The Newsletter for friends and members of OHFS inside Vol. 10, Issue No. 1, Winter 2004 this issue…

Winter Dance Conference 2004 1-2

Carnival Traditions from the city of Arta 3

“Christmas Around the World” 4 Winter Dance Conference 2004, New York Spotlight 4-5 By Panayi Panagiotopoulos in Gree c e , do people dance as crazily as we did in New Yor k. For me, it was the ultimate Folk Dance New Yor k Winter Dance Con f e r ence 2004 - ex p e ri e n c e . I was filled with pride when I Festival 2004 5 How did it all start? Was it supposed to be a saw how all of the dance troupes work to fun trip , a business trip , or just a sightseeing pre s e r ve our culture here. I know it may Photo Gallery 6-7 tr ip? Well, it turned out to be all three! Like seem commonplace for all of you…but for all other conferen c e s , this yea r ’s was expected me it was not just about dancing. I dance to be one more source of our cultura l in Gree c e , we have practice in Gree c e , we go Future Performances 8 education. We wer e all excited about going to conferences in Greece; but we are there, to this amazing city, but we wer e also eager it ’s easy for us! to experience all the different seminars that the orga n i z ers had scheduled. But let’s take the days one by one. Or not, l e t’s take the mornings and the nights Speaking for myself, I was enthusiastic about s e p a ra t e l y. On Friday and Sa t u rday there going to a Greek dance conference held on wer e workshops from morning until early in the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. You the evening. One took place in the basement kn o w, in Greece we kind of take our dance and one on the first floor. As much as I would he r itage for granted and we believe that this lo ve to do so, I really cannot talk about these 606 Greendale Rd. is the case with other cultures . I can assure mo r ning works h o p s . I honestly tried ver y Glenview, IL 60025 you that at no other Greek conference held Continued on page 2 847.657.0958 e-mail:[email protected] http://www.ohfs.org

Tax-exempt Not-for-profit Organization

Yannis Economou 847.657.0958 Director/President

Kostas Economou 847.729.3406 Instructor

Marianna Gudmundsson 847.967.5103 Artistic Director/Vice President

Bessie Kouchoukos-Grosso 773.286.5132 Youth Group Coordinator The Orpheus dance group with visiting dance instructors after Saturday night's performance.

Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society Lyra - Winter 2004 Continued from page 1

ha r d to wake up early in the morning and fo l l o w the group but it was beyond my po wers! By noon, when I would usually sh o w up, the participants wer e alrea d y wa r med up. Customs from Naoussa and Ep i rus we re the most powe rful. T h e in s t r uctors wer e brought right from the he a r t of Greece and they showed us and explained so many amazing details about each dance. It was interesting that the Members of the b a c k g round of each dance was Orpheus music accompanied by a story, almost like a fairy ensemble are tail. But I guess that’s how it is! Th e y jo ined by dance br ought not only the steps of a dance from instructors Gree c e , but the complete tradition of their Takis Baits is and vi l l a g e s . And this was the best part. Christos Tsits is in a "Rebetik a" sing alo ng. To me, as a junior participant to these co n f e re n c e s , this was what I enjoyed the most. It’s not only dancing but a whole st o r y behind it! It is about how the dance was created, why, when, and for what p u r p o s e. We heard so many differe n t st o ri e s . These stories will actually help us de m o n s t r ate the approp r iate atmosphere for a perf o rm a n c e. These stories will d e t e rmine our style and our mood. Consider how different the Epi r us dances Dance ar e from the Naoussa dances. We heard instructor why and we heard what peoples’ goals Takis Baitsis wer e in each case. Fli r t, tease etc., etc. joined by Orpheus Le t ’s talk about the nights. The endless members nights! Th u r s d a y , we arriv ed at the hotel. at the Friday Our music band, the Orpheus music night event. band, was giving its first perfo r mance in the reg i s t r ation room…just to warm the morning. Don’t worry; you will pa n i g i r i with some friends! The rest of u p. By the way, we thought only see pictures and somebody will make the night went on dancing at the glendi. Chicago had a heavy winter, but we fun of us at the next Vasilopita glendi!! The yel l o w line passengers of the NYC we re wrong! Friday night we all went un d e rg r ound had the unique fortune to to a Greek taver na for dinner. It was so Sat u r day night was our night! We gave see us playing the kl a r i n o and dancing ni c e . Our happiness was so apparent to an excellent perfo r mance! It was a time on the train!! We wouldn’t stop! It was eve r y stran g e r . Take a look at the picture when all of our efforts wer e rew a r ded. We the natural outcome after the official posted on the web site from the NYC had our space and our musicians playing glendi was ove r. But there is more … un d e rg r ound. Aren ’t we lovel y ? for us. One of the dance instru c t o r s, much more. The lobby of our hotel was Gio r gos Kot s o s , rem a r ked, "It is not you r empty and cold as never before. We Next, we’ll take a look at Friday night’s steps or your style that makes the s e i zed the opport u n i t y. We continued glendi. So many people in such a small d i f f e re n c e. It is your team spirit that our glendi in the lobby until the early place! But we didn’t care. We danced makes the differen c e ." We are a big pa re a m o rning hours! Bo u zo u k i , k l a r i n o, and danced and danced. All the and it showed while we wer e dancing. We ba g l a m a s wer e the hot instruments that musicians we re so great. They playe d a re friends with each other. This is night. These events are what will rem a i n music from almost ever y part of Gree c e . i m p o rtant! Don’t ever lose it! It is in our memories after such a conferen c e . After the glendi was over , some of us paid something that we don’t have in the We’ll let Yianni and Kosta show us the a visit to New Yo rk’s night life while Lykeon back in Athens—at least not all of steps and make sure we stick together as others went back to the hotel where us . We are a huge group and we get lost a group! r the glendi kept going until early in in it! With you, it was like dancing at a

