Greek dance (horos) is a very old tradition, being referred to by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. 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 Black Sea, is very sharp. There are over 10000 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 the syrtos, kalamatianos, pyrrhichios, hasapiko and sirtaki.
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. Visitors tempted to join in a celebration should be careful not to violate these arrangements, in which the prestige of the individual villagers may be embodied.
Greek dances are usually performed in diaspora Greek communities, and among international folk dance groups.
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CordaxDionysiakosHyporchemaKorybantesPyrrhichios (dance)SyrtosAegean 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.
Antikristos (Mytilene)Antipatitis (Karpathos)Arkistis (Karpathos)BallaristosBallos (Naxos), Kythnos)Boniatiki Sousta (Rhodes)Chaniotika (Leros)Dirlanda (Kalymnos)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 (LerosLerikos (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)SyrtosSyrtos Assos (Agathonisi)Ta Xila (Mytilene)Thermiotikos Karsilamas (Kythnos)Thimariotikos (Kalymnos)Tourtsikos (Rhodes)TrataTsopanikos (Lemnos)Zervos (Karpathos)These dances are light and jumpy, and extremely cardiovascular.
AngaliastosAnogianos PidichtosApanomeritisEthianos PidichtosIerapetrikos PidichtosKanellaKatsabadianosLaziotisMaleviziotisMikro MikrakiNtamesNtournerakiaPentozaliPidichtos LasithoupyrrhichiosPriniotisRethemniotiki SoustaRodo (dance)SiganosSitiakos PidichtosSoustaSyrtos ChaniotikosTrizaliXenobasarisZervodexiosAntikristosHasapikoSirtakiHatzichristos (from Megara)KalamatianosZeibekikoKamilierikosKavodorikos (Karystos)KleistospyrrhichiosSyrtosLambri Kamara (Megara)Loulouvikos (from Megara)Tis Triandafilias Ta Fila (Megara)Trata (from Megara)TsamikosEpirote dances are the most slow and heavy in all of Greece. Great balance is required in order to perform these dances.
BeratiFisounisGenovefaGiatrosHoros Tis Nifis or LipothimarikosKapitan LoukaKoftosKlamataKleftesMetsovitikosPalamakiaPapadiaPapiggoParzakanaPogonisiosSta DioSta TriaSingathistos MetsovouZagorisiosThe dances of the Peloponnese are very simple and heavy, with the leader of the line improvising.
Ai GeorgisDiplos HorosGeranosKalamatianosManiatikosMonodiplosPanagiotisSyrtosTsakonikosTsamikosIonian Islands
Ai Georgis (Corfu)Ballos (Lefkada)Bourdaris (Kythira)Cerigotikos (Kythira)Potamitikos(Kythira)Ai Georgis (Kythira)Diavaratikos (Cefalonia)Fourlana (Corfu)Kerkiraikos (Corfu)Lefkaditikos (Lefkada)Levantitikos (Zakynthos)Mermigas (Cefalonia)Mesaritikos (Kythira)Rouga (Corfu)Syrtos (Cefalonia)Thiakos (Lefkada)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)AntikristosBougatsas (Florina)DimitroulaDiplos Choros Tis RokasGaida DanceGerakinaGerontikosEndeka KozanisKastorianosKori EleniKapitan LoukaHasapikoLeventikos (Florina)Makedonikos antikristosMakrinitsa danceNizamikos (Naousa)Omorfoula (Florina)O NikolosPartalosPoustsenoProskinitosRaikos (Edessa)ServikosSimbethera (Florina)StamouloStankina (Edessa)Syre Syre (Edessa)Syrtos MakedoniasTis DimitroulasTis MariasTranos Choros (Kozani)Trita Pata (Naousa)Tsotsos (Florina)Tsourapia (Florina)ZacharoulaZaramo (dance)Eastern Macedonia
AntikristosDrousasKampanaKori EleniTefkotosDances 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.
DionysiakosGaitanakiGalanogalaniGirogalakisKalamatianosKamaraKangeliKaragounaKleistosKleistos ArgitheasKoftosLafinaPilioritikosRougatsiarikosSouzanaSyrtosTsamikoTsamikos DeskatisZacharoulaNtarsaPlektosTsamikosThracian 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 Hronis Aithonidis and Kariofilis Doitsidis have brought to life the music of Thrace.
AntikristosBaidouskaDaktiliDendritsiDristaGaitaniGiknasHasapiaKoulouriastosMandilatosPapisiosSingathistosSyrtosTapeinos HorosTapeinos PaschaliatikosTripatiZonaradikoThe 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.
AntikristosBogdanosDouzikosKallinitikosKatsivelikosKinigitosKoutsosMilisoPodarakiSfarlisSingathistosStis TreisSyrtos BanasTamzaraTremouliastosTroiroTsestosZervosZervos BanasZervodexiosZonaradikoThe dances of the Pontic Greeks from the Black Sea, were mostly performed by Pontian 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. See Horon for more information on the history of these dances.
Aneforitissa KizelaApo Pan Kai Ka MatsoukaAtsiapatDipatEtere TrapezountaFona ArgyroupolisGemouraGetiere ArgyroupolisKalon KoritsiKochariKori KopelaKounichton NikopolisKouseraLafragaLetsi Kars (Kars)Letsina Kars (Kars)MacheriaMilitsaMiteritsaMomoeriaOmalPatoulaPodarakiPontic SerraSampson (Samsun)SeranitsaSiton ImerasSyrtosTamsara NikopolisTamsara TrapezountasT'apan Ke Ka MatsoukaTik DiploTik ImerasTik MonoTik NikopolisTik Togias or TogialidikonTitara ArgyroupolisTria Ti KotsariTrigona KerasountasTrigona MatsoukasTrigona TrapezountasTripat MatsoukaTromaktonTyrfon or Tryfon BafraErythrae
AlatsatianiHoros AttarisBallosByzantine dancePaschalinosGeranosSoustaSyrtosSyrtos KarabourniotikosTapeinosZeibekikoCappadocia
The Cappadocian dances were mainly sung in the Cappadocian dialect coming from the Karamanlides. Dances varied from social dances to ritualistic dances.
Ai VassiliatikosChoros KoutalionChoros LeilaloumChoros MacherionChoros MandilionEnsomaTas KemerliTsitsek NtagPasha/AntipashaLeilaloumVara VaraKonialisKouseftosSei TataSyrtosZeibekikoSinasos
The Dances & Songs of Sinasos Mustafapasa.
Malamatenios ArgaliosPago Stou Prousas Ta VounaApopsin Ta MesanihtaSimeris i SimerianiKonialiIsos SinasosByzantine danceHasapikoTessera MatiaPatinada NifisRododahtilosPizzicaTarantellaMen's Dances
AntikristosDefteros KarsilamasProtos KarsilamasSyrtosTatsiaTritos KarsilamasWomen's Dances
AntikristosDefteros KarsilamasProtos KarsilamasSyrtosTetartos KarsilamasTritos KarsilamasAntiperaHatzistergiouKalamatianosKato Stin Aspri PetraLa Valia di GiannenaSta TriaSyrtosApano Stin TriandafiliaChoros KatsaDespoDiplos ChorosSta TriaTsamikos
