Meet us on the Dance Floor: Getting to Know Niko Harrington

Vasilios Aligiannis has an extensive and impressive resume within the Greek folk dance community. He is the founder and lead instructor of the Hellenic Lyceum Sydney. Below are excerpts from his remarkable CV. "My lifelong passion for Greek folk dance has led me on a remarkable journey of exploration and discovery throughout Greece. With over twenty five visits to this captivating country, I have immersed myself in its diverse regions, delving into the rich tapestry of its folk dance traditions. Through a meticulous blend of research and firsthand experience, my methodology encompasses a multifaceted approach aimed at uncovering the cultural nuances and significance of Greek folk dance.In essence, my research into Greek folk dance is a labor of love, fuelled by a deep-seated admiration for the beauty and resilience of this cherished tradition. Through my interdisciplinary approach and immersive experiences, I strive to illuminate the cultural significance of folk dance in Greece and contribute to its preservation for future generations to embrace and enjoy.My research methodology is characterised by its comprehensive and interdisciplinary nature, drawing upon elements of musicology, anthropology, and ethnography. Each trip to Greece involves meticulous planning, as I meticulously research areas and regions of interest, seeking out villages and local communities where folk dance traditions thrive. Upon arrival, I engage in immersive experiences, participating in festivals, workshops, and cultural events that celebrate Greek heritage.In my quest to understand Greek folk dance, I actively seek out opportunities to connect with villagers and locals who embody these traditions. By immersing myself in their communities, I gain firsthand knowledge of the customs, rituals, and social dynamics that underpin folk dance practices. I document these experiences through video recordings, photographs, and field notes, capturing the essence of daily life and cultural expression.A crucial aspect of my research involves the recording of interviews with key figures in the field of Greek folk dance. From local dancers and instructors to cultural experts and historians, these interviews serve as invaluable sources of insight into the origins, practices, and evolution of folk dance in Greece. Through these conversations, I aim to preserve oral histories and capture the diverse perspectives that shape this cherished cultural tradition. I also participate in one on one lessons of dance and learn these steps from firsthand.Throughout my research journey, I have forged meaningful connections with key organisations dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Greek folk dance. From the Lykeion Ellinidon to KEPEM (Center for Research on Greek Dance), Dora Stratou Greek Dance Theater and the Domna Samiou Foundation, I have collaborated with esteemed institutions that share my passion for safeguarding Greece's cultural heritage. Through these partnerships, I have access to resources, expertise, and networks that enrich my research endeavours. I have also made some amazing connections with people involved in Greek dance e.g. Alkis Raftis, Lefteris Drandakis and Kostas Mitsis."Regions of ExpertiseArkadia / Messinia, in the Peloponnese.Naousa and the Boules Dromena in Macedonia.Syrrako, Tzoumerka Region, in Epirus.Konitsa and the Mastorohoria Region, in Epirus.Roumlouki Imathias, in Macedonia.Kalymnos/Leros, in the Dodecanese Islands.Palia Roumata Village, outside Chania, in Cretehttps://www.greekdancing.com.auEpisode Music: Kostas Mitsis

Vasiliki Malamatos is the director of Epanastasi Dance Troupe at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Worth, Texas; and the founder & director of Rizes HDF. Epanastasi is a young-adult competitive dance troupe that she started back in January of 2024 and is an official ministry of the St. Demetrios parish in Fort Worth, Texas. Epanastasi will be hosting Rizes HDF on January 25: a parish level event encouraging dance groups within the Denver Metropolis & beyond to attend for a first ever HDF event in the area. Vasiliki grew up on the East Coast & has been dancing all of her life. She grew up in New Jersey & attended the Ascension Fairview parish where she competed at their own HDF: “Sights & Sounds”. At the age of 17, she & her family moved to Florida where she completed her final year of GOYA & Dance at the Tarpon Springs Parish with Levendia. She then moved to Boston, MA where she attended Hellenic College Holy Cross from 2016-2020 where she met her husband, Theodore Malamatos. They got married in Florida & relocated to Fort Worth, Texas in February 2022 for his job. Vasiliki is first generation Greek & was raised in a home where Greek tradition & culture was always prevalent & important. Vasiliki & her family are Vlachoi (Vlachs) from Thessalia. Her father was born and raised in a Vlachochori (Vlach-speaking village) called “Kalochori”, located just outside of Larisa. Vlachika was her fathers first language, & their village of Kalochori still practices their Vlach customs & traditions (ex: speaking Vlachika, Vlach music & dance at their annual Panigiria, etc). Her mother is from a village in Trikala called “Mavrelli”, located north of Kalambaka. Vasiliki is very proud of her Greek Vlach roots. She visits her villages in Greece as often as she can where she spends her summers with family. While there, attending every Panigiri is always on the list of things to do. She was raised listening to her region's music, so she loves all things Klarino, Epirotika, and Thessalika. Vasiliki also runs a private business: DFW Greek Social Club. It is a private Greek event promotional business where she brings various different Greek cultural events to the DFW Metroplex, such as: Greek Nights, Greek Concerts, Greek Comedy Shows, etc. The events are for all ages because Vasiliki feels that Greek culture is for everyone. Greek culture is intergenerational and she wants everyone in the community to be able to come together to bond over their Greek culture. Vasiliki is very passionate about preserving Greek culture & tradition in the diaspora. She feels that it is important we equip the next generation with the tools needed to preserve our traditions and culture. If we fail to do so, it is so easy for our culture to slip through the cracks and die off. We need strong events, outlets, and more to keep this younger generation hungry for their culture so that they themselves will grow up and want to pass the torch to the next generation, & so-on.www.stdemetrios.netEpisode Music: ΞΕΝΙΤΕΜΕΝΟ ΜΟΥ ΠΟΥΛΙ (Πωγώνι) - Ηπειρώτικα τραγούδια