2 Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society Carnival Traditions from the City of Arta The city of Arta is the capital of the state in the maypole. Half of them, the The main celebration took place in the of Arta whose residents are mainly occupied yi a n n i t s a ro i , wer e dressed in Greek kilts. central square where, following the with the agriculture of citrus crops. Its They wore masks and their heads wer e maypole-related events, the spectators hi s t o r y goes ver y far back and it was a co ver ed with a colorful scarf. The other half, danced dances such as: “Pos To Tri v oun To significant Byzantine center associated the ny f e s (b r ides), wore feminine dres s e s Pi p e r i ” (“ How do they grind the pepper?”) , with Constantinople, as indicated by such as colorful chintzy skirts , a mask, a “Ch a ra l a m b i s ”, “Tis Nyf i s ” (“ The bride’s”). nu m e r ous churches including the imperia l headscarf, and a white or black cape. In this fram e w o r k of subver s i v e expres s i o n s , Pari g o r itissa. Despite the fact that it is an Mas q u e r ades of this type constituted an the idea of death and human vanity is urban center, rur al traditions are found additional expression of the subversive ex p r essed in different ways through songs especially during the Apo k r i a . at m o s p h e r e of the day, this time as an image. and traditions of Apo k r i a . The individuals cannot be defined with The roots of the carni v al of Arta can be respect to gender, age or type of animal. Men “H ow do they grind the pepper?” tr aced back to 1405, when the despot in Arta become women, the young become old, and Only men dance this dance. Often times was Karo l o s , the First the Tok o s . Karo l o s , people become animals. In this environ - it is danced at the end of a celebration longing for his country’ s trad i t i o n s , wished ment disorder prev ails over orde r , sensuality or feast. It has a 2-beat section, which is to see the popular Venetian carnival pre v ails over self-res t r aint. danced in the style of Sta Tri a , and a 7-beat ce l e b r ated in his state. His guests from Arta section, which is danced like a sy rt o . In the who attended the celebration at the despot’s The maypole was a tall piece of wood usually first section the dancers mimic what the palace requested permission to get dres s e d th r ee meters long. It had colorful ribbons tied song says with movements while a single up and wear masks during the Apo k r i a . at the top, which symbolized the colors of dancer holds a leather belt in his hand, sp r ing. These ribbons wer e held by a Fol l o wing the conquest of Arta by the Turk s , checks if ever yone is obedient and punishes yi a n n i t s a r o al t e r nating with a ny f i , who the sultan’s rep re s e n t a t i v e gave the people those who do not obey. The dancers in the in t e r twined them on the rod while dancing to of Arta the privilege to dress up and ci r cle hold hands with bent elbows . var ious songs in the rhythm of ts a m i k o or en t e r tain themselves during the Apo k r i a sy rt o . The maypole was held by a man who Tis Nyfis (“ The brid e ’s”) and use musical instrum e n t s . Howeve r , the was escorted by an ara p i s (d a rk - s k i n n e d This is danced only by men with one of them conquerors kept an eye on the Greeks man). He wore a wild black mask, was dres s e d ma s q u e r ading a pregnant brid e . The dance is because they were afraid of trouble or in a sheepskin, held a vou rd o u l i (hitting stick), composed of two sections. The first section is up ri s i n g s . That was how the teasing couplet and was greatly feared by children. The ara p i s accompanied by a free-style melody, durin g was created. The spirit of the subver s i v e sy m b o l i z ed the Tur kish conqueror . Oth e r which the “b ri d e ” pretends to be in labor. at m o s p h e r e of the time was expressed in gr oups followed the maypole and sang When the rhythm of the melody changes, the wo r ds through satiric and obscene songs. couplets of the Apo k r i a that satiriz ed vari o u s “b ri d e ” jumps up and ever yone dances the The Tur ks left Arta in 1881. The free people of si t u a t i o n s . The camel and characters such as sy r to Sta Dyo. This is repeated two to three Arta continued to celebrate during the the man on stilts, the old man and the old times followed by songs. r Apo k r i a . As soon as the Tri o d i o (the 3-wee k woman, followed the maypole. pe r iod preceding the first Sunday of Lent) began, all of Arta became excited when they he a r d the musical instruments being played in the neighborhoods. The tabors were he a r d. The young men, dressed in black capes and masks with bells around their wa i s t s , ran through the streets and in the ma r ket. They visited the houses where the la n d l o r ds treated them to local dark wine, ou z o or ts i p o u r o. They sang var ious songs and couplets in the streets related to Apo k r i a . One of the charac t e r istic trad i t i o n s of the town, as well as of other communities in the area, was the maypole (ga i t a n a k i ).

