Portrait of the Greek Dance

Research: Anne Leonidou              
MA Greek Folk Dance Education   

|Characteristics |  Regional Characteristics | Epirus | Macedonia | Thrace | Thessaly 
| Roumeli | Peloponnese | Aegean Islands | Dodecanese | Ionian Islands | Crete |
| Cyprus | Pontus | Cappadocia | Constantinople |
   

Introduction

Greece is one of the few countries in the world where folk dances are as alive today as they were in ancient times. Dance has always played an important role in the life of a Greek. It is an expression of human feelings and everyday life. The Greeks danced at religious festivals, ceremonies; they danced to ensure fertility; to prepare for war and to celebrate victories; they danced at weddings; to overcome depression and to cure physical illness. Almost every dance has a story to tell. Dance was regarded as one of the highest forms of art. Plato agreed with his mentor Socrates that every educated man should know how to dance gracefully by which he meant the manly exercises that kept the body strong and supple and ready to do its duty on the battlefield. The Pyrrhic, or weapon dance (a form of mock combat) taken from Crete and perfected in Sparta, was the ideal.

Traditional dance continues to be passed from generation to generation, which in turns maintains national identity. Folklore is the term used for traditional dance when performed out of its traditional social context. The principal characteristic of folklore dance is that it is not transmitted in a traditional manner but by a process involving dance teachers and gym instructors.

6th century B.C.

There are two distinct categories in the traditional Greek dance; the springing/leaping dance and the shuffle/dragging dance known as sirtos; the latter being the oldest form of dance. Most dances are circle dances, start with the right foot and move counter-clockwise. Each dancer is linked by a handkerchief or by holding hands, wrists or shoulders. In mixed dances, the man will lead the dance, which allows him in most regions to improvise or break away allowing him to express himself. Until recently, men and women rarely danced together although chains of men and women danced together at the same time, the women in the inner circle and the men in the outer circle. The order of dance varies from region to region. In general, the men are commonly at the beginning in descending order of age, followed by the women also ranked according to seniority. Sometimes the married men come before the bachelors and likewise for the women. The oldest inhabitant always leads the dance. In the islands the circle is usually formed of groups of families, the husband leads the wife who is followed by the eldest son, his wife and their children etc. Occasionally the local priest will lead the first dance symbolising a blessing. In olden times a man never held a woman’s hand but a kerchief. This also applied to married couples. In some regions a woman could not dance next to a man who was not family: therefore a child or an elderly would be placed in between. Most women's dances are slow, simple and dignified whereas the men’s dances often portray their manhood.

Lucien tells us that the Thessalians have such regard for dance that they name their eminent citizens pro-orchesteres or lead dancers.

Greece has 6 mainland regions: Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, Central Greece and Peloponnesus. In addition, the islands fall into 3 main groups: the Ionian Islands to the west, the Aegean Islands to the east (which include the Cyclades and Sporades groups) and the Dodecanese Islands to the southwest. The largest of all the Greek islands is Crete. Although Cyprus is an independent country, it is however the largest island inhabited by Greeks and falls within the Greek major cultural regions.

Formally united with Greece in 1913, it is especially rich in folk music. It is rugged and mountainous and the steep gorges impose heavy garments and boots. A unique characteristic of the region is the polyphonic singing. Dances from Epirus tend to be slow and heavy and danced with immense dignity.

Their main instrument is the clarinet. The main dances are Sta Tria, Sta Duo, Kalamatianos, Tsamikos, Zagorisios, Menousis, Koftos, Fisouni, Kentimeni Podia, Pogonisios, Fezodervenayias, Vasilo Arhontissa and Yiatros.

MACEDONIA

Formally united with Greece in 1913, Macedonia stretches from the north east on the Aegean coast across to the north west to the Pindus mountains. It is very mountainous with small valleys. Macedonia has an especially rich folk culture.

The variety is partly due to its geographical position where it borders with the Balkans. The main dances are Gaida, Leventikos, Nikolos, Akritikos, Baidouska, Partalos, Kastorianos, Omorfoula, Nizamikos, Sire Sire, Boimitsa, Antikristos and Mikri Eleni.

The instruments common to this region are the bagpipe (gaida) and the lyra. The most popular dances are Zonaradikos, Souflioutouda, Apadiasteite sto Xoro, Kastrinos, Sfarlis, Syngathistos, Podaraki, Stis Treis and Baintouska.

THESSALY

United with Greece in 1881. This is mainly fertile plains for farming. Thessaly retains a strong tradition of song-dances where the dancers sing the music, often without instrumental accompaniment . The dances are slow and controlled. The main dances are Sta Tria, Kalamatianos, Klistos, Svarniara, Karagouna, Tai-Tai and Pilioritikos.

ROUMELI

Roumelian dances tend to be slow and controlled. The clarinet is the main instrument in this region. The main dances of this region are Tsamikos, Sta Tria, Mazochto and Kangeli

PELOPONNESUS

It was in Peloponnesus that in 1821 the struggle began to free Greece from the Ottoman rule and is thus the oldest part of modern Greece as we know it today. Their main dances are Kalamatianos, Tsakonikos and Kariatidon.

AEGEAN ISLANDS

The music of these islands is very delightful and lyrical and as such portrayed in its dances. These are characterised by the lightness of steps and the springing in the knees.  Most frequently danced are Ballos, Sirtos, Hasapikos, Karsilamas, Sousta, Trata, Stavrotos, Chiotikos and Ikariotikos.

DODECANESE ISLANDS

Dodecanese means the twelve islands. These islands were under Italian rule between 1923 and 1944, then under British rule between 1944 and 1947. In 1948 they were finally reunited with Greece. Their music and dance were influenced by the Cretans who immigrated, fleeing from the Turks. Dances from this area include Sirtos, Ballos, Issos, Sirtos and Sousta

Also known as Eptanisia, meaning the seven islands, they were reunited with Greece in 1864. These islands were highly influenced by Italy. The people from Corfu are particularly musical. It is not uncommon to see organised concerts in the main squares. The dances are graceful, flirtatious and sometimes with erotic swaying of movement. Cephallonians are noted for their humour which is portrayed in their dancing. Most frequently danced are Sirtos Ai Yiogis, Fourlana, Ballos, Kerkyraikos,Thiakos and Tsirigotikos.

CRETE

Reunited with Greece in 1913. Throughout history, this race is renowned for its heroism. Their music and dance is dynamic and fast. Each Cretan dance gives opportunity for each dancer to lead and improvise. A particular characteristic of the Cretan dances is the springing movement of the dancers.

The Cretan lyre is the most distinctive instrument on this island. Their most popular dances are Pentozalis, Maleviziotikos, Haniotikos, Laziotikos and Sousta.

An island in the far Mediterranean sea with the majority of its inhabitants of Greek origin, language, culture and traditions (82%) . It was a British colony between 1878 and 1959. It became independent in 1960. Its music and dance are quite distinctive. The most popular dances are men’s Kartsilamadhes, women’s Kartsilamadhes, Sirtos, Zeimbekikos, Dachas and Sousta.

PONTUS

The region of present day Turkey on the eastern Black Sea into Russia; an area inhabited by Greeks from ancient times till 1924. Pontiac music and dance is quite distinctive. Its music and dance is easily recognised by its nervous energy, their use of knee bends and unusual shoulder tremors, unique to Pontus.

The main dances are Tik, Omal, Kotsari, Kots, Trygona, Gerasaris and Serra.

CAPPADOCIA

Lies in present day central Turkey. It was an important centre of Byzantium and the home to St Basil and St Gregory. It was one of the first areas to fall under the Ottoman Empire and so their music and dance traditions are the same as most of central Anatolia, e.g. the Spoon Dances. They also have a tradition of ritual line dances closely associated with the church calendar, e.g. Ayios Vasiliatikos.

 The other well known dance is the Dance of the Scarves and Karsilamas

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 saw the beginning of the Ottoman Empire, now, present day Turkey. It was in this area that three of the most popular dances often referred to as Pan Hellenic dances originated. These are the Hasapikos, Karsilamas and Zeimbekikos.