Greek folk dancesGreek folk dances

Greece is one of the few countries in the world, Greece is one of the few countries in the world, where folk dances are as alive today as they were where folk dances are as alive today as they were in ancient times. Dance has always played an in ancient times. Dance has always played an important role in the important role in the life greeks.life greeks. The Greeks danced at religious festivals, ceremonies, they danced to prepare for war,to celebrate victories e.t.c

ΘράκηΘράκη((THRACE)THRACE)

Thrace is particularly rich in dancing with a wide variation in Thrace is particularly rich in dancing with a wide variation in hand holding positions. Their dances are lively and hand holding positions. Their dances are lively and generally energetic.generally energetic.

The instruments common to this region are the bagpipe The instruments common to this region are the bagpipe (gaida) and the lyra. The most popular dances are (gaida) and the lyra. The most popular dances are Zonaradikos, Souflioutouda, Apadiasteite sto Xoro, Zonaradikos, Souflioutouda, Apadiasteite sto Xoro, Kastrinos, Sfarlis, Syngathistos, Podaraki, Stis Treis and Kastrinos, Sfarlis, Syngathistos, Podaraki, Stis Treis and Baintouska. Baintouska. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwxxjn4hhZ8

ΘεσσαλίαΘεσσαλία(THESSALY)(THESSALY)Thessaly retains a strong tradition of song-dances where the Thessaly retains a strong tradition of song-dances where the

dancers sing the music, often without instrumental dancers sing the music, often without instrumental accompaniment . The dances are slow and controlled. The accompaniment . The dances are slow and controlled. The main dances are Sta Tria, Kalamatianos, Klistos, Svarniara, main dances are Sta Tria, Kalamatianos, Klistos, Svarniara,

Karagouna, Tai-Tai and PilioritikosKaragouna, Tai-Tai and Pilioritikos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy7fcF7CLO

ΜακεδονίαΜακεδονία(MACEDONIA)(MACEDONIA)Macedonia has an especially rich folk culture. Macedonia has an especially rich folk culture.

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

Mikri EleniMikri Eleni..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laijse6X1vQ

Ήπειρος Ήπειρος (Epirus)(Epirus)• Syrtos in the three danced in many parts of Syrtos in the three danced in many parts of

Greece, but mainly in Epirus. This dance is dancing Greece, but mainly in Epirus. This dance is dancing by men and women and characterized by slow and by men and women and characterized by slow and continuous clasp.continuous clasp.

• Most famous dances in Epirus are : Most famous dances in Epirus are : ΓιατρόςΓιατρός (giatros)(giatros) ΚοφτόςΚοφτός (koftos) (koftos) Ο ΜενούσηςΟ Μενούσης (o (o menousis) menousis) ΖαγορίσιοςΖαγορίσιος (zagorisios) (zagorisios) ΜπεράτιΜπεράτι (berati)(berati)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZvckZfPR0v=45ZvckZfPR0

ΣτερεάΣτερεά

Sterea is a part of Greece where the traditional Sterea is a part of Greece where the traditional dances are:Tsamikos(Tdances are:Tsamikos(Tσάμικος-σάμικος-male dance, from male dance, from the most upstanding Greek traditional dances) the most upstanding Greek traditional dances) Syrtokalamatianos(Syrtokalamatianos(Συρτοκαλαματιανός Συρτοκαλαματιανός --καγκέλι)καγκέλι),, Koulouriotikos(Κουλουριώτικος) , Xatzixristos(Χατζηχρήστος)

ΠελοπόννησοςΠελοπόννησος

Peloponnesus is thPeloponnesus is the e oldest part of oldest part of modern Greece as we know it today. modern Greece as we know it today. Their main dances are Kalamatianos, Their main dances are Kalamatianos, Tsakonikos and Kariatidon.Tsakonikos and Kariatidon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLuZmCPU77M

Ν. Ν. AAιγαίου (ιγαίου (Aegean’s Aegean’s Islands)Islands)