The maypole (Gai t a n a k i ) In Arta, the maypole was placed in the ma r ket on the second Sat u r day of Ap o k r i a wh e r e it would be joined by other maypoles, accompanied by musical groups, from A dance known throuh out Greece as the "piperi" (pepper) where dancers (always men) imitate the ne i g h b o r ing villages. Only men parti c i p a t e d movements of the leade r who, enacting the words of the song, orde rs them to "grind the pepper" with their backs , chests and bottoms.

Lyra - Winter 2004 3 “Christma s Around the World”

By Youth Member Athena Dav ro s The adult group also perfo r med at the All in all the perfo r mance was great. All of Museum of Science and Ind u s t r y. For one our hard work really did pay off. We had a The Orpheus youth group perfo r med with of the dances, they danced and sang at the really great time dancing and seeing all the adult group at the Museum of Science same time. Th e r e was also a live band that the differently decorated tree s . Right now and Ind u s t r y. We perfo r med many of the pr ovided music for sever al dances. Th e we are working to make the end of the Greek dances and songs that are band is mostly self taught with a little year prog r am as great and as much fun as p e rf o rmed around Chris t m a s t i m e . Th e tr aining. Ins t r uments from the clarinet to the Museum of Science and In d u s t ry pe rf o r mance was great; the youth grou p the ga i d a wer e used. pe rf o r mance was for all of us. I know it sang Ka l a n t a ( c a rols) from differe n t will be great. r is l a n d s , and the dances wer e awes o m e . After working so hard and practicing so much we wer e able to put on a great show. I thought we did a ve ry good job rep r esenting our Greek herit a g e .

Ever y yea r , the Museum of Science and In d u s t ry hosts Christmas Around the World. Th e r e are Christmas trees that are de c o r ated with decorations rep re s e n t i n g di f f e r ent heritages from around the world. We, along with many other cultures , show ho w we celebrate Chris t m a s . We wore di f f e r ent costumes from different islands and perf o rmed dances from va ri o u s regions in Gree c e .

The Orpheus Youth group after their presentation at the Museum of S c ience and Industry ' s " Christm as Around the World " . spotlight Pare n t s / F amily From : Dad is from the village of Th e r isi close to the city of Tripoli on Orpheus and my mom is from Chicago Occ u p a t i o n : Youth Group Freshman at Prospect High School and unfortunately I don’t have a job until the summer. dancer… Time Dancing with the Orpheus Youth Grou p : Since the summer of 2001

Thoughts on Dan c i n g : It makes me feel proud of my heritage and brings out my masculine side. It also makes me happy. I enjoy dancing and I hope to continue with the troupe because there is nothing better than dancing. Anybody can express themselves no matter whom they are and that’s why I like it.

