Tsifteteli

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Tsifteteli (τσιφτετέλι, Tsifte-teli) is a Greek traditional dance, derivied from the Çiftetelli, a Turkish traditional dance. Çiftetelli is derived from the words çifte and telli which mean double wired in Turkish.

The Çiftetelli appears in many variations in the folk music of Western and Central Turkey. The different compositions based on this popular rhythm each have their own name. In Turkey, Çiftetelli has been relegated to wedding music, where Gypsies and Greeks have adopted the upbeat folk rythmns into oriental dancing. Often "Tsifteteli" in Greece is inappropriately used synonymously with oriental dance.

The Turkish baglama instrument used in this style of music influenced the name Çifte-telli which means "with double strings" in the Turkish language.