The Orpheus New Year's Party took place once again at Jimmy's Restaurant and it proved to be another fun, full of dancing event
(Des Plaines, IL - December 2009)

Everybody is having a great time under the music direction of DJ AlexK.
(Des Plaines, IL - December 2009)

Da Guys, Niko and Sis, Who are these people, time to get the bubbly ready
(Des Plaines, IL - December 2009)

Some family moments
(Des Plaines, IL - December 2009)

KALH CRONIA - HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Orpheus youth and adult group opened the presentation with a traditional carol song "Saranta Meres, Saranta Nihtes" from the region of Thrace
(Chicago, IL - December 2009)

Group I of the Orpheus Youth group opened the dance presentations
(Chicago, IL - December 2009)

Members of the Orpheus Youth group giving a brief history of the dances presented
(Chicago, IL - December 2009)

Group III of the Orpheus Youth group presented a suite of songs and dances from the island of Kerkira (Corfu).
(Chicago, IL - December 2009)

The Orpheus music group accompanied the dance presentations
(Chicago, IL - December 2009)

The Orpheus Adult group members pose for a group picture at the end if their dance presentation
(Chicago, IL - December 2009)

Agios Vassilis dropped by the Orpheus Youth practice to spread some joy and cheer.
(Northbrook, IL - December 2009)

Bessie proudly displays what Agios Vassilis brought her
(Northbrook, IL - December 2009)

Members of the Orpheus Youth group after getting their candy canes
(Northbrook, IL - December 2009)

Agios Vassilis with some of his helpers
(Northbrook, IL - December 2009)

Agios Vassilis also dropped by the Glenview youth practice site
(Glenview, IL - December 2009)

Yanni and Kostas proclaiming Agios Vassilis an honorary member of Orpheus!!
Kai Tou Xronou!
(Glenview, IL - December 2009)

Orpheus participated for a third year at the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.
Orpheus also was one of the groups selected to give a performance during the pre-parade festivities.
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

Jimmy was once again engaging the audience in numerous 'OPA' renditions.
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

Members of the Orpheus Adult and Youth groups danced throughout the parade route under the familiar tunes of Kalamatianos, Mantilatos, Endeka and others.
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

Group picture at the end of the parade
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

A couple of Orpheus members participated at the 2009 'Horepse' dance conference.  Kostas, Effie, Mary pictured with dance instructors Kyriakos Moisidis and Katerina Asteriou-Kavazi
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

Kyriakos Moisidis taught a set of dances from Goumenissa and Gianitsa, Macedonia
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

A dance conference won't be complete without the presence of Greek dance aficionado Joe Graziosi.
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

Taking a stroll at the Las Vegas strip
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

The Saturday night glendi event featured some top notch musicians directly from Greece, Georgios Deliolanis (trumpet), Yannis Mavros (clarinet), Tasoula Kosmidou (percussion) and from California Lise Leipman (accordion)
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

Kostas with musicians Tasoula, Lise and George
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

Mary, Anna from Edmonton, Katerina, Effie and Kostas
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

Group picture of the participants during the last day of the conference
(Las Vegas, NV - November 2009)

The Orpheus delegation in front of the Hellenic Christmas Tree during the Christmas Around the World Reception at the Museum of Science and Industry
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

Christina, Paul, Catherine and Angelo enjoying the nice food and company at the reception
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

Kostas and Bessie short-lived adventure as train engineers
(Chicago, IL - November 2009)

Orpheus had the pleasure of welcoming to practice three visiting musicians from Greece.  The guest musicians were accompanying folk singer Lalezas in a concert appearance.
(Northbrook, IL - October 2009)

Needless to say there was plenty of dancing that covered quite a few regions of Greece.
(Northbrook, IL - October 2009)

Presvytera Stefanie (left) and Nina (right), joined Marina Manolakou (middle) in some folk singing
(Northbrook, IL - October 2009)

Theodoris Tasoulas in clarinet
(Northbrook, IL - October 2009)

