Series about the Greek music tradition.
The aim is to record and promote to the audience the richness, variety, and expressiveness of our musical heritage, through the local musical idioms as well as its modern potential in the urban environment of the big city.

The show “Salt of the Earth” and Lampros Liavas invite us to get to know the charming music and dance tradition of refugees from Meli, Asia Minor who settled in Neo Meli in Megara, Attica.

Our hostesses are three wonderful elderly women from Asia Minor, Katina Vagianou, Stella Ntouslatzi and Marika Kalaitzi, who share their traumatic memories and the refugees’ struggles to gain a foothold in the places from which they fled. They recall the songs that served as the main points of reference for their collective identity, the yearning for the unforgettable homelands, but also the new life of refugee Hellenism. They bring us the strong emotions from their later visits to the "homeland," where they sought the homes and landmarks of their ancestors. And they prepare us for the vibrant Meliotiko celebration that will follow, setting the table with all the "blessings" of local cuisine!

The celebration is led by the exceptional singer Semina Maneta, who continues the tradition of her grandmother and great-grandmother, Katina and Mariánthi Vagianou, from whom the late Domna Samiou recorded many Meliotiko songs.

Eleftheria Kalaitzi, president of the local Cultural & Progressive Society of the Minorities "Ag. Ioannis Theologos," talks about the long-standing efforts to preserve and disseminate the cultural heritage of the refugees, ensuring its passing on to future generations. Meanwhile, Giorgos Vagianos presents the rich Meliotiko dance repertoire, with syrta, karsilamades, zeimbekika, and the very special ritual Easter "detou" dances.

The musicians participating are: Semina Maneta (vocals), Vangelis Sarantidis (violin-vocals), Babis Chatzopoulos (lafta-vocals), Alexandros Tsitos (laouto), and Dinos Mitsos (percussion). Orchestra coordination: Babis Chatzopoulos.

Members of the "Ag. Ioannis Theologos" Cultural & Progressive Society of Meli Megaron, who will sing and dance, include: Mariánthi Vagianou, Katerina Vagianou, Eleftheria Kalaitzi, Konstantina Moniou, Lilía Mpettsi, Dimitra Passali, Despina Sakerli, Giorgos Vagianos, Manolis Vagianos, Thodoris Kalaitzis, Nikolaos Kalaitzis, Stathis Mpettsis, Konstantinos Polychronis, Theofilos Filippou. Dance group coordination: Giorgos Vagianos.