Favo r ite Dan c e : All of them because they’re all unique in so many different ways but my most favor ite is ts a m i k o because it’s a masculine dance.

Most Vivid OHFS Mem o r y: Theofanis My most vivid memory is my first perfo r mance at the Mus e u m of Science and Ind u s t r y. I remember it as if it was yes t e r day and I Sarantopoulos en j o yed it because I knew that I was doing something that I love. 4 Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society Folk Dance Festival 2004

By Yanni Eco n o m o u

It was an honor and a humble experie n c e to serve as a dance judge for the second c o n s e c u t i ve ye a r, at the Folk Da n c e Fes t i v al (FDF) competition that was held in On t a ri o, Ca l i f o rnia. The FDF is a mi n i s t r y of the Greek Orth o d o x Met ro p o l i s of San Fran c i s c o , led by his Emi n e n c e Met r opolitan Anthony. The festival took place at the Ont a r io Con v ention Cen t e r , an impres s i v e facility that was able to accommodate a rec o r d number of parti c - i p a n t s, over 1,800, without counting pa re n t s , escorts and other frie n d s . Th e competition categories included dance and choral groups of different ages that Orpheus instructor Yannis Economou (bottom) pictured along with the panel of judges for the or iginated from Greek Orth o d o x paris h e s 2004 Folk Dance Festival. located, prim a ri l y , on the west coast. dance prog r am is a formidable task as it Despite all that, it is certainly impres s i v e to The greatest personal challenge as a dance balances so many factors in today’s hectic watch almost 100 groups and thousands judge is trying to separate ones emotional li f e s t y l e . It req u i r es countless activities and of participants along with their families. side from ones rational side. T h e obligations for parents and children alike. They wer e all gathered to celebrate and emotional side is telling me that all grou p s Ins p i r ing today’s Greek American youth to ex p r ess not only Greek folk dances and de s e r ve a perfect score for their tirel e s s pa r ticipate in a cultural activity in addition s o n g s, but their cultural identity and e f f o rt s, perseve rance and personal to other extrac u r r icular demands, adds pr esence in this country. They have indeed sa c r ifice invol v ed with their parti c i p a t i o n another layer to this challenge. enhanced their own lifestyles and, in a in this festival. Maintaining a quality wa y , improved their quality of life. Keep up all the good work! r

Favo r ite Greek Dish: Someone I’d like to meet: My favor ite Greek dish would have to be my mom’s pa s t i c h i o . The one person I would love to meet would be Regis Phi l b i n . I love it because of what she puts in it. It’s so mouth watering Man, that guy is hilarious! and the spices she uses are to die for. I can almost taste it now! Favo r ite building/spot in Chicago: Favo r ite Place in Gree c e : My favor ite building is Dappers East (my dad’s res t a u r ant) My favor ite place in Greece is Crete because of the beautiful and hey, if you ’re in the neighborhood please do stop by. fl o wers and the sight seeing is amazing and breath taking. I’ m currently looking for/forwa r d to: Hob b i e s / Sp o rt s / O ther Int e re s t : I’ m looking forwa r d to being in the adult group even though My hobbies are attending church, being apart of St. Joh n ’s Goya , I love the youth grou p . I can’t wait until I graduate high school. playing x-box, and hanging with frie n d s . The sports that I enjoy are: baseball, football, basketball, tennis, golf, and, my favori t e , soccer. I stay home to watch: I stay home to watch tennis, bowling, golf, and other ver y Nobody knows I: wei r d sports that not many people watch. used to play the violin. I wasn’t that good but I know a thing or two about it and I would love to pick it up again. Priz ed Pos s e s s i o n : My priz ed possession is my family because without them Best childhood memory: I wouldn’t be here today. My best childhood memory was when I learned to ride a bike and got my training wheels off. Whe r e I heard about Orpheus Dance Trou p e : I heard about the dance troupe from Alex Kapotas who is one Dream vacation/the perfect wee k e n d : of my favor ite instruc t o r s . Not that I don’t like all you guys! My dream vacation is going to Greece and visiting and living Thank you for teaching me the many dances that I know. r with my dad’s family and making sure that ever ything is okay.

Lyra - Winter 2004 5 photo gallery

Members of the Orpheus Adult group performing dances from the village of Asvestad es , Thrace at the Museum of S c ience and Industry in Chicago.