The Orpheus Youth Group kicked off the new 2009-10 year.  Pictured students from the Northbrook branch.
(Northbrook, IL - September 2009)

Practicing at the Glenview facility
(Glenview, IL - September 2009)

The Orpheus Youth and Adult groups performed during the Hellenic American Academy festival.
(Deerfield, IL - September 2009)

The Orpheus Youth members were called to 'duty' a week early from the start of the 2009-10 Youth year.
(Deerfield, IL - September 2009)

The girls performing 'Kori Eleni' from Macedonia.
(Deerfield, IL - September 2009)

Zacharias and Eleni during s Sousta moment.
(Deerfield, IL - September 2009)

A lot of known and unknown people had a chance to visit the Orpheus booth during the 'Taste of Greece' festivities.  Among them TV personality Lou Kanelis.
(Chicago, IL - August 2009)

Some familiar faces made their appearances on the dance performing circuit, Dino, Elpida and Andonis.
(Chicago, IL - August 2009)

Another Kouchoukos family moment.
(Chicago, IL - August 2009)

Program started with Issos and Sousta from the island of Kalymnos
(Chicago, IL - August 2009)

And ended with Koulouriastos from Thrace
(Chicago, IL - August 2009)

A final bow at the conclusion of the performance
(Chicago, IL - August 2009)

Orpheus had the distinct honor to be one of the groups invited to participate at the 7th Midwest Fiddle Championship
(Chicago, IL - July 2009)

Alexander, Eleni, Nina and Ethel
(Chicago, IL - July 2009)

Danielle, Angelo and Izaki sitting in front of the Irish group
(Chicago, IL - July 2009)

A close up look of the Orpheus performers.
This year lineup included five bands representing a wide spectrum of music and dance styles, swing and tap, Celtic, Mexican, and American old-time and clogging. Orpheus came away with a third place finish with the top honors going to Los Pichardos from Mexico.
(Chicago, IL - July 2009)

Orpheus members performed at the annual St. Nicholas Church Festival
(Oak Lawn, IL - June 2009)

The audience had a chance to enjoy a suite of dances from Thrace and the Greek islands
(Oak Lawn, IL - June 2009)

A Pyrgousikos moment
(Oak Lawn, IL - June 2009)

Pauline, Kostas, Eleutheria, Alexander and Niki
(Oak Lawn, IL - June 2009)

On May 31ts the End of the Year Youth Event took place at Giordano's Pizza in Morton Grove.  The host was the Mavrakis family who made sure their newly remodeled restaurant opened on time to host the event.  Bessie and Kostas presented Ted and Carol Mavrakis a memento gift from the Orpheus Youth group.
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

Angelo receiving his graduation certificate.
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

A certificate was also given to all members of the Orpheus junior music groups from their instructors, George Lawler and Eve Monzingo.
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

The second award was given to Paige Arvanitis
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

The was plenty food and drinks as youth members and their parents packed the restaurant
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

Kathy Pappas lighting up the candles to celebrate two anniversaries, the 10th year anniversary of the Orpheus Youth group and the 20th Year anniversary of the Orpheus dance group.
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

It is time to start the dancing compliments of the Orpheus Junior music groups.
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

You know everybody is having fun when they start singing on their own.
It was another memorable End of the Year Youth event that put an end to a VERY BUSY month of May.
(Morton Grove, IL - May 2009)

Members of the Orpheus music group joined members of the Lamajamal group at St. Andrews Church at the reception commemorating the fall of Constantinople in May of 1453.
(Chicago, IL - May 2009)

It is Memorial Day weekend and that means a trip to St. Louis to participate at Assumption's Church Greek Festival and meet up with our friends from the local dance group 'Kyklos'
(St. Louis, MO - May 2009)

The guys during some Tsamiko action
(St. Louis, MO - May 2009)

Pictured with the Church's youth group dancers
(St. Louis, MO - May 2009)

Having fun in St. Louis after the performances
(St. Louis, MO - May 2009)

The Orpheus Youth group along with the Orpheus music group took part at the 2nd Family Fun and Music Festival organized by the Midwest Young Artists music school
(Highwood, IL - May 2009)

