Greek dances

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Greek dance is a very old tradition, being referred to by ancient authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian.[1] There are many different styles and interpratations from all of the islands and surrounding mainland areas. Each region formed its own choreography and style to fit in with their own ways. For example, island dances have more of a "watery" flow to them, while Pontic dancing closer to Black Sea, is very sharp. There are over 4,000 traditional dances that come from all regions of Greece. There are also Pan Hellenic dances, which have been adopted throughout the Greek world. These include the tsamiko, syrtos, and kalamatianos. Traditional Greek dancing has a primarily social function. It brings the community together at key points of the year, such as Easter, the grape harvest or patronal festivals; and at key points in the lives of individuals and families, such as weddings. For this reason, tradition frequently dictates a strict order in the arrangement of the dancers, for example, by age. Visitors tempted to join in a celebration should be careful not to violate these arrangements, in which the prestige of the individual villagers may be embodied.[2]

Greek dances are performed often in diaspora Greek communities, and among international folk dance groups.

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[edit] Greek Folk Dances

It is stated that tins are hundreds of Folk dances in Greece; many more have been lost during the last decades before anyone had the chance to record them. Very often, the same dance is executed in different ways from one village to the next or from one island to the other. Some dances have no name; they are simply the established way to move while singing a particular song. In other instances, we find that a dance was given the same name as a different dance from another region. Until the beginning of this century, most dances had no need for a name at all, since everyone in the village knew how to execute each particular song. Even today, when one wants to dance he orders the musicians to play the song of his choice. Only when he has no preference does he order by the name of the dance. When professional musicians started traveling to play in distant villages, the need arose for a name to call one dance by which many different songs were danced (Alkis Raftis, World of Greek Dance 1995).

Most dances are in open circle moving from the left to the right. The first dancer of the line, he who “pulls the dance”, has the leading role. He orders the song, he pays the musicians and he has the right to improvise variations on the basic step. Traditionally, women rarely led the dance, unless of course it was a women’s dance. A few dances were danced “face to face” by a couple and still fewer followed other formations.

[edit] Aesthetics in Greek Dance

The Greek Folk song is important to Greek Dance – whether diatonic or chromatic, with syllabic or melismatic melodies when sung – is modal and monophonic in its construction. Its melodies are based on different interval continuity from that of the major – minor of the Western music, sung and performed monophonically. An exception to this rule is provided by certain songs performed in Northern Epirus. These songs are performed polyphonically, without instrumental accompinment

The Greek Folk dances are divided rhythmically into: periodical rhythmic type melodies, and melodies of the free rhythmic type. The first are characterised by the periodical repetition of the certain rhythmic pattern, for instance, all dance melodies, whereas the second are characterised by the free flow of diverse rhythmic patterns. Greek Folk melodies are sung and performed on the natural and not the equal tempered scale of the West, wherever singer and instrumentalists have remained pure from the destructive influence of the Western polyphonic technique (Fivos Anogianakis Greek Folk Instruments 1970).

There are over 1000 Traditional Folk Dances of Greece.

Within Greece, every region has its own style of dance, and type of dance. The main dances of the regions within greece are as follows:

A Byzantine fresco showing a type of Byzantine dance, highlighting the continuity of Greek dancing
A Byzantine fresco showing a type of Byzantine dance, highlighting the continuity of Greek dancing

[edit] Peloponnese

The dances of the Peloponnese are very simple and heavy, with the leader of the line improvising.

[edit] Central Greece

[edit] Thrace

Thracian dance is generally skippy and light. In most Thracian dances, the men are only permitted to dance at the front of the line. Musicians and singers such as Hronis Aithonidis and Kariofilis Doitsidis have brought to life the music of Thrace.

