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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Angelica (danc−e)
Antistrophe
Carpaea
Choreia (dance)×
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Cordax
Dionysiakos
Hyporchema
Korybantes
Pyrrhichios (dance)
Syrtos
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.
Antikristos (Mytilene)
Antipatitis (Karpathos)
Arkistis (Karpathos)
Ballaristos
Ballos (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 (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)
These dances are light and jumpy, and extremely cardiovascular.
Angaliastos
Anogianos Pidichtos
Apanomeritis
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
Zervodexios
Antikristos
Hasapiko
Sirtaki
Hatzichristos (from Megara)
Kalamatianos
Zeibekiko
Kamilierikos
Kavodorikos (Karystos)
Kleistos
pyrrhichios
Syrtos
Lambri Kamara (Megara)
Loulouvikos (from Megara)
Tis Triandafilias Ta Fila (Megara)
Trata (from Megara)
Tsamikos
Epirote dances are the most slow and heavy in all of Greece. Great balance is required in order to perform these dances.
Berati
Fisounis
Genovefa
Giatros
Horos Tis Nifis or Lipothimarikos
Kapitan Louka
Koftos
Klamata
Kleftes
Metsovitikos
Palamakia
Papadia
Papiggo
Parzakana
Pogonisios
Sta Dio
Sta Tria
Singathistos Metsovou
Zagorisios
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
Syrtos
Tsakonikos
Tsamikos
Ionian 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)
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)
Tsotsos (Florina)
Tsourapia (Florina)
Zacharoula
Zaramo (dance)
Eastern Macedonia
Antikristos
Drousas
Kampana
Kori Eleni
Tefkotos
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.
Dionysiakos
Gaitanaki
Galanogalani
Girogalakis
Kalamatianos
Kamara
Kangeli
Karagouna
Kleistos
Kleistos Argitheas
Koftos
Lafina
Pilioritikos
Rougatsiarikos
Souzana
Syrtos
Tsamiko
Tsamikos Deskatis
Zacharoula
Ntarsa
Plektos
Tsamikos
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 Hronis Aithonidis 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
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
The 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 Kizela
Apo Pan Kai Ka Matsouka
Atsiapat
Dipat
Etere Trapezounta
Fona Argyroupolis
Gemoura
Getiere Argyroupolis
Kalon Koritsi
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
Syrtos
Tamsara Nikopolis
Tamsara Trapezountas
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
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 coming from 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.
Malamatenios Argalios
Pago Stou Prousas Ta Vouna
Apopsin Ta Mesanihta
Simeris i Simeriani
Koniali
Isos Sinasos
Byzantine dance
Hasapiko
Tessera Matia
Patinada Nifis
Rododahtilos
Pizzica
Tarantella
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
Antipera
Hatzistergiou
Kalamatianos
Kato Stin Aspri Petra
La Valia di Giannena
Sta Tria
Syrtos
Apano Stin Triandafilia
Choros Katsa
Despo
Diplos Choros
Sta Tria
Tsamikos