Two presentations were given one indoors and one outdoors.
(Highwood, IL - May 2009)

Taking advantage of the nice weather, it was time to just dance and play music in a more natural outdoors setting
(Highwood, IL - May 2009)

Christina, Panayiota, Elizabeth,Christina and Astero
(Highwood, IL - May 2009)

Members of Group III of the Orpheus youth group
(Highwood, IL - May 2009)

Orpheus family members had also the chance to enjoy the nice surroundings and festivities
(Highwood, IL - May 2009)

Members of the Chicago Hellenic Choir and Orpheus joined forces during the Chicago Hellenic Choir's Spring Recital
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Marianna, Georgia, Nikki and Pauline
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Members of the Junior and Youth Chicago Hellenic Choirs
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos congratulates the director of the Chicago Hellenic Choir Eftihia Papageorgiou at the conclusion of the presentation.
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Orpheus participated at the 19th Skokie Festival of Cultures.  For the last 18 years Orpheus has been part of the festival.
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Bessie with a Japanese performer.
The annual two-day "Tour of the World" festival features ethnic folk music and dance, food, art and craft, international children's games, a merchandise bazaar, and dozens of cultural booths and displays.
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Alexander with some unspecified performer
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Presvytera Stefanie, Ethel, Nicole and Effie.
It was another busy pre-Memorial weekend as immediately after the performance just a couple of blocks away Orpheus would be the guest performer at the Chicago's Hellenic Spring recital.
(Skokie, IL - May 2009)

Orpheus celebrated its 20th anniversary with an inspiring concert that took place on April 25th at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

The first part of the program included a couple of traditional mainland dances like Kalamatianos and Tsamikos.
Renown clarinet player Jim Stoyanoff accompanies the Orpheus dancers
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

Group I of the Orpheus Youth group
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

Group III of the Orpheus Youth group presented a suite of dances from Macedonia
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

Group II of the Orpheus Youth group presented a suite of dances from Thrace
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

The second part of the program included a joined choral presentation with the Chicago Hellenic Choir under the direction of Eftihia Papageorgiou
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

Beth Cohen and Panayioti League accompanied the Orpheus dance group during their Kalymnian suite of dances
(Skokie, IL - April 2009)

The music and dancing continued non-stop at the after concert gathering
(Glenview, IL - April 2009)

It was time to relax and enjoy the big success of the concert
(Glenview, IL - April 2009)

A lot of hard work was put into preparing for the big event.
Beth, Panayioti and Anna practicing some of the songs
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

At the end of the extra practice session Friday night the day before the concert.
(Northbrook, IL - April 2009)

There was also time left for some sightseeing around the Chicago land area.
Attending the 'Chorus Line' musical at the Oriental Theater.
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

Anna and the Grosso family at their house
(Northbrook, IL - April 2009)

It was another eventful parade as the weather elements made their presence in the form of hail, snow , rain and wind.  But the show must go on and the Orpheus members made their presence felt throughout the parade route.
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

Marching down Halsted Street at Chicago's Greek Town.
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

Eleni and Niki.  Members of Orpheus performed double duty as they manned also the Pan-Hellenic Scholarship float.
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

Louisa, Demi and Dino
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

Patricia and Niko
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

Christian, Astero and Sofia
(Chicago, IL - April 2009)

The Honorable Consul General of Greece Mr. and Mrs. Petrovas with members of the Orpheus dance group during the General's Consul Greek Independence Day reception at the Chicago Cultural Center
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

Girls wearing the Karagouna costume
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

A suite of mainland Greek folk dances were presented
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

The guys during a Tsamiko moment
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

Jimmy goes airborne with Peter's assistance
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

Eleutheria and Eleni
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

The Orpheus Youth group performed at the Greek American Nursing Center commemorating the upcoming Greek Independence Day.
(Wheeling, IL - March 2009)

Christina and Nicole singing Greek folk songs
(Wheeling, IL - March 2009)

