FOTIA
FOTIA: (foh-tya) Greek. A word meaning fire.
FOTIA is a band based in the San Francisco Bay Area that specializes in performing Greek Music of all styles.
FOTIA has thrilled audiences at Greek festivals and musical events throughout the United States in such cities as Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York.
The band is comprised of musicians Anthony Catchatoorian, Michael Kutulas, George Psarras, Paul Psarras, and vocalist, Olympia. FOTIA's instrumentation consists of the guitar, keyboards, percussion and the national stringed instrument of Greece, the bouzouki. The bouzouki can best be described as a lute-type instrument with a pear-shaped body and a long neck. It is strung with three or four courses of double strings, much like a mandolin. FOTIA also features the tzoura and the baglama, which are two smaller versions of the bouzouki.
A few highlights of FOTIA's career include concerts at the Clarion Music Center in San Francisco, COPIA in Napa, and the Cascade Festival of Music in Bend, Oregon. FOTIA has had the honor of opening shows for some of Greece's biggest names, including, Basilis Karas, Angela Dimitriou, Zafiris Melas, Christos Dantis and Glykeria.
Dancers
Each year, the Omaha Greek Festival highlights the Greek love of song and dance. Here, you will witness a variety of Greek folk dances performed by our very own St. John’s dance groups ranging from Pre-K to Adult.
Dancing is a vital force in the Greek way of life. The Greeks would use dance to prepare for war, celebrate victories, celebrate weddings, overcome depression and illness, celebrate religious occasions and at festivals. Dance is regarded as one of the highest forms of art and almost always had a story to tell.
The dances are divided into three main groups; from the islands (Nessiotika), the mainland (Demotika), or popular (Laika). Each dance features the culture, traditional Greek costumes and lifestyle of that particular region.
We will also be teaching patrons How to dance Greek at various times during the weekend, teaching you the basic fundamentals so that you can join in all day and all night!
We hope that you enjoy our performances at the Greek Festival and tell your friends to come and join us - to be Greek for a day - or the whole weekend! OPA!
