Despina Stamos: Dancing the immigrant experience

passTRESpass (2011)

directed by Jill Woodward

filmed in Athens, Greece 2009

20 minutes -- in English, French and Greek with English subtitles

Tens of thousands of immigrants and refugees make their way across the porous borders of Greece every year. Despina Stamos, a Greek American dancer, connects with a diverse group of immigrants in Athens and proposes a community dance performance. Their collaboration bridges communities from four continents and culminates in an experience that will touch their lives profoundly.

Support the work of Despina Stamos and the modern dance awareness society at their 2015 Benefit Gala (Monday, May 11, 6pm), including a "transcontinental live-stream dance performance" with Athen collaborators and silent auction.

Proceeds make possible a three-week movement workshop, performance and film project with refugees in Greece.

For complete information and tickets, click here.

Chryssa, 79

Chryssa, Artist Who Saw Neon’s Potential as a Medium, Dies at 79

by Margalit Fox, The New York Times, January 18, 2014

 

Athens' artists hold on

In Athens, Art Blossoms Amid Debt Crisis
by Rachel Donadio, The New York Times, October 14, 2011

Celebration of Greek film in New York City

The Fifth Annual New York City Greek Film Festival, heralding what presenters have called a new renaissance in Greek film, kicks off on October 16 and will run through November 6 at venues from Chelsea's Rubin Museum of Art to the Museum of the Moving Image.

This year's lineup includes Athina Rachel Tsangar's unconventional Attenberg, the first Greek film to be presented at the Sundance Festival and Greece's current contender for a Best Foreign Film Oscar. Its lead actress, Ariane Labed, won the Best Actress award at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.

Tickets are available now. Learn more about the festival's schedule of screenings and related events here.

Homer: all through the night

This just in...an invitation from The Readers of Homer...

International literary organization The Readers of Homer welcomes you to an  all-night event on November 27 at the 92nd Street Y (Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, Manhattan):

200 participants of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities will gather to read, one after the other, Homer’s great poem, The Odyssey.

The pre-assigned segments may be offered in English, ancient or Modern Greek, or in any language of the reader’s choice, while the acclaimed English translation by Stanley Lombardo will be projected on a giant screen. Students, teachers, professionals from all fields, children and parents, are invited to experience–as participants or audience members–the life changing pleasures of reading poetry aloud.

Featuring renowned ancient Greek music ensemble Lyravlos, under the direction of Panagiotis Stefos and contemporary dance by the notable Choreo Theatro Company, under the direction of choreographer Irina Constantine Poulos and set to original music by the Slovenian group Silence. 

With the rising of the sun, the event will close with Four Meditations on War, a musical piece scored for bass-baritone and string quartet, conducted by composer Mark Latham. Created during some of the bleakest days of the war in Iraq, the composition reflects the complexity of this foremost Homeric theme, war, and all that arises from it: courage, cowardice, beauty, futility, heroism, love. 

All proceeds benefit the national and international programs of The Readers of Homer. The objectives of the organization include the revival of public reading, the recognition of the eternal immediacy of Homer, the honouring of the international translators of his epics, the offering of a multilayered audiovisual experience to the public, as well as learning and socialization opportunities to thousands of participants. Under the direction of founder Prof. Kathryn Hohlwein and actor/producer Yannis Simonides, and with the support of a multi-talented group of colleagues, the Readers of Homer have recently presented extremely successful Homeric celebrations in the USA, Egypt, Uruguay, Greece, Italy and Turkey, and seek support in order to respond to an increasing number of invitations worldwide.

For participation and additional information, contact Stephania Xydia at 917-671-6984 or Odyssey92Y@gmail.com.