Members of the Orpheus Youth group watching their peers perform at the Museum of Science Mrs . Kathy Philis helps youth member Efterpie prepare and Industry. for the Museum of Sc i ence and Industry performa nce.

Members of the Orpheus dance group and stude nts from Glenbrook South Orpheus members with Prof essor George Brown (top left) and members High school presented island dances at the school's Variety Show. of the audience at "Glo befest 2004" at Bradley University.

6 Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society photo gallery

Dance instructors Christos Tsitsis, Nikos Liondos, George Kotsos and Ioannis Koutsoumbas dance Hasapiko accompanied by the Orpheus Music Ensemble at the Winter Dance Conference in New York.

Orpheus members waiting to board the train to Astoria for Saturday night's event at the Winter Dance Conference in New York.

Orpheus members with visiting dance instructors Nancy Harmanda and George Kotsos (Athens, Greece) after a practice session.

Father John Rallis, Pastor of St. John Church, with Yanni Economou after the blessing of the Vasilopitas.

Orpheus Youth members with dance instructors Nancy Harmanda and George Kotsos after practice at the Glenview branch.

The Orpheus music ensemble delight the audience with folk songs Having fun at Orpheus' annual Vasilopita celebration. at the Vasilopita celebration.

Lyra - Winter 2004 7 performance schedule Greek Gen e r al Consul Rec e p t i o n Greek Star Newspaper 100 Year Anniver s a r y Assumption Church Fes t i va l Greek Independence Day Drur y Lane Oak b r ook Ter ra c e St. Louis, MO Chicago Cul t u r al Cen t e r 100 Drur y Lane, Oak b r ook Ter ra c e Sat u rd a y - Sun d a y , May 29-30 78 East Washington, Chicago, IL Sun d a y , May 16 4:00, 8:00 p.m . Th u r s d a y , Mar ch 25 8:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. St. Dem e t r ios Church Fes t i va l Skokie Fes t i v al of Cul t u re s Sag i n a w , MI Gree k - A m e r ican Para d e Oakton Par k Frid a y- Sa t u rd a y , June 18-19 Greek Town 4701 Oakton Str eet, Sko k i e , IL 4:00 & 8:00 p.m. Halsted Str eet, Chicago, IL Sat u rd a y , May 22 Sun d a y , Mar ch 28 5:00 p.m. SS . Peter and Paul Church Fes t i va l 2:30 p.m . 1401 Wagner Road, Gle n v i e w , IL End of Year Orpheus You t h Frid a y , July 23 Washington Uni v ersity Alumni-St.L o u i s St. John The Baptist Church 7:00 & 8:00 p.m. Par thenon Res t a u ra n t Des Pla i n e s , IL 314 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL Sun d a y , May 23 Sun d a y , Mar ch 28 2:00 p.m . 2:30 p.m .

Pe rformance schedule and times are subject to change. For the latest information visit h t t p : / / w w w. o h f s . o rg.

practice sche d u l e Youth Grou p : Members ages 10-14 (Nort h b r ook and Glenview locations). Orpheus Adult Group Orpheus Youth Group: Be g i n n e r s : Members with little or no previous dance experie n c e . Beginner/Intermediate: Every Thursday at: Int e rm e d i a t e : Dancers who have shown prog r ess in the beginners’ 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. class attend the last hour of prac t i c e . At the discretion of the instruc t o r s , Intermediate/Advanced: St. John Lut h e r an Church the intermediate level dancers will be practicing in a separate line. 3020 Milwaukee Ave. 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. All dancers, especially beginners, are encouraged to obtain a Nort h b r ook, IL Every Thursday at: personal tape of the music used for perf o rm a n c e s, in order to pr actice on one’s own and become accustomed to the music. Ple a s e St. John Lut h e r an Church Every Saturday at: pr ovide Yannis or Kostas Economou with a blank cassette tape. 3020 Milwaukee Ave. 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Nort h b r ook, IL New Church Submissions for the Spr ing issue of Lyr a will be accepted until June 3, 2004. We are always (one mile north from the Multipurpose Room in t e r ested in educational essays/articles dealing with the subjects of Greek folk dance, folk intersection of Lak e / E uclid music, and folk trad i t i o n s . We continue to accept personal announcements and all other 74 Park Dr., Glenview, IL submissions pertinent to the dance troupe and its membership. If an individual wishes to and Milwaukee Ave. ) (one block west of Shermer/Glenview Rds) co n t r ibute material on a continuous basis, please inform the Edi t o r .