Greek Folk Dances
Today we can count more than 4000 traditional dances that exist in Greece. Each region of Greece finds a different style of dance depending on its mentality. Island dances bring a watery expression to the interior, while epirot dances in northern and mountainous Greece are quite slow and require a lot of balance. Peloponnesian dances are described as very simple, on the other hand, Macedonian dances slowly change rhythm. Crete is considered to be the cradle of Greek dance. In Minoan civilization and art, dance has earned its special place.
Kalamaci
Kalamantianos is the most popular Greek dance, which refers to Greek dances as such. It is a dance to learn because every Greek identifies with this dance. It is a dance of social events that has shaped the existence of the entire panorama of Greek dances.
Kalamantianos is emphasized as the simplest dance, in which circular movements enliven to embrace pure joy. A circular line breaks up joyful steps, usually one leg behind the other with palms pressed against the shoulders. This dance is characterized by simple moves that can be learned directly at the party. The development of this dance occurred in the nineteenth century, taking the name „Syrtos o Peloponisios”.
The modern name Kalamantianos is associated with the southern Greek city of Kalamata, where it gained a new wave of popularity.
Tsamiko
This energetic dance maintains the rhythm, making it one of the most popular traditional dances in Greece. The most popular way of dancing tsamiko is various national events, among which the most common is the celebration of the Greek War of Independence.
Tsamiko is a circular dance in which men and women join, but only men lead. Acrobatic skills are involved in tsamiko dance, but women usually follow simple steps. Creating an inner circle of women is the most common choice.
The costume used for this dance is called fustanella, which is a traditional Balkan folk costume used by guards. Tsamiko is the most popular in the Peloponnese.
Hassapiko
Hassapiko originated in Constantinople and has its roots in the Middle Ages as a traditional butcher dance. Its Greek name literally means “butcher’s dance“, derived from Byzantine times. Swords were used in their original form, keeping the rhythm of battle alive.
This circular dance is performed by placing your hands on your shoulders in more complicated steps than other dances. It can be an energetic or slow dance, even kneeling on one knee. Hassapiko forms the basis of one of the most famous Greek dances – sirtaki.
Instrumental music includes a traditional Greek instrument called the bouzuki, which belongs to the lute family. Sometimes even the santouri is used as a popular string instrument.
Ikariotiko
Ikariotiko is a traditional dance originating from the longevity island of Ikaria in the north of the Aegean Sea. The island of Icaria brings mythology to life when Icarus fell into the sea on this island.
The traditional version of ikariotiko was slow, but over time it acquired a faster rhythm. In a semicircle, three parts are intertwined, evolving from slow to fast movements.
Pentozali
Pentozali is the national dance of the island of Crete, it is quite energetic and also known as the dance of the warriors.
The name itself describes the way the dance is performed.
Pentozali consists of five steps, as pento means five and zalos in Cretan. Pentozali describes the Cretan people through their brave, heroic nature intertwined with the wild mountains of Crete. The movements in the high jump evolve with continuous progress, making the dance at the end very lively. Dancers hug each other’s shoulders, forming an incomplete circle. Usually performed by men, the pentozali consists of improvisation and a traditional costume called vraka.
Instrumental music accompanies the dance of pentozali to the rhythm of Cretan lyre and laouto.
Sousta
It is a dance of the Dodecanese islands, an intimate pastime between couples, especially popular at weddings. Enjoying particular popularity, the sousta includes different versions of each island. Sousta appreciates the traditional role of marriage and romance by emphasizing courtship and three-step movements.
Zeibekiko
Zeibekiko is a dance based on improvisation, whose origins date back to the seventeenth century of the Ottoman Empire. The Zeybeks were an irregular militia living in the city of Smyrna. It is often called the “eagle dance“, the movement of birds takes a common shape.
Zeibekiko is performed solo, most often by men, who express their sadness and suffering in this way. It symbolizes an inner journey, not a dance for the audience.
Serra
Serra is a war dance of the Pontic Greeks that received its name on the Serra River in the Trapezunda region of modern-day Turkey.
Pontic dances represent a colorful mix of Greek and Persian cultures. A closed circle signifies a release from the usual pattern of Greek dance.
Fun Fact
Sirtaki
This dance originates from the 1964 film “Zorba the Greek”, directed by Michalis Kakojanis. The music was written by Mikis Theodorakis. The choreography is similar to authentic Greek folk dances.
Sirtaki is a circular or linear dance in which each dancer holds each other’s shoulders.
The name sirtaki comes from the Greek word syrtos, which means “to lead a dance“. The dance was officially named Sirtake after Jean Vassilis, who promoted the film ,,Zorba the Greek” in France.
Greek Folk Music
Music plays a special role in the Greeks. One of the more popular types of Greek folk music is the so-called rembetiko. The history of this style dates back to the 20s of the twentieth century, and its authorship is attributed to immigrants from Asia Minor, gathering in the taverns of Thessaloniki and Piraeus.
Rembetiko is the music of people from the margins, the theme of the songs is usually unhappy fate, misery, death and unrequited love.
In addition to rembetiko, there is another type of music called amanedes. In a group playing this type of music, apart from violinists and dulcimer players, there is usually also a dancer with castanets.
Another well-known musical trend is Neo Kim, or the so-called New Wave, characteristic of the Greek left in the 1960s. The lyrics of this “club music” are distinguished by the bluntness of the content and a very sharp sound.
Bouzouki
Bouzouki is the national musical instrument of Greece. It existed in Byzantine times when it was called the tampoura. Immigrants from Turkey and Asia minor brought it to Greece in the 1900s where it was transformed into the bouzouki.
It is a long-necked, wooden member of the lute family played in various genres of Greek music, including traditional and pop. The three or four pairs of strings are plucked using a pick made initially of cherry wood or a feather.
It’s still the main instrument in traditional rebetika and laika songs but has become popularized in folk, jazz, and even rock music since the 1960s.
