Greek Beats Move Feet

                                                    Written by Eleni H.
                                                            (2005)
     On January 20, 2005, I had the pleasure of attending a Greek folk dance performance at the Queens Library as part of the NYC Public Library Hellenic Festival. This lively and beautiful presentation brought great joy to the members of the audience, both young and old. It was evident that much love, dedication, and experience were involved in the preparation of this event.

     Dance has always held great significance for the Greek people. In ancient times, dance, song, and music were all integral parts of theater and life. Today, Greeks dance for many reasons: as a means of celebration, as a form of self-expression, and as ritualistic drama. In effect, dance is just as important to the Greeks today as it was in ancient times.

     At the beginning of the program, the coordinator enlightened the audience on the history of Greek folk dance. She stated that Greek folk dances play an important role in the expression of human feelings and that “Plato and Socrates believed that all people should dance.” While references to dance exist in various sources from the ancient and Byzantine world, there are also drawings, paintings, and small statues, which depict dancers and musicians, and we can learn much by studying them.

     There are two categories of Greek folk dances, one that involves springing and leaping and another which is called sirtos and involves the dragging of feet. All dances start with the right foot and move counter clockwise. In most cases, men lead the dance, more specifically the oldest man. The women’s dances are typically slow whereas men’s dances are showy and the lead dancer has the opportunity to express himself through dance.

     Two dances which I enjoyed were zonaradikos and tsirigotikos. In zonaradikos, dancers hold hands in a basket weave formation and alternate between stepping and lifting a foot. The dancers periodically stomp and close the circle while shouting. In tsirigotikos, the dancers alternate between two steps and two kicks in both directions. This was a very lively dance that excited the audience and made people clap and tap their feet. One could not help but notice the nostalgia in the eyes of the older audience members.

     The presentation at the Queens Library was an enjoyable and educational experience. It is obvious that Greek folk dancing, communal and inclusive by nature, is intrinsically tied to the history of the Greek people. While there are many common characteristics of traditional Hellenic folk dances, variations developed over the years due to history, geography, and climatic conditions. Musical instruments and costumes also enhance and add to our understanding of the development of this most beautiful and cherished art form.