In Greece people dance at every occasion: weddings, baptisms, saints' day festivals (panigyria), Easter, evenings in a taverna. There are hundreds of traditional dances, varying from region to region and sometimes from village to village. In antiquity dance was part of religious rites and theatre, and many figures on ancient vases still recall today's steps.
How it is danced
Most dances are performed in an open circle or line, holding hands, shoulders or a handkerchief, with the circle moving to the right. The leader guides: improvising figures, leaps and spins, often supported by the second dancer with a handkerchief, then giving way to someone else. At festivals, whoever pays the musicians to "order" a song has the right to lead.
The most widespread dances
| Dance | Rhythm | Features | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamatianos | 7/8 | The national dance, 12 steps in a circle, cheerful | All Greece, from the Peloponnese |
| Syrtos | 2/4 | "Dragged": soft, flowing steps | All Greece, especially the islands |
| Tsamikos | 3/4 | Slow and proud, with big leaps by the leader | Central Greece, Epirus, Peloponnese |
| Hasapiko | 2/4 | In a line with arms on shoulders, crossing steps | Cities, from the butchers of Constantinople |
| Hasaposerviko | 2/4 | Fast version of the hasapiko | Cities |
| Zeibekiko | 9/8 | Male solo, introspective and improvised | Cities, linked to rebetiko |
| Tsifteteli | 2/4 or 4/4 | Belly dance, free, in pairs or alone | Eastern origin, now everywhere |
| Ballos | 2/4 | Playful couple dance | Aegean islands |
Regional dances
- Crete: the fast, acrobatic pentozali, arms on shoulders; the Cretan syrtos; the sousta, a couple dance. Accompanied by the Cretan lyra.
- Aegean islands: the ballos and syrtos nisiotikos; on Ikaria the ikariotikos, which speeds up to a frenzy during all-night panigyria.
- Pontus: dances of the Black Sea Greeks, such as the tik and serra, with rapid shoulder movements, accompanied by the kemenche.
- Macedonia and Thrace: complex rhythms, such as the zonaradikos, with Balkan influences.
- Epirus: slow, solemn dances accompanied by the clarinet.
- Ionian Islands: Italian influences, couple dances closer to Western ones.
The sirtaki
The world's most famous Greek dance, the sirtaki, is not traditional: it was created in 1964 for the film Zorba the Greek, mixing slow and fast hasapiko steps.
Where to see them
- The Dora Stratou Theatre on Philopappos Hill in Athens presented traditional dances in costume for decades.
- Summer village festivals, especially on 15 August, are the best chance to see them and really dance.
- Many tourist tavernas offer dance evenings, less authentic but fun.
See also Greek music and festivals and traditions.