Syrtos

Syrtos Podcast

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Performing Arts
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Chronicling Greek and Cypriot folk dance and music, one episode at a time, with guests from across the globe. Hosted by @mariaseva9 @givi351 and guest cohosts.

Aug 30

S10E7: John Lulias

John Lulias was raised in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and is a second generation Greek-American. John has been involved in the Greek community and Greek Folk Arts all of his life and learned Greek fluently as a child. In 1974, after graduating from the University of Florida, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and became part of the Greek dance troupe, Terpsichoreans. It was there that he began to study and really learn the intricacies of Greek dance style and love for anything Greek. Upon his return to Tarpon Springs in 1979, John formed the dance troupe Levendia and developed this group into one of the premier Greek folk dance troupes in the United States. He directed the group for more than 20 years. The group traveled throughout the United States and Canada, the Bahamas, and Greece, promoting, perpetuating, and preserving the Greek culture through song and dance. John was co-curator of The Dodecanese Islands, an exhibit featuring artifacts, costumes, and recreated room settings from the Dodecanese Islands in Greece, at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center. On October 3, 2003, John received a University of Florida (UF) award for his years of work teaching Greek dances. He has been on the Advisory Council of the Center for Greek Studies at UF. John has done workshops throughout the United States, has been a judge at the Greek Folk Dance Festival in California, and was the founder of the Winter Dance Conference in Tarpon Springs. John was also on the first board that started the Hellenic Dance Festival for the Atlanta Metropolis. In 2014, John was awarded the Florida Folk Heritage Award for significant contributions to Florida's cultural heritage through his outstanding achievements as a lifelong advocate of traditional Greek dance. Today John tries to keep Greece alive in the Tampa Bay area by helping with cultural exchanges, organizing events for the community, and bringing groups and travelers to Greece. The Greek roots instilled by his parents have played an important part in the lives of both John and his brother, Archbishop Nikitas of Great Britain and Thyateira.
Aug 22

S10E7: Πες μου

Kristina from Yia.Mas and Maria sit down to talk about Kabanes, and more importantly the trivialization of folk culture.
Apr 4

S10E6: Research to Stage..continued

We continued our conversation from the Ethos 2026 panel, with some new guests to try to connect to what research means in Greek folk dance, and how that research is presented on stage. Lots of discussion and laughs later, it's safe to say we need a part 3, 4, 5 to this. Thank you to our guests: Dean Avdalas, Dimitris Dallas, Bobby Garofalis, and Andonis Platis!
Mar 31

S10E5: Ethos Panel Replay

In collaboration with the Hellenic Performing Arts Foundation, the 2026 Ethos Conference panel discussion centered on bringing research to stage. This episode features the recorded panel. For more information on the Ethos virtual conference and to view other presentations please visit www.hellenicperformingarts.org Panel Guests: Charlie Kleto Dean Avdalas Bobby Garofalis Moderated by: Paul Calzada
Feb 24

S10E4: Bess Stathakis

Bess Stathakis is an Atlanta native with a lifelong passion for Greek dance and culture. She serves as the Director of the Atlanta Greek dance program, instructs as well as dances with the Atlanta adult dance group, and is a member of the management team for the Hellenic Dance Festival. She is deeply committed to preserving and celebrating Hellenic heritage as she desires to continue to honor and pass down these traditions that helped shaped her own life. Beyond the dance floor, she is a proud wife and soon-to-be mother of two, inspired by her family, faith, and the Greek community that surrounds her. Episode Music: Kostas Mitsis
Feb 18

S10E3: Ellie Falaris Ganelin

Ellie Falaris Ganelin is the director of the Kombos Collective, which she founded in 2011 under the name Greek Chamber Music Project (GCMP). She is a classically trained flutist who welcomes other traditions into the fold, including jazz, Latin, Balkan and klezmer music. She is active as a performer of chamber and orchestral music in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is committed to making classical music inviting and accessible for all as an ambassador and performer for the Awesöme Orchestra Collective. Born and raised in the United States, Ellie is Greek and Croatian-American, whose father hails from Thessaloniki. She’s a proficient speaker and lifelong learner of Modern Greek. Her work with the Kombos Collective has been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and deepen her Hellenic heritage. Ellie received her B.A. in Music from the University of Maryland, where she also holds a B.A. in Journalism and a Minor in French. For many years, Ellie had a dual career in nonprofit communications, while simultaneously presenting GCMP concerts. https://kombosmusic.com/ Episode Music: Kombos Collective, Kanari Mou Glyko, Vardari, Kombos Collective, 2025
Feb 12 · Bonus

βήματα Ελευθερίας: March 2026

Join Vaia and Michelle from GAFS to learn a little more about the 2026 βήματα Ελευθερίας event in Astoria, Queens! For more information, and group pricing, including a preferred hotel rate and registration discount visit the GAFS website: https://www.greekamericanfolkloresociety.org/ Episode music: Kostas Mitsis
Feb 11

S10E2: Georgios Glynatsis

Georgios Glynatsis is the director of the Afieroma dance troupe at St. Elizabeth the Wonderworker Greek Orthodox Church in Gainesville, Florida. This year marked his debut directing Afieroma on the HDF stage, where he presented suites from Kalymnos and Kremasti, Zarakas. A second-generation Greek-American, Georgios was raised in Tarpon Springs, Florida, deeply immersed in Kalymnian culture and traditions. Frequent summer trips to Kalymnos provided constant exposure to his heritage, dancing with his family at every opportunity. He is currently completing his undergraduate degree in Medical Physics at the University of Florida.

Trailer

Syrtos: Introduction

Welcome to the Syrtos Podcast! Join us for episodes that center around Greek folk dance, culture and history. For more information, or to be a guest on the podcast, please email SyrtosPodcast@gmail.com

Chronicling Greek and Cypriot folk dance and music, one episode at a time, with guests from across the globe. Hosted by @mariaseva9 @givi351 and guest cohosts.

Creator

Syrtos Podcast
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

84
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Syrtos Podcast
Show Website

Syrtos