Greek dance (choros; ) is an old tradition, being referred to by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian.Raftis, Alkis, The World of Greek Dance Finedawn, Athens (1987) p25. There are different styles and interpretations from all of the islands and surrounding mainland areas. Each region formed its own choreography and style to fit in with their own ways. For example, island dances have more of a different smooth flow to them, while Pontic dancing closer to the Black Sea, is very sharp. There are over 10,000 traditional dances that come from all regions of Greece. There are also pan-Hellenic dances, which have been adopted throughout the Greek world. These include specifically the Syrtos, Kalamatianos, Pyrrhichios, Ballos, Zeibekiko, and hasapiko.
Traditional Greek dancing has a primarily social function. It brings the community together at key points of the year, such as Easter, the grape harvest or patronal festivals; and at key points in the lives of individuals and families, such as weddings. For this reason, tradition frequently dictates a strict order in the arrangement of the dancers, for example, by age.Raftis, Alkis, The World of Greek Dance Finedawn, Athens(1987) p117.
A study conducted on children engaging in a dance program involving the performance of various types of traditional Greek dances has demonstrated that it is an effective exercise for strengthening young children's static and dynamic balance.
Greek dances are performed also in diaspora Greek communities among international folk dance groups.
Ancient Greek dances
Antistrophe Carpaea Choreia (dance) Cordax Dionysiakos Hyporchema Korybantes Pyrrhichios (dance) Syrtos In Ancient Greece, dance was a form of ritual, as well as a pastime.Fitton, J.W. “Greek Dance”. The Classical Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 2, 1973, pp. 254. Dance could be included in hunting communities, initiation ceremony rituals of age, marriage, and death, entertainment, dance festivals, and religious activity.Fitton, J.W. “Greek Dance”. The Classical Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 2, 1973, pp. 254-255. It was also viewed as a way to educate children about social norms and morals, and was viewed as being essential for physical and emotional development.Lawler, Lillian Brady. “The Dance in Ancient Greece”. The Classical Journal, vol. 42, no. 6, 1947, pp. 344-346. Dance was used in regard to war as a form of military training, as well as a ritual that served as a mediator between the gods and humans.Lawler, Lillian Brady. “The Dance in Ancient Greece”. The Classical Journal, vol. 42, no. 6, 1947, pp. 344.Vesterinen, Manna. “Communicative Aspects of Ancient Greek Dance”. ARCTOS, vol. 31, 1998, pp. 181. What modern times may consider a parade, military drill, funeral, children's game, these were seen as forms of dance as long as they were meant to be an exhibition of a rhythmic performance.Lawler, Lillian Brady. “The Dance in Ancient Greece”. The Classical Journal, vol. 42, no. 6, 1947, pp. 345-346. Strobilos (στρόβιλος) was a whirling dance.Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, StrobilosSuda, sigma, 1207
The Suda mentions an ancient Greek dance called Dipodia (Διποδία), meaning two-step/two-footer.Suda, delta, 1263 It also describes Orchesis (Ὄρχησις), which included two types of dance: one involving acrobatics and another performed with a ball. Aristonicus of Carystus, was known for performing the ball-dance.Suda, omicron, 670 In addition, the Suda mentions Pantomime dancing (Ὄρχησις παντόμιμος), a form of dance associated with Augustus Caesar and the performers Pylades and Bathyllus.Suda, omicron, 671
Modern and regional dances Aegean Islands
The Aegean 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. See Nisiotika for more information.
