Let us “Embrace” our faith, “Empower” through dance and song, and “Elevate” one another in fellowship.
FDF is a family. Together we represent our Orthodox Christian faith and culture through music and dance, while fostering meaningful connections through fellowship. At FDF and beyond, we “Embrace, Empower, and Elevate” those around us, strengthening our community bonds and inspiring future generations of dancers, directors, and community leaders.
FDF 2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS
CHORAL COMPETITION
DIVISION II
Sweepstakes: Mia Foni, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Director’s Award: Maria Vasiliou, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
First: Dynami, Annunciation, Modesto
Second: Mikra Asteria, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Third: Ta Aidonakia, St. Demetrios, Seattle
Special Achievement: Mia Foni, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles, for their creative integration of storytelling and original song selection
DIVISION I
Sweepstakes: Antixisi, St. Demetrios, Seattle
Director’s Award: Jointly awarded to Amanda Fields and Vivian Tavernakis, St. Nicholas, San Jose
First: Aloha Youth Choir, Sts. Constantine and Helen, Honolulu
Second: Sirines, St. Nicholas, San Jose
Third: St. Spyridon Youth Choir, St. Spyridon, San Diego
Special Achievement: Psaltes, St. Nectarios, Covina, for representing the future of Byzantine music in the United States
DANCE COMPETITION
DIVISION II
Sweepstakes: Enosi, St. Nicholas, San Jose
Board of Trustees Special Achievement: Atromitoi, Sts. Constantine and Helen, Cardiff by the Sea, for their Arkadia suite
Director Award: Nick and Andriana Paras, Church of the Holy Cross, Belmont
Instrumental Award: Dean Fakaros, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland
Primary
First: Asteria, St. John the Baptist, Las Vegas
Second: Koinonia, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland
Third: Ypsosi, Church of the Resurrection, Castro Valley
Fourth: Astrapi, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix
Founders Special Achievement: Rizes, Annunciation, Sacramento, for their Tsamiko dance
Choral: Astrapi, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix
Costume: Ta Delfinakia, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach, for their Evros, Thrace costumes
Advanced Primary
First: Mikra Asteria, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Second: Avra, St. John the Baptist, Anaheim
Third: Ethnos, St. Nicholas, San Jose
Fourth: Kymatakia, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Founders Special Achievement: Aionia, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland, for their Vamvakofyto suite
Choral: Atromitoi, Sts. Constantine and Helen, Cardiff by the Sea
Costume: Ethnos, St. Nicholas, San Jose, for their men’s Chios and women’s Arvanites, Andros costumes
Junior
First: Perifania, St. George, Downey
Second: Filarakia, St. Anthony, Pasadena
Third: To Mellon, Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco
Fourth: Oi Apogonoi, Annunciation, Sacramento
Founders Special Achievement: Revma, Church of the Holy Cross, Belmont, for their Kefalonia suite
Choral: Oi Apogonoi, Annunciation, Sacramento
Costume: Revma, Church of the Holy Cross, Belmont, for their Samarina, Western Macedonia costumes
Advanced Junior
First: Orpheus, St. Nicholas, Northridge
Second: Ta Angeloudakia, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Third: Kyklonakia, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Fourth: Anagenisis, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland
Founders Special Achievement: Enosi, Annunciation, Modesto, for their Pontic suite
Choral: Ta Angeloudakia, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Costume: Ta Angeloudakia, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach, for their Skyros costumes
DIVISION I
Sweepstakes: Oikogeneia, Holy Trinity, San Francisco
Board of Trustees Special Achievement: Deos, Annunciation, Sacramento, for their Pontic suite
Director Award: Speros Mantas, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Instrumental Award: Markos Papamatheakis, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix
Intermediate
First: Nea Genia, Annunciation, Sacramento
Second: Ta Yitonopoula, St. George, Downey
Third: Levendia, Church of the Holy Cross, Belmont
Fourth: Revmata, Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco
Founders Special Achievement: Tharros, St. Demetrios, Camarillo, for their singing in the Drama suite
Choral: Ta Yitonopoula, St. George, Downey
Costume: Ta Patriotakia, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix, for their Cretan costumes
Advanced Intermediate
First: Junior Olympians, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Second: Pyrkagia, St. Anthony, Pasadena
Third: Titanes, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland Fourth: Paralia, St. Basil, San Juan Capistrano
Founders Special Achievement: Periyali, St. Katherine, Redondo Beach, for their Kos suite
Choral: Titanes, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland
Costume: Periyali, St. Katherine, Redondo Beach, for their Samos costumes
Senior
First: Akrites, St. Demetrios, Seattle
Second: Paramoni, St. Anthony, Pasadena
Third: Anemos, St. Barbara, Santa Barbara
Fourth: Golden Greeks, St. Nicholas, Northridge
Founders Special Achievement: Trikimia, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles, for their singing and dancing in the Roubana suite
Choral: Akrites, St. Demetrios, Seattle
Costume: Dynamis, Assumption of the Theotokos Cathedral, Denver, for their Neo Monastiri, Thrace costumes
Advanced Senior
First: Perifania, St. George, Chicago
Second: Nea Ellas, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Third: Panegiri, St. Anthony, Pasadena
Fourth: I Epanenosi, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland
Founders Special Achievement: Anastasi, Church of the Holy Cross, Belmont, for their semi-final suite from Vlasti and Namata
Choral: Vrondi, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Costume: Perifania, St. George, Chicago, for their Aitoliko, Roumeli men’s costumes
Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award
Clifford Theodore and Theodora Dracopoulos Argue
Metropolitan Anthony Leadership Award
Anastasia Matiatos and Grace Paris
Managing Director Award
Speros Mantas
FDF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
$5,000 Scholarships
Demetrios K. Pantazis Memorial Academic Scholarship
Nicholas Tavernakis, St. Nicholas, San Jose
Sophia Huether, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
$1,000 Scholarships
Archbishop Demetrios Scholarship
Katherine Dunbar, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Cynthia Anderson Scholarship
Stelio Kasidoulis, Greek Orthodox Community of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC
Chris Papadimitrakis Scholarship
Ariana Kretsedemas, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix
Fr. Homer Demopoulos Scholarship
Georgia Tomaras, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Fr. Anthony Moschonas Scholarship
Peter Sigas, St. John the Baptist, Anaheim
Dean Phillips Scholarship
Gabriella Payan, St. John the Baptist, Las Vegas
Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas Scholarship
Eirini Batsaras, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Isidoros and Maria Garifalakis and Family Scholarship
Anna Jurrens, Annunciation, Sacramento
Peter S. Beckas Scholarship
Grace Allen, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland
Athanasios K. Syrengelas Scholarship
Thomas Maloney, St. Katherine, Redondo Beach
Anna and Nicholas Kyriacou Scholarship
Stamatis Zoumberakis, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Ted Laliotis Scholarship
Anna Gabriel, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Long Beach
Elektra Fourakis Scholarship
Dimitroula Mitsopoulos, St. Nicholas, Northridge
George Karmiris Scholarship
Paul Papavasiliou, Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco
Paul G. Manolis Scholarship
Jimmy Spears, St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles
Peter Begakis of the Olympians Band Scholarship
Nicholas Georgalas, Sts. Constantine and Helen, Cardiff by the Sea
Alex and Jeanette Rigopoulos Scholarship
Miabella Naval, Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Honolulu
Sia and Dimitri Dalacas Scholarship
Eleni Economopoulos, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix
The Iliopoulos Family Scholarship
Elena George, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Portland
“Excuse Me Are You Greek” Cultural Scholarship
Sophia Voudouris, Annunciation, Sacramento
Argyro Apostolou Scholarship
Theodore Polyzos, Ascension Cathedral, Oakland