Athan Karras (September 27, 1927 – February 12, 2010) was a Greek-born American dancer, instructor and actor.[1]
Athan Karras | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 27, 1927 |
| Died | February 12, 2010 (aged 82) |
| Career | |
| Former groups | Greek National Theater Parthenon Dancers |
| Dances | Greek |
Early life edit
Karras was born in Thessaloniki, Greece.[2] He came to the United States when he was about 12. He served in the United States Coast Guard.[3] After serving in the Coast Guard, he finished high school and studied theater and dance at New York University.[3] He eventually joined the National Theater of Greece[1] and the Parthenon Dancers, one of the premier Greek Folk Dance troops.[2]
Career edit
In the early 1960s, he founded the Intersection Folk Dance Center in Los Angeles.[4]
For 25 years, Karras taught Greek culture and dance at Loyola Marymount University.[1] He was the U.S. coordinator for Mazoxi, an annual Greek dance conference held on Crete.[4] He also appeared in about 20 films and television projects, staged a number of Greek-language plays in Los Angeles and produced folklore programs and events throughout North America.
Death edit
Karras died on February 12, 2010, at Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California, of complications from coronary artery bypass surgery.[1]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d "PASSINGS: Jim Bibby, 65; Athan Karras, 82". Los Angeles Times. February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ a b IMDB Listing
- ^ a b "Maria Kotsafis, Interview with Athan Karras" published in The Charioteer: An Annual Review of Modern Greek Culture, Special Issue: The American Greek Experience, Pella Publishing Company, Inc., New York, New York, number 43, 2005, pages 29-39. ISSN 0577-5574
- ^ a b Anastasios Papapostolou (February 15, 2010). "Athan Karras Passes Away". Greek Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
Sources edit
- "Athan Karras". Phantom Ranch.
- "Athan Karras". Hellenic Communication Service.
- "Dance pioneer was 'Zorba the Greek come to life'". Los Angeles Daily News.
External links edit
- Athan Karras at the Internet Broadway Database
- Athan Karras at IMDb
- Athan Karras papers, 1955-1963, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts