Greek Folk Dances

Greek folk dances

The ancient Greeks believed that dance was a gift from the gods to man. This is how we also believe in the idea that dance beautifies the lives of all of us and makes us better, let alone the traditional dances that we use in every celebration, wedding, family gatherings, festivals and so on… The traditional dance with the folk song are one of the most important and living elements of our popular culture.

Hasapiko

Nowadays it is considered a Folk dance, which is danced in a line holding shoulders, dancing the same steps. Rebetika music to a large extent consists of fast and slow butcher compositions, with the most famous among them being Fragosyriani.

Zeibekiko

This dance has a particular rhythm, 9/8, and it is very important that the dancer dances to this particular rhythm, which we learn to hear in the music. Unless one is born with the gift of a musical ear and hears that particular beat spontaneously and dances to it. It is true that zeibekiko is an improvisational dance, but it is very important to learn through specific figures the correct use of the legs and body.

Aptalikos

Aptalikos is an Asia Minor dance and is danced by one or two people as an antichrist dance.

Island style

Island music or island dance is the genre of music and the name of the category of songs and dances of the Greek islands. The Aegean has a well-known tradition of folk dances which originates from the dances of ancient Greece, such as the syrto, Kalamatianos, susta, Balos ikariotikos, pentozali and others. They are characterized by a moderate to fast tempo, a cheerful style and complex steps performed by the dancers in a bouncy manner.

Epirus

The traditional dances of Epirus are characterized by a heavy step and a slow rhythm.

Syrtos

The syrtos is the most basic and best known traditional dance. There is a two-step walk and a three-step step, and it is the basic step in most island and continental dances.

Chamiko

Tsamikos is a traditional Greek dance that has a special rhythm, you dance in 3/4. In the past, the tsamikos was danced only by men, but in modern times, women also take part.

Cretan

25 dances are included in the lively dance tradition of Crete. The most widespread of them are the syrtos chaniotikos, the susta, the siganos, the maleviziotis, and the pentozalis.

Thracian

It is known that the Thracians are very fond of music and dancing. In Thrace, dance is intertwined with the life and daily habits of its inhabitants. The dances of Thrace are presented rich in number and impressive, with the triptych <movement – expression – emotion> dominating. The dances of Thrace have definitely been influenced by the dances of other Balkan countries without however differentiating their basic elements.

Pontiac

Pontic dances are inexhaustible and difficult to standardize, since countless variations are danced. Pontic dances are very rhythmic and dynamic.

Kalamatian

The Kalamatian dance is one of the most popular Greek traditional dances and is danced all over Greece. This is how many variations of the Kalamatian dance arise. Nevertheless, it retains some of its main features. It is very important to mention that Kalamatianos belongs to the category of drag dances.

Karsilamas

Karsilamas is danced by 1 or several couples. Apart from the coasts of Asia Minor, it was also danced in Thrace and Lesvos.