  • Tapinos Horos
  • Tapinos Pashaliatikos
  • Horos Tis Giknas
  • Xesyrtos
  • Hasapia
  • Gaitani (Kouseftos)
  • Zonaradikos
  • Baidouska
  • Karsilamas
  • Singathistos
  • Syrtos
  • Koulouriastos
  • Papisios
  • Drista
  • Sihtir Havasi
  • Mandilatos
  • Tripati
  • Dendritsi
  • Daktili

[edit] Northern Thrace Anatoliki Rumelia / Eastern Thrace /

The Dances of Anatoliki Rumelia (Northern Thrace) are fast, upbeat and similar to the Thracian style of dance. Dances from the villages of Kavakli and Neo Monastiri are the most popular.

  • Tsestos
  • Bogdanos
  • Stis Treis
  • Troiro
  • Tremouliastos
  • Koutsos
  • Podaraki
  • Kiniyitos
  • Miliso
  • Karsilamas
  • Syrtos Banas
  • Zervos Banas
  • Zonaradikos
  • Douzikos
  • Syngathistos
  • Baintouska
  • Katsivelikos
  • Kiniyitos
  • Yariska
  • Kallinitikos
  • Sfarlis
  • Karsillamas

[edit] Makedonia / Macedonia

Dances in Macedonia vary. Most are solid and are performed using heavy steps, whilst others are fast and agile.Most dances begin slow and increase in speed.
Western Macedonia

  • Gaida Horos
  • Levendikos-Pustseno Florina
  • Bouyatsas Florina
  • Horos Andikristos Makedonias
  • Kori Eleni / Mikri Eleni / Eleno Mome
  • Partalos
  • Kastorianos
  • Tsotsos Florina
  • Syrtos Makedonias
  • Akritikos Florina
  • Simbethera Florina
  • Patrounino
  • Pousnitsa
  • Raikos Edessa
  • Bella Olymbia
  • Trite Pata
  • Tranos Horos Kozanis
  • Zaramo Horos
  • Endeka Kozanis
  • Tranos Horos Kozanis
  • Servikos
  • Tsourapia Florina
  • Gkeikos
  • Omorfoula Florina
  • Dimitroula
  • Kapitan Louka
  • Stankena
  • Nizamikos Naousa
  • Moustambeiko Naousa
  • Diplos Horos Tis Rokas
  • Stankina Edessa
  • Trita Pata Naousa
  • Tis Marias
  • Tis Dimitroulas
  • Lissavo
  • Proskinitos

Eastern Macedonia

  • Baidouska
  • Drousas
  • Kampana
  • Paidouskino
  • Yalata Horos
  • Shop Gaida
  • Karsilamas
  • Kori Eleni
  • Tefkotos

[edit] Thessaly

Dances in Thessaly are similar in style to the dances of Epirus. Mostly heavy, and some are fast. The leader, however, improvises, just like those in the Peloponnese.

  • Gaitanaki
  • Kalamatiano
  • Kaggeli
  • Karagouna Svarniara
  • Kleistos Argitheas
  • Koftos
  • Pilioritiko
  • Tsamiko
  • Tai Tai
  • Zaharoula
  • Rougkatsiarikos
  • Souzana
  • Tis Haimadis To Forema
  • Irthan Ta Karavyia Ta Zagoriana
  • Kamara Horos
  • Perasa Apo Tin Karia
  • Simera Ta Fota
  • Girogalakis
  • Kori Pleni Skamakizi

[edit] Epirus

Epirote dances are the most slow and heavy in all of Greece. Great balance is required in order to perform these dances.

  • Yiannos O Beratianos
  • Eftes
  • Zagorisios
  • Sta Dio
  • Sta Tria
  • Fissounis
  • Singathisti Hori Metsovou
  • Fezodervenagas
  • Metsovitikos
  • Papadia
  • Genovefa
  • Pogonisios

[edit] Aegean Islands

Just like Crete, the Greek Islands have dances which are fast in pace and light and jumpy. Many of these dances, however, are couples dances, and not so much in lines.

[edit] Ionian Islands

[edit] Crete

These dances are light and jumpy, and extremely cardiovascular.