• Generally dances of the islands of the Aegean are wavy. Generally dances of the islands of the Aegean are wavy. Characteristic features of the Aegean islands, is the Characteristic features of the Aegean islands, is the "lightness" observed in the execution of movements, the "lightness" observed in the execution of movements, the use of "soustarismatos" becoming knees, leaps of the first use of "soustarismatos" becoming knees, leaps of the first of the dance made low and parallel to the ground and the of the dance made low and parallel to the ground and the large observed variation in expression. Also we have an large observed variation in expression. Also we have an accent on the first and fourth stepaccent on the first and fourth step

• Most famous dances in Aegean are : Most famous dances in Aegean are : ΜπάλοςΜπάλος (balos) (balos) ΣΟΥΣΤΑ ΒΟΛΙΣΣΟΥ (ΣΟΥΣΤΑ ΒΟΛΙΣΣΟΥ (sousta volisou)sousta volisou)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVQxsO4sI7ohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVQxsO4sI7o

ΔωδεκάνησαΔωδεκάνησα (Dodekanese) (Dodekanese)• The dances of DODEKANESE follow the same rate The dances of DODEKANESE follow the same rate

with other Aegean islandswith other Aegean islands

• Most famous dances are :Most famous dances are : Γαϊτανάκι Γαϊτανάκι ΡόδουΡόδου(gaitanaki Rodou) (gaitanaki Rodou) ΙκαριώτικοςΙκαριώτικος (ikariotikos)(ikariotikos) Σούστα ΚωΣούστα Κω (sousta Ko) (sousta Ko)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5Aacv0lSp0Ifeature=player_embedded&v=5Aacv0lSp0I

Ν. Ν. IIονίουονίου (Ionian Islands) (Ionian Islands)• The west and mainly the Italian influence, affected The west and mainly the Italian influence, affected

the musical and dancing development of the Ionian the musical and dancing development of the Ionian Islands. The Ionian kantada owes the structure of the Islands. The Ionian kantada owes the structure of the melody of Italian influences.melody of Italian influences.

• Most famous dances are : Most famous dances are : Άη Γιώργης (Άη Γιώργης (ai giorgis) ai giorgis) ΚερκυραϊκόςΚερκυραϊκός ή Ρούγα (ή Ρούγα (kerkiraikos or else kerkiraikos or else rouga)rouga) ΜηλιάΜηλιά (milia) (milia) Μπάλος Μπάλος Κεφαλονιάς Κεφαλονιάς ((balos Kefalonias)balos Kefalonias)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue793Ko7Srgv=Ue793Ko7Srg

Kρήτη (Kρήτη (CreteCrete ) )• The traditional dances of Crete is sometimes fast and The traditional dances of Crete is sometimes fast and

sometimes slow, but always dynamic and imposing. The firstsometimes slow, but always dynamic and imposing. The first of the cycle, usually a man, is based on the secondof the cycle, usually a man, is based on the second΄́s man s man right-hand and developsright-hand and develops with with great skill unique figures, the great skill unique figures, the famous "talimia.“famous "talimia.“

• On the island there is a wide variety of organic melodies and On the island there is a wide variety of organic melodies and songs. World known are "mandinades", rhyming couplets in songs. World known are "mandinades", rhyming couplets in iambic fifteen-syllable lyrics with periechoemno erotic, iambic fifteen-syllable lyrics with periechoemno erotic, satirical, etc. The best known traditional musical instrument is satirical, etc. The best known traditional musical instrument is Lyra. Lyra is playing by a bow. Lyra. Lyra is playing by a bow.

• Famous dances of Crete are : Haniotis (Famous dances of Crete are : Haniotis (Χανιώτης)Χανιώτης) Sousta Sousta (Σούστα)(Σούστα) Pentozalis Pentozalis (Πεντοζάλης) (Πεντοζάλης)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YwmVhAlTKghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YwmVhAlTKg