Antipatitis (Karpathos) Arkistis (Karpathos) Ballaristos Ballos (Naxos, Kythnos, Lemnos) Boniatiki Sousta (Rhodes) Chaniotika (Leros) Ikariotikos (from Ikaria) Irene (Tilos) Isios (Kalymnos) Kamara (Skiathos) Kamares (Tilos) Karavas (dance) (Naxos) Kato Choros (Karpathos) Kechagiadikos (Lemnos) Kefalonitika (Karpathos) Kritikos (Rhoditiko Pidikto) (Rhodes) Leriki Sousta (Leros) Lerikos (Leros) Michanikos (Kalymnos) Ola Ta Poulakia (Thasos) Panagia (Lemnos) Pano Choros (Karpathos) Patma (Lemnos) Pirgousikos (Chios) Plataniotiko Nero (Samos) Rhoditiki Sousta (Rhodes) Rhoditikos (Rhodes, Leros) Rodo (dance) Sianos (Karpathos) Simetherkatos (Lemnos) Samiotiki Sousta (Samos) Sousta (Kalymnos) Sousta Karpathou (Karpathos) Sousta Koaki (Kos) Sousta Tilou (Tilos) Sperveri (Rhodes) Strose Vayia (Samos) Symiaki Sousta (Symi) Syrtos Syrtos Assos (Agathonisi) Ta Xila (Mytilene) Thermiotikos Karsilamas (Kythnos) Thimariotikos (Kalymnos) Tourtsikos (Rhodes) Trata Tsopanikos (Lemnos) Zervos (Karpathos)
Crete
These dances are light and jumpy, and extremely cardiovascular.
Angaliastos Anogianos Pidichtos Apanomeritis Chaniotikos Syrtos Ethianos Pidichtos Ierapetrikos Pidichtos Kanella Katsabadianos Laziotis Maleviziotis Mikro Mikraki Ntames Ntournerakia Pentozali Pidichtos Lasithou Pyrrhichios Priniotis Rethemniotiki Sousta Rodo (dance) Siganos Sitiakos Pidichtos Sousta Syrtos Chaniotikos Trizali Xenobasaris Zervodexos
Central Greece
Antikristos Hasapiko Sirtaki Kalamatianos Kavodorikos (Karystos) Kleistos Pyrrhichios Syrtos Lambri Kamara (Megara) Loulouvikos (from Megara) Tis Triantafilias Ta Fila (Megara) Trata (from Megara) Tsamikos
Epirus
Epirote dances are the most slow and heavy in all of Greece. Great balance is required in order to perform these dances.
Berati Tsamikos Fisounis Genovefa Giatros Horos Tis Nifis or Lipothimarikos Kapitan Louka Koftos Klamata Metsovitikos Palamakia Papadia Papiggo Parzakana Pogonisios Sta Dio Sta Tria Singathistos Metsovou Zagorisios
Peloponnese The dances of the Peloponnese are very simple and heavy, with the leader of the line improvising.
Ai Georgis Diplos Horos Geranos Kalamatianos Maniatikos Monodiplos Panagiotis (dance) Syrtos Tsakonikos Tsamikos
Ionian Islands
Ai Georgis (Corfu) Ballos (Lefkada, Cefalonia) Bourdaris (Kythira) Cerigotikos (Kythira) Potamitikos (Kythira) Ai Georgis (Kythira) Divaratikos (Cefalonia) Fourlana (Corfu) Kerkiraikos (Corfu) Lefkaditikos (Lefkada) Levantitikos (Zakynthos) Mermigas (Cefalonia) Mesaritikos (Kythira) Rouga (Corfu) Syrtos (Cefalonia) Thiakos (Lefkada)
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 Akritikos (Florina) Antikristos Bougatsas (Florina) Dimitroula Diplos Choros Tis Rokas Gaida Dance Gerakina Gerontikos Endeka Kozanis Kastorianos Kori Eleni Kapitan Louka Hasapiko Leventikos (Florina) Makedonikos antikristos Makrinitsa dance Nizamikos (Naousa) Omorfoula (Florina) O Nikolos Partalos Poustseno Proskinitos Raikos (Edessa) Servikos Simbethera (Florina) Stamoulo Stankina (Edessa) Syre Syre (Edessa) Syrtos Makedonias Tis Dimitroulas Tis Marias Tranos Choros (Kozani) Trita Pata (Naousa) Tsamikos Deskatis Tsotsos (Florina) Tsourapia (Florina) Zacharoula Zaramo (dance) Eastern Macedonia Antikristos Drousas Kampana Kori Eleni Tefkotos
Thessaly Dances in Thessaly are similar in style to the dances of Epirus. Mostly with slow, heavy movements. However, there are some dances that are also faster-paced. The leader can improvise in these dances similarly to those dances from the Epirus, Central Greece and Peloponnese.
