Greek folk dancesGreek folk dances

Greece is one of the few countries in the world, where folk Greece is one of the few countries in the world, where folk dances are as alive today as they were in ancient times. dances are as alive today as they were in ancient times. Dance has always played an important role in the Dance has always played an important role in the life life greeks.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 hand Thrace is particularly rich in dancing with a wide variation in hand holding positions. Their dances are lively and generally energetic.holding positions. Their dances are lively and generally energetic.

The instruments common to this region are the bagpipe (gaida) and the The instruments common to this region are the bagpipe (gaida) and the lyra. The most popular dances are Zonaradikos, Souflioutouda, lyra. The most popular dances are Zonaradikos, Souflioutouda, Apadiasteite sto Xoro, Kastrinos, Sfarlis, Syngathistos, Podaraki, Apadiasteite sto Xoro, Kastrinos, Sfarlis, Syngathistos, Podaraki, Stis Treis and Baintouska. Stis Treis and Baintouska. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwxxjn4hhZ8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwxxjn4hhZ8

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

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

Kalamatianos, Klistos, Svarniara, Karagouna, Tai-Tai and PilioritikosKalamatianos, Klistos, Svarniara, Karagouna, Tai-Tai and Pilioritikos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy7fcF7CLOhttps://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 where The variety is partly due to its geographical position where

it borders with the Balkans. The main dances are Gaida, it borders with the Balkans. The main dances are Gaida, Leventikos, Nikolos, Akritikos, Baidouska, Partalos, Leventikos, Nikolos, Akritikos, Baidouska, Partalos, Kastorianos, Omorfoula, Nizamikos, Sire Sire, Boimitsa, Kastorianos, Omorfoula, Nizamikos, Sire Sire, Boimitsa, Antikristos and Mikri EleniAntikristos and Mikri Eleni..

https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=laijse6X1vQ=laijse6X1vQ

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

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

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

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

ΣτερεάΣτερεά

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

ΠελοπόννησοςΠελοπόννησος

Peloponnesus is thPeloponnesus is th e 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 Islands)Aegean’s 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 "lightness" Characteristic features of the Aegean islands, is the "lightness" observed in the execution of movements, the use of observed in the execution of movements, the use of "soustarismatos" becoming knees, leaps of the first of the dance "soustarismatos" becoming knees, leaps of the first of the dance made low and parallel to the ground and the large observed made low and parallel to the ground and the large observed variation in expression. Also we have an accent on the first and variation in expression. Also we have an accent on the first and fourth stepfourth step

• Most famous dances in Aegean are : Most famous dances in Aegean are : ΜπάλοςΜπάλος (balos) (balos) ΣΟΥΣΤΑ ΣΟΥΣΤΑ ΒΟΛΙΣΣΟΥ (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 with The dances of DODEKANESE follow the same rate with

other Aegean islandsother 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 The west and mainly the Italian influence, affected the

musical and dancing development of the Ionian Islands. The musical and dancing development of the Ionian Islands. The Ionian kantada owes the structure of the melody of Italian Ionian kantada owes the structure of the melody of Italian influences.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 rouga)kerkiraikos or else rouga) ΜηλιάΜηλιά (mil ia) (mil ia) Μπάλος Μπάλος Κεφαλονιάς (Κεφαλονιάς ( balos balos Kefalonias)Kefalonias)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue793Ko7Srghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue793Ko7Srg

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

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

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

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