As ethnic stereotypes go, it's not such a bad one: More than 50 years later, Anthony Quinn's portrayal of earthy, irrepressible Alexis Zorba, a.k.a. Zorba the Greek, remains a revered embodiment of the Greek lust for life. And each year, the organizers of the L.A. Greek Fest try to bring a touch of that "Zorba spirit" to their celebration."The idea is to put a little madness in your life and enjoy the moment," says Ted Pastras, who co-produces the annual festival with his wife, Jan. "That's not to say you go crazy or you lose all control, but you put a little fun in your life and try something that maybe you haven't done before."
There won't be any dishes thrown into the fire -- "It's too costly, for one thing, and that's something they only do from time to time in certain areas of Greece," Pastras explains -- but the festival will feature a Zorba dance contest. And in keeping with the spirit of the character, the contest isn't limited to traditional Greek folk dance. All styles are welcome, whether break dance, jitterbug or polka.
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