Syrtos

Charlie Kleto was born in Charlotte NC and is now living in Miami FL working as a physical therapist. He began dancing in Charlotte when he was in kindergarten and competed in his first HDF in 7th grade. Charlie began directing in 2011 and took his first group to compete at HDF 2012. While directing for Holy Trinity in Charlotte, he was also competing with Thrylos in the advanced senior category. Over 6 years ago Charlie moved to Miami for graduate school and very soon began directing the high school group at St George in Hollywood FL. 4 years ago, Charlie created Filiki Etaireia, the adult dance group in South Florida with dancers from Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton Florida. HDF 2025 will be his 4th competition with Filiki Etaireia in the advanced senior category. He enjoys long walks on the beach and dancing in the rain.

Jersey born and SoFla raised, Chloe started folk dancing at the age of 15 with the Kamaria Dance Troupe at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL under the direction of Stephanie Balaskas and later, Emmy Louvaris, and competed at her first HDF Competition in 2007 in Clearwater, Fl. She continued on to direct her first festival group during her undergraduate years at Florida State University at the Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church in Tallahassee, FL. 

In 2013, Chloe moved to Charlotte, NC where she joined the Thrylos Dance Troupe under the direction of Sarantos Kaperonis, competing at both HDF & FDF; whilst also directing festival & HDF competition groups at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

While, her specific dance research interests focus on the refugees from Asia Minor, Turkey, & Eastern Thrace, her passion for Greek Folk Dance centers around the love and respect of community. 

“Dance is love. Dance is connection. I have made some of the best friendships of my life through dance, going to workshops, and attending HDF!” 

You’ll find Chloe announcing - your group potentially- on the HDF stage, or shouting “yaaaassssss” off stage. She’ll also make her return to the directors chair for this upcoming competition in 2025! 

When she’s not on the dance floor, Chloe owns and operates her MedSpa suite, The Iron Orchid Aesthetic Haus, in Cornelius, NC…….while also waiting until the last minute to pack for every HDF weekend. ✌🏻😎

IG: @chloesavvidesofficial @ironorchidskin

Michael is a native of Knoxville, TN, a self-taught luthier and a lover of Crete. Join us as we chat about his experience and learn how he got to know and love Crete and its culture! You can find Michael on Instagram @mchambers_00

Episode music: The Anemos Music Project

We are thrilled to kick off season 7 of the Syrtos podcast with Charissa Gianos from Denver, CO! Thank you Charissa for your patience as we navigate a new recording set up for season 7!

Don't miss the Kefi at Mile High Dance Workshop and Glendi, September 20-22, in Denver, CO!

Also, be sure to listen to the entire episode to learn about some of the amazing CDs Charissa has recorded.

Charissa Gianos is the Director of the Denver Dynamis Hellenic competition dance group, and Vice Chair of the Hellenic Dance Academy, a.k.a. HDA, a ministry established at the Assumption of the Theotokos Cathedral in Denver, CO under the guidance of Fr. Jordan Brown. She has been actively dancing in the Denver dance group since she was 10 years old, performing at all their festivals and other city venues, and began instructing younger groups at her church at 17 when their dance instructor moved to California. She's always had a passion for Greek Dance, coming from a very musical family who always sang and danced Greek, even in their home growing up. Throughout her dance career she remained steady in the church's program, taking a hiatus while having two children, and started instructing again when her son began middle school. She taught throughout his middle/high school years, and then continued with her daughter's middle/high school years. Eight years ago she established their competitive dance group, Denver Dynamis Hellenic who has successfully competed at HDF with a group between 17 - 20 dancers of which her two kids are a part, winning Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards! The HDA Committee established a beautiful mission statement, which embodies the ethos of what Greek dance means to our ministry: To Instill Our Greek Orthodox Faith through Prayer, Almsgiving and Worship; To Continue the Tradition of Hellenism from our amazing Greek Heritage in Orthodox Youth and Adults; To Embrace and Value Traditional Greek Folk Dances and Authentic Costumes throughout Greece through Music, Song and Fellowship.

Charissa believes Greek dance brings Kefi to one's life, which in a deeper sense joins us to the rich heritage and beauty of our Motherland Greece. Greek dance is good for the heart and soul, and when hands are entwined together in dance, a bond takes place creating connection between people and producing an amazing richness of joy. 