Eleni Koubi is a Greek fashion designer who founded her own brand in 2021.The philosophy behind the clothes is that the garment a person wears is not only meant to meet their physical needs and to highlight their beauty, but is an expression of their personality and cultural identity. The brand is promoting sustainability through garments that are not mass produced but instead a few pieces are launched in each collection that are created ethically and made mostly from natural materials, such as cotton, wool or silk, in order to minimize waste.Greek folk tradition and the Greek elements are the dominant sources of inspiration for the designs, since the designer believes that Greek culture is an endless source of inspiration and an expression of timeless values. Beauty is the dominant value of the Greek culture and every fashion piece aims to capture this essence. The values of the Greek elements are not only historical but have the ability to shape the aesthetics of people over time through generations.Instagram: EleniKoubiOfficialhttps://elenikoubi.com/Episode Music Credit: Manolis Kottoros, Live in Santorini, 2021

Michelle is a member of the Greek American Folklore Society based in Astoria, Queens. Michelle was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Athens, with roots in Volos, then moved to San Diego at the age of eight. She proudly both Greek and Filipina but for the purposes of this podcast will focus on the Greek American experience. After moving to the US she found community in the St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church and first FDF was in Anaheim 1997 (?) and continued dancing while in grad school with the St Sophia GOC in Los Angeles. When she moved to New York she joined GAFS and is always seeking to build connections across the various religious and cross-cultural organizations. She has taught various age ranges and people of different backgrounds, with a core belief that this dance, this joy, is for everyone. When you dance with Michelle, the circle is always open.Michelle serves as an organizer and webmaster for GAFS and supports the artistic director Vaia Allagianis and president Anastasia Tsantes. The organization is completely run by volunteers, and at times seems raucous and it is a miracle and a blessing. Like many organizations out there, Greek dance is a labor of love. I thank Vaia and Anastasia and all our volunteers and dancers for showing up every week.We have the benefit of a legacy of dance research from Paul. We have the institutional knowledge from Vaia and Anastasia. We have the proximity to Greek cultural and religious organizations in Astoria. We have the luxury of not aligning directly with a church or syllogo. We are an independent folklore society that has survived for 41 years and we can only continue to grow by building more connections and showing up. Just like you. Thanks for showing up every day and opening the door.About GAFS: https://youtu.be/Eb81baTEBds?si=DiG-mqh59kKSHiOYhttp://www.greekamericanfolkloresociety.org/IG: GreekDancewithMichelleEpisode Music Credit: Yiannis Mandas

Haralambos (Harry) Koutroumanis was born and raised in Tampa, FL, and moved to Charlotte, NC, in 2023 after graduating from the University of Florida in Gainesville with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Finance. His folk dance research primarily focuses on the island of Crete.Harry gained interest in Greek folk music and dance through the Cretan Sillogo of Clearwater in 2017, and also began dancing with the Hellas Dancers of Holy Trinity Clearwater. Despite having no Cretan origin, he fell in love with the sound and style of Crete. He attended his first HDF in 2018 with Hellas Dancers, and competed with them at FDF 2019. He later joined Afieroma in Gainesville and competed at HDF from 2022-2023. He is currently a co-instructor for Charlotte’s adult HDF team, Filodoxia.Much of Harry’s initial knowledge of Crete consisted of the typical Pan-Cretan, modern style of dance, which has been widely adopted as “Cretan Dance”. After attending FDF, he began to realize that Cretan dance has deeper roots than the typical 5 or 6 “Dances of Crete”, which spurred him to begin questioning what he had learned of Greek Dance in general. Harry began collecting research on the customs and traditions of Crete, with a primary focus on the Noumo of Rethymno. He traveled to Crete in the summer of 2024 to conduct his own first-hand research on the area of Rethymno. His goal as a researcher is to preserve village-specific idiosyncrasies in dance and music, and to study how the same dances from the same areas have evolved over time. Harry emphasizes the different styles of dance and music, primarily within Crete, throughout specific timeframes and how they’ve changed.To contact Harry for research support 813-455-3665Music Credit: Alexandros Papadakis

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_00Episode 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!!-----------PARAKLESIS to the Pantanassa (Mother of God)Healer of Cancer 2023NEW 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 2009Second Cd release: “Akathist to the Mother of God, Healer of Cancer” in 2015About 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...

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