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Sirtaki or syrtaki (Greek: συρτάκι) is a popular dance of Greek origin, choreographed, by Giorgos Provias [1] for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek. It is not a traditional Greek folkdance, but a mixture of the slow and fast versions of the hasapiko dance. The dance, and the accompanying music by Míkis Theodorakis, are also called Zorbá's dance, Zorbas, or "the dance of Zorba".
The name Sirtáki comes from the Greek word:Syrtos, ("σύρω (τον χορό)") which means "drag (the dance)" a common name for a group of traditional Cretan dances of so-called "dragging" style, as opposed to pidikhtos (πηδηχτός), a hopping or leaping style. Despite that, Sirtaki incorporates both syrtos (in its slower part) and pidikhtós (in its faster part) elements.
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Sirtáki is danced in a line or circle formation with hands held on neighbours' shoulders. Line formation is more traditional.
Meter is 4/4, tempo increasing, and often the signature is changed to 2/4 in the fastest part. Accordingly, the dance begins with slower, smoother actions, gradually transforming into faster, vivid ones, often including hops and leaps. Choreographer of the dance is Giorgos Provias.
On September 16, 2007, the world's longest chain of syrtaki dancers danced to Zorba The Greek in Cyprus . The chain had a total of 268 members of eight groups dancing in step to ”Zorbas”. Ayia Napa Town Mayor Antonis Tsokkos said the aim of the event was to send the message that the village was interested in Greek culture and to promote the tourist resort abroad. Head of the cultural services of the Municipality Maria Tofini said that, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the dancers had to perform in synchronized step for the attempt to qualify. The event drew the attention of tourists and locals, many of which danced to ‘‘Zorbas” on the beach and in the sea.
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