Zito O Horos!!

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PARAKLESIS to the Pantanassa (Mother of God)

Healer of Cancer 

2023

NEW Cd Release:  “Paraklesis to the Pantanassa, Healer of Cancer”.  This latest release of the Akathist to the Mother of God is for all people to pray for healing of cancer and all diseases.

This Paraklesis Cd is a full Paraklesis Service. The Service is taken from the Greek Service sung in Greek by the monks from the Monastery of Vatopedi. This is the latest of Charissa Gianos’ three Cd’s, having also recorded:

First Cd release:  “Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children” in 2009

Second Cd release: “Akathist to the Mother of God, Healer of Cancer” in 2015

About the Chant:

The music is Byzantine Chant sung in English by Fr. Chrysostomos Gilbert, Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in NYC, and Charissa Gianos.  Charissa Gianos is a parishioner at Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Denver and has sung on several Cds including each of Fr. Apostolos Hill’s Cds, as well as all five Cds produced by the Denver Choir under the Directorship of Dr. James N. Maniatis, being featured as a soloist. She also recorded with Eikona on their Cd: “Abundant Mercy, The Polyeleos”. Charissa has also written three Orthodox children’s books: “Yes! Christouli Loves Me”, “Yes, The Theotokos Loves Me!”, and “Yes, We celebrate Pascha!” All Cd's are streaming and can be found on several platforms.

 Featured on this Cd are: Katerina (Therianos) Lynch who chanted on Charissa’s Cds , “Akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children” and “Akathist to the Mother of God, Healer of Cancer”, as well as chanting on Charissa’s first book, “Yes! Christouli Loves Me!”. She has sung on two professionally recorded Cds, Songs (Eikona) and Awesome! I am Multiplying., as well as Cds from the Denver Choir. She is currently married with two children and directs the Junior Choir at the Assumption Cathedral in Denver.  Athanasia (Dorrance) Poulos chants on this Cd, and has chanted on Eikona’s Cds and the Denver Choir Cds, and is currently directing the Children’s Choir at St. Catherine GOC in Greenwood Village, CO. She is married with two children. Janie Gianotsos also chants on this Cd as well as the first two Cds Charissa recorded. She has an extensive background in music, and is also responsible for the artwork on this and the previous Cds. She is married with one son.

I thank my husband Lambros, my two children, Niko and Christiana, my mother Athena Diamond and my brother Dan Diamond for their love, editing, help and faithful support of all the Cds and books.  I would also like to thank all those who contributed greatly to this project: award-winning sound engineer Steve Avedis, Michael Stefanoudakis, Proto Psalti at the Assumption Cathedral in Denver, my extended family and friends, my spiritual fathers Fr. Demetrius Nicoloudakis and Fr. Apostolos Hill, and all my spiritual sisters in Christ who prayed endlessly for this project.  I would like to thank Janie Gianotsos who helped with the artwork and design for this Cd.  I am so grateful to everyone!  May Christ our true God be worshipped and glorified, for to Him belongs praise, worship and glory, always and forever and to the ages of ages -Amen.

Episode Music: The Anemos Music Project

Niko, born and raised in the Kansas City area, his mom is an immigrant from Greece, and has always made Greek culture important to Niko and his sister. Niko plays Cretan lyra, and bouzouki. He works as a paramedic and firefighter.

Episode music: The Anemos Music Project

The mission established by founder Niki Dimotaki-Sokolove and His Eminence was to instill the culture and tradition of Hellenism and the appreciation of this great heritage in the Greek Orthodox youth of the Boston Metropolis through fellowship, learning, folk dances, and songs. The program of instruction was designed by Kiria Νίκi to emphasize the authentic aspects of Greek folk dance, including music recorded with regional instruments and costumes hand-sewn by ελληνοράφτες.

Today, under the direction of Dr. John Pappas, the program strives to maintain the established mission and uphold the authenticity of our heritage while building upon the foundations set by Niki Dimotaki-Sokolove and His Eminence.

Kefi Conference 

The Metropolis of Boston Dance Group is thrilled to announce the first ever international dance conference in Boston which will take place October 11-14, 2024. Participation from multiple states in the US and regions of Canada are expected to attend. 