Dionysiakos Gaitanaki Galanogalani Girogalakis Kalamatianos Kamara Kangeli Karagouna Kleistos Kleistos Argitheas Koftos Lafina Pilioritikos Rougatsiarikos Souzana Syrtos Tsamiko Zacharoula
Arvanites Ntarsa Plektos Tsamikos
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. Musicians and singers such as Chronis Aidonidis and Kariofilis Doitsidis have brought to life the music of Thrace.
Antikristos Baidouska Daktili Dendritsi Drista Gaitani Giknas Hasapia Koulouriastos Mandilatos Papisios Singathistos Syrtos Tapeinos Horos Tapeinos Paschaliatikos Tripati Zonaradiko
Northern Thrace / Eastern Thrace The dances of (Northern Thrace) are fast, upbeat and similar to the Thracian style of dance. Dances from the town of Kavakli and Neo Monastiri are the most popular.
Antikristos Bogdanos Douzikos Kallinitikos Katsivelikos Kinigitos Koutsos Miliso Podaraki Sfarlis Singathistos Stis Treis Syrtos Banas Tamzara Tremouliastos Troiro Tsestos Zervos Zervos Banas Zervodexios Zonaradiko
Pontus
The dances of the Pontic Greeks from the Black Sea were mostly performed by the Pontic soldiers in order to motivate themselves before going into a battle. The dances are accompanied by the Pontian lyra, also called kemenche by Turkish people.
Aneforitissa Kizela Apo Pan Kai Ka Matsouka Atsiapat Dipat Etere Trapezounta Fona Argyroupolis Gemoura Getiere Argyroupolis Kalon Koritsi Karsilamas Kazatska Kochari Kori Kopela Kounichton Nikopolis Kousera Lafraga Letsi Kars (Kars) Letsina Kars (Kars) Macheria Militsa Miteritsa Momoeria Omal Patoula Podaraki Pontic Serra Sampson (Samsun) Seranitsa Siton Imeras Tamsara Nikopolis Tamsara Trapezountas Tas T'apan Ke Ka Matsouka Tik Diplo Tik Imeras Tik Mono Tik Nikopolis Tik Togias or Togialidikon Titara Argyroupolis Tria Ti Kotsari Trigona Kerasountas Trigona Matsoukas Trigona Trapezountas Tripat Matsouka Tromakton Tyrfon or Tryfon Bafra
Asia Minor
Erythrae Alatsatiani Horos Attaris Ballos Byzantine dance Paschalinos Geranos Sousta Syrtos Syrtos Karabourniotikos Tapeinos Zeibekiko
Cappadocia The Cappadocian dances were mainly sung in the Cappadocian dialect of Cappadocian Greeks or the Karamanlides. Dances varied from social dances to ritualistic dances. Ai Vassiliatikos Choros Koutalion Choros Leilaloum Choros Macherion Choros Mandilion Ensoma Tas Kemerli Tsitsek Ntag Pasha/Antipasha Leilaloum Vara Vara Konialis Kouseftos Sei Tata Syrtos Zeibekiko
Sinasos The Dances & Songs of Sinasos Mustafapasa. Apopsin Ta Mesanihta Isos Sinasos Koniali Malamatenios Argalios Pago Stou Prousas Ta Vouna Simeris i Simeriani
Constantinople Byzantine dance Hasapiko Tesera Matia Patinada Nyfis Rododachtilos
Griko (Southern Italy) Pizzica Tarantella
Cyprus
Men's Dances Antikristos Defteros Karsilamas Protos Karsilamas Syrtos Tatsia Tritos Karsilamas
Women's Dances Antikristos Defteros Karsilamas Protos Karsilamas Syrtos Tetartos Karsilamas Tritos Karsilamas
Aromanians Antipera Hatzistergiou Kalamatianos Kato Stin Aspri Petra La Valia di Giannena Sta Tria Syrtos
Sarakatsani Apano Stin Triantafilia Choros Katsa Despo Diplos Choros Sta Tria Tsamikos
Greek dancing in the United States Within the United States, Greek Americans participate in Greek dancing in order to preserve their heritage and culture. Greeks of all ages can be seen showcasing their skills at Greek Festivals which take place year round, often hosted by Greek Orthodox churches, or at various competitions in which groups practice dances from specific parts of Greece in order to perform in front of judges. GOYA, a spiritual ministry, is meant to give young people an opportunity to celebrate their shared culture and region while building bonds within the community.
Greek Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF)