individually by name. My role was to simply help you
discover this path. And believe me when I say, this is one of the most
wonderful things I have done and I am truly proud.
I wish you much luck, and I hope we can celebrate your next anniversary
together. I hope Orpheus can continue to celebrate anniversary after
anniversary, throughout the ages, enduring the way Hellenism has endured in
the diaspora of the United States, preserving the values and traditions,
like the light of Christ’s Resurrection, for the entire world.
With love,
Nikos Kourtis
Director, ERT WORLD
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