Dance workshops will be led by instructors from Greece who preserve the authentic styles of the dances of their region. 

Metropolis of Boston Dance Group Instagram

Kefi Dance Conference Instagram

Kefi Dance Conference Facebook

Episode Music: Manolis Kottoros

Yia Mas is founded by Greek American Kristina Maria Headrick. After witnessing the effects of Greece's devastating financial crisis on friends and family, Kristina felt compelled to share more about the country's culture and support Greece by bringing Greek wellness products to America. 

Yia Mas marries Kristina's Greek upbringing with her research on Greek philosophy, dance, design, and culture. Kristina's curiosity and appreciation for self-inquiry inspire her to share Greek folk remedies and ancient traditions and promote Greece beyond the usual diaspora narrative. 

Kristina holds a degree in history from the University of Virginia. She has extensive experience studying yoga and meditation (200-hour RYT, 100-hour meditation teacher training with Nalanda Institute of Contemplative Science, 75-hour training with Katonah Yoga, and the Mentorship program at Sky Ting Yoga in NYC). With a background in writing and digital marketing, her work attempts to bridge the gap between our increasingly digital realities and tactile experiences. She balances digital work with teaching movement and meditation, including in corporate and co-working space settings in New York City. 

Instagram:

@yia.mas

@kristinadelphi

www.yia-mas.com

Episode music: Manolis Kottoros

Kaeli McEnteer was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina and has been Greek dancing for 15 years. She has just begun directing, having just concluded her first year as director of the Raleigh adult dance troupe “Ischis”. She grew up heavily involved with her home parish of Holy Trinity where her passion for dance was unlocked. Over the years Kaeli has expanded her knowledge of traditional dance through her former directors, going to HDF, doing her own research, attending workshops, and getting involved with other parishes. Kaeli is extremely passionate about dances from the region of Thrace and also enjoys the islands. Outside of Greek dance she is currently a Doctor of Physical Therapy Student.

Andonis Platis is the adult director for Orpheus Hellenic Folklore Society based out of Chicago, IL. A seasoned cardiac medical device professional, he began his career as a perfusionist and researcher in the field of heart failure while also teaching for the community of Saint Demetrios in Tucson, AZ; his hometown. His “καταγωγή” is from the Axaia region near Aigio and Kalavryta. Since college, Andoni found Greek dance as a passionate hobby with on-going research and field studies with particular attention to the Aegean and Ionian islands.  His particular interests lie in the role of the female lead within song and dance as well as mentoring aspiring instructors through research guidance and leadership skills. He has attended numerous workshops in America, Canada and Greece, conducted field research and been a part of FDF/HDF since the age of 12. He is married to Elpida and has 3 children, Georgia, Yianni and Areti.

Zaharoula Zogopoulos was born in New York City. She began her Greek folk dance studies while attending the St. Demetrios Day School of Astoria, NY where the love of Hellenic traditions was instilled in her from a young age. She began choreographing her highschool Greek Dance Team and performed with the Pan-Macedonian Association of New York. Parallel to her Greek folk dancing, she continued to train in classical dance in NYC. She went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Theater, Dance and Choreography from CUNY Queens College, where she was awarded the “Farah Marcellus Award for Outstanding Choreography”. Zaharoula also holds a Master’s of Education Degree, certified in Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Dance Education (K-12).

She founded the Greek Dance Program of the Archangel Michael Church in Long Island in 1999. Since then, the program has grown exponentially. Zaharoula has presented her work in many Hellenic cultural and charity events. The Archangelos program has also participated in the Parathosi Archdiocesan Competition of NY since 2017. In 2020, her dancers participated in the Greek Orthodox Folk Dance & Choral Festival (FDF) for the first time. Zaharoula continued directing for FDF, and most recently competed in the Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF) in 2023 making Archangel Michael Church the first church from New York to compete in such national competitions.

In her classes, she strives to create a warm and safe space for all children to feel inspired and learn the beautiful Hellenic customs through song and dance. Her mission remains to continue learning and growing as a dancer, director, researcher and choreographer. Zaharoula continues to conduct her research in Greece/US as authentically as possible with renowned dance experts as well as village elders and locals.

Episode Music Credit: Manolis Kottors