Members of the Orpheus Junior group accompanied the dancers
(Wheeling, IL - March 2009)

At the end of the program residents of the center joined the dance line with members of the Orpheus youth group
(Wheeling, IL - March 2009)

Parents of the Orpheus Youth members assemble flowers and cards signed by the dancers to be given to residents of the center
(Wheeling, IL - March 2009)

Some of the residents could not hold their joyful emotions after receiving the flowers and cards
(Wheeling, IL - March 2009)

Members of the Orpheus dance and music group participated in the Passport to the World festivities at Navy Pier.
The Orpheus 20th Year Anniversary banner was prominently displayed throughout the presentations.

(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

Paul demonstrating the Zeibekiko dance
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

The next day (due to an unexpected bus malfunction) members of the Orpheus dance group and the Chicago Hellenic Choir conducted a mini Greek dance workshop for the audience members (instead of the scheduled choir presentation).
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

The event was organized by the Navy Pier Children's Museum and the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, exploring Chicago's Greek community through music, dance, art, and the universal language of play.
Pictured with Vivian Haritos, Manager of Education of the Hellenic Museum and Alexandra Rafilis, Community Programs Manager of the Chicago Children's Museum
(Chicago, IL - March 2009)

It is that time of the year and the Orpheus family and friends commemorated the beginning of another exciting year with the 2009 Vasilopita celebration.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Time to get some food and gather up some strength for all the fun activities to follow.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

The Orpheus music group (Strings ensemble) started the entertainment.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

It is time to turn the action up an notch courtesy of virtuoso clarinetist Jim Stoynoff and renowned singer Voula Karahaliou

(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

There was non-stop dancing throughout the event
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Theodoros and Eleni enjoy the festivities
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Orpheus participated in one of the events commemorating the Hellenic Letters Celebration organized by the Metropolis of Chicago. 
Nina and Adam practicing some of the pieces before the presentation.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

The main speaker of the event, Christos Tomaras (left) with his Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos and Hellenic Letters Chairman Manny Gianakakos
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Members of the Orpheus Youth group participated at the International Fair at Hoffman Elementary School
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Back at the designated Greek classroom Mrs. Joseph was assisting visitors of how to make a small wreath.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

The wreath was a big success not with the youngsters but with the parents as well.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Alexandros pretending to be shy of the camera.
(Glenview, IL - January 2009)

Vasiliki Grosso introduces the presentation of the documentary film "A Dance to Remember".  The film tells the story of Vasiliki Grosso, who travels with Orpheus for a performance in the hometown of her mother near the Kalamata region of Greece (summer of 2007).
(Chicago, IL - January 2009)

The event begun with a special choral presentation by members of Orpheus and the Chicago Hellenic Choir, lead by Eftihia Papageorgiou.
(Chicago, IL - January 2009)

An attentive audience watched the film.
(Chicago, IL - January 2009)

Vasiliki presented Yanni and Eftihia a memento from the presentation
(Chicago, IL - January 2009)

It was a chance also to display the newly crated poster for the Orpheus 20th Anniversary event.
(Chicago, IL - January 2009)

Vasiliki with her mother, Katerina Robakis Kouchoukos (right) and aunt Sthathoula Robakis Georgiafentis (left)
(Chicago, IL - January 2009)

Members of the city of Ancient Korinthos dance group visited the practice facility of Orpheus.
A cultural event was organized in Chicago which featured folk singer Panayioti Laleza and the dance group from Ancient Korinthos.
(Northbrook, IL - January 2009)

The top notch musicians that accompany the dancers and Mr. Lalezas, Georgios Marinakis (violin), Theodoros Tasoulas (clarinet) and Sotirhos (laouto).  The musicians had a chance to join members of the Orpheus music group for an impromptu music workshop.
(Northbrook, IL - January 2009)

Members of the Ancient Korinthos dance group perform dances from various regions of Greece.
(Northbrook, IL - January 2009)

Violinist Georgios Marinakis was kind enough to play some island dances.
(Northbrook, IL - January 2009)