  • Rethemniotiki Sousta
  • Pentozali
  • Syrtos Haniotikos
  • Siganos
  • Rodo
  • Trizali
  • Apanomeritis
  • Anogeianos Pidihtos
  • Agaliastos
  • Maleviziotiko
  • Mikro Mikraki
  • Katsibardianos
  • Laziotis
  • Ethianos Pidihtos
  • Zervodexios
  • Pidihtos Lasithou
  • Xenompasaris
  • Katsampadianos
  • Priniotis
  • Sitiakos Pidihtos
  • Ierapetrikos Pidihtos

[edit] Pontos

The Dances of the Pontic Greeks from the Black Sea, are amazing dances that were mostly performed by pontian soldiers in order to motivate themselves before going into a battle. The dances are accompanied by the Pontian Lyra also called the Kemenche by Turkish people.

  • Tik Mono
  • Tik Imeras
  • Tik Diplo
  • Tik Nikopolis
  • Tik Argo Ak-Dag-Maten
  • Tiki Nikopolis
  • Tik Togias or Togialidikon
  • Apo Pan Kai Ka Matsouka
  • Shiton Imeras
  • T'apan Ke Ka Matsouka
  • Koussera
  • Tsourtougouzous Ak-Dag-Maten
  • Tromahton
  • Omal Aplon
  • Omal Kars
  • Kounihton Nikopolis
  • Outsai, Outsain, Outs-Alti, Outsagoun
  • Trigona Trapezountas
  • Trigona Matsoukas
  • Trigona Kerasountas - Giourouh
  • Ters Ak Dag Maten
  • Ters Kioumous Maten
  • Tyrfon or Tryfon Bafra
  • Gemoura
  • Atsapat
  • Serra
  • Mahairia
  • Koutsihton Omal
  • Omali Nikopolis
  • Diplon Omal
  • Tsiarahot Ak-Dag-Maten
  • Momoeria
  • Letsi Kars(Kars)
  • Letsina kars(Kars)
  • Sampson Sampsouda
  • Sari Kouz Kars(Sarı Kız) (Kars)
  • Etere Trapezounta
  • Fona Argyroupolis
  • Giouvarlantoum Ak-Dag-Maten
  • Sari Kouz Mandili Kars
  • Halai Ak-Dag-Maten
  • Kots
  • Mouzenitkon
  • Dolme
  • Armatsouk
  • Tripat Matsouka
  • Dipat
  • Titara Agyroupolis
  • Getiere Agyroupolis
  • Tamasara Trapezountas
  • Aneforitisa Kizela
  • Kalon Koritsi
  • Seranitsa
  • Patoula
  • Tiv-Tiv-Tiv Tana or Kori Kopela
  • Tamsara Nikopoulis
  • Lafraga
  • Tria Ti Kotsari
  • Miteritsa
  • Kel Kit Kakatsi
  • Hala Hala
  • Militsa

[edit] Asia Minor (Anatolia)

Erithreas

Kappadokía / Cappadocia

  • Ai Vasiliatikos or Ez Vasili
  • Ntipasha
  • Horos Mandilion
  • Horos Leilaloum
  • Horos Koutalyion
  • Horos Maherion
  • Sei Tata
  • Konialis

[edit] Sarakatsani

  • Diplos Horos
  • Sta Tria
  • Apano Stin Triandafilia
  • Despo
  • Tsamikos
  • Horos Katsa

[edit] Vlahoi

  • Anitpera
  • Sta Tria
  • Kalamatianos
  • Syrtos
  • Hatzistergiou Tselingk Mare
  • La Valia di Giannena
  • Sta tria
  • Kato Stin Aspri Petra

[edit] Arvanites

[edit] Cyprus

Men's Dances

  • Protos Karsilamas
  • Defteros Karsilamas
  • Tritos Karsilamas
  • Zeibekikos
  • Syrtos
  • Datchia

Women's Dances

  • Protos Karsilamas
  • Defteros Karsilamas
  • Tritos Karsilamas
  • Tetartos Karsilamas
  • Syrtos

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Raftis, Alkis, The World of Greek Dance Finedawn, Athens (1987) p25,
  2. ^ Raftis, Alkis, The World of Greek Dance Finedawn, Athens (1987) p117,
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