Greek dances

Greek Folk Dances

It is stated that there are hundreds of Folk dances in Greece; many more have been lost during the last decades before anyone had the chance to record them. Very often, the same dance is executed in different ways from one village to the next or from one island to the other. Some dances have no name; they are simply the established way to move while singing a particular song. In other instances, we find that a dance was given the same name as a different dance from another region. Until the beginning of this century, most dances had no need for a name at all, since everyone in the village knew how to execute each particular song. Even today, when one wants to dance he orders the musicians to play the song of his choice. Only when he has no preference does he order by the name of the dance. When professional musicians started traveling to play in distant villages, the need arose for a name to call one dance by which many different songs were danced (Alkis Raftis, World of Greek Dance 1995).

Most dances are in open circle moving from the left to the right. The first dancer of the line, he who “pulls the dance”, has the leading role. He orders the song, he pays the musicians and he has the right to improvise variations on the basic step. Traditionally, women rarely led the dance, unless of course it was a women’s dance. A few dances were danced “face to face” by a couple and still fewer followed other formations.

Aesthetics in Greek Dance

The Greek Folk song is important to Greek Dance – whether diatonic or chromatic, with syllabic or melismatic melodies when sung – is modal and monophonic in its construction. Its melodies are based on different interval continuity from that of the major – minor of the Western music, sung and performed monophonically. An exception to this rule is provided by certain songs performed in Northern Epirus. These songs are performed polyphonically, without instrumental accompaniment.

The Greek Folk dances are divided rhythmically into: periodical rhythmic type melodies, and melodies of the free rhythmic type. The first are characterised by the periodical repetition of the certain rhythmic pattern, for instance, all dance melodies, whereas the second are characterised by the free flow of diverse rhythmic patterns. Greek Folk melodies are sung and performed on the natural and not the equal tempered scale of the West, wherever singer and instrumentalists have remained pure from the destructive influence of the Western polyphonic technique (Fivos Anogianakis Greek Folk Instruments 1970).

There are over 1000 Traditional Folk Dances of Greece.

Within Greece, every region has its own style of dance, and type of dance. The main dances of the regions within greece are as follows:

Peloponnese

The dances of the Peloponnese are very simple and heavy, with the leader of the line improvising.

Kalamatianos
Syrtos - see Kalamatianos
Tsamikos
Tsakonikos
Ai Georgis

Central Greece

Trata Megara
Loulouvikos Megara
Hatzihristos Megara
Tsamikos
Kalamatianos
Lambri Kamara Megara
Keistos
Kageli Livanateiko
Tis Triandafillias Ta Filla Megara
Berthe Kai Berthe Megara

Thrace

Thracian dance is generally skippy and light. In most Thracian dances, the men are only permitted to dance at the front of the line.

Tapinos Horos
Tapinos Pashaliatikos
Horos Tis Yiknas
Xesyrtos
Hasapia
Zonaradikos
Baidouska
Karsilamas
Singathistos
Syrtos Singathistos
Koulouriastos
Papisios
Sfarlis
Mandilatos
Tripati
Karsilamas

Anatoliki Rumelia or Northern Thrace

The Dances of Anatoliki Rumelia (Northern Thrace) are fast, upbeat and similar to the Thracian style of dance.

Tsestos
Bogdanos
Stis Treis
Troirou
Tremouliastos
Koutsos
Podaraki
Kiniyitos
Miliso
Karsilamas

Macedonia

Dances in macedonia vary. Most are solid and are performed using heavy steps, whilst others are fast and agile.Most dances begin slow and increase in speed.
Western Macedonia

Gaida
Levendikos Florinas
Horos Andikristos Makedonias
Kori Eleni / Mikri Eleni / Eleno Mome
Partalos
Kastorianos
Tsotsos Florinas
Syrtos Makedonias
Akritikos Florinas
Bouyatsas
Simbethera
Patrounino
Pousnitsa
Raikos Edessas
Bella Olymbia
Trite Pata
Tranos Horos Kozanis
Zaramo
Endeka Kozanis
Tranos Horos Kozanis
Servikos
Tsourapia Florinas
Gkeikos
Omorfoula Florinas
Dimitroula
Kapitan Louka
Stankena
Nizamikos
Moustambeiko Naoussas
Diplos Horos Tis Rokas
Stankina Edessas
Trita Pata
Tis Marias
Tis Dimitroulas
Lissavo
Proskinitos

Eastern Macedonia

Baidouska
Drousas
Kampana
Paidouskino
Yalata
Shop Gaida
Karsilamas

Kori Eleni
Tefkotos

Thessaly

Dances in Thessaly are similar in style to the dances of Epirus. Mostly heavy, and some are fast. The leader, however, improvises, just like those in the Peloponnese.

Gaitanaki
Kalamatiano
Kaggeli
Karagouna Svarniara
Kleistos Argitheas
Koftos
Pilioritiko
Tsamiko
Tai Tai
Rougkatsiarikos
Simera Ta Fota
Souzana
Tis Haimadis To Forema
Irthan Ta Karavyia Ta Zagoriana
Kamara
Perasa Apo Tin Karia
Simera Ta Fota
Girogalakis
Kori Pleni Skamakizi

Epirus

Epirote dances are the most slow and heavy in all of Greece. Great balance is required in order to perform these dances.

Kaggelari
Koftos
Tzitziras
Berati
Berati Vari
Menousis
Papadia
O Yiannos O Beratianos
Pogonisios
Kleftes
Zagorisios
Sta Dio
Sta Tria
Fissounis
Singathisti Hori Metsovou
Fezodervenagas
Metsovitikos

Aegean Islands

Just like Crete, the Greek Islands have dances which are fast in pace and light and jumpy. Many of these dances, however, are couples dances, and not so much in lines.