Syrtos (Greek: συρτός, syrtos (also sirtos); plural συρτοί, syrtoi (also sirtoi); sometimes called in English using the Greek accusative forms syrto (also sirto); from the Greek: σύρω, syro (also siro), "to drag [the dance]") is – in classical and modern Greece – a traditional dance in which the dancers link hands to form a chain or circle, headed by a leader who intermittently breaks away to perform improvised steps.[1]
Syrtos, along with its relative kalamatianos, are the most popular dances throughout Greece and Cyprus, and are frequently danced by the Greek diaspora worldwide. They are very popular in social gatherings, weddings and religious festivals. Syrtos and kalamatianos use the same dance steps, but the syrtos is in 4 4 time and the kalamatianos is in 7 8 time, organized in a slow (3 beat), quick (2 beat), quick (2 beat) rhythm.
Syrtos and kalamatianos are line dances and circle dances, done with the dancers in a curving line holding hands, facing right. The dancer at the right end of the line is the leader. He may also be a solo performer, improvising showy twisting skillful moves as the rest of the line does the basic step. While he does this, the next dancer in line stops dancing and holds him up with a twisted handkerchief linking their hands, so he can turn and not fall down, as in the Antikristos. In some parts of syrtos, pairs of dancers hold a handkerchief from its two sides.
Rennell Rodd (1892)[2] suggests that the dance is an imitation of the action of drawing in the seine net. C. T. Dimaras[3] describes an inscription from the times of Caligula, which implied that already at these times Syrtos was considered an ancient Greek dance of local tradition.
^[1] Definition of syrtos in English, Oxford Living Dictionaries
^Rennell Rodd (1892) "The Customs and Lore of Modern Greece", p.88
^C. T. Dimaras (1972) "History of Modern Greek Literature", ISBN 0-87395-071-2, p. 7
Syrtos (Greek: συρτός, syrtos (also sirtos); plural συρτοί, syrtoi (also sirtoi); sometimes called in English using the Greek accusative forms syrto (also...
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Cretan music. Dodecanese folk dances include the Trata, Ballos, Syrtos, Kremasti, Issos, Syrtos Rodou, Michanikos and Kalymnikos, which originates from the...
acrobatics. The steps of the Kalamatianós are the same as those of the Syrtos, but the latter is slower and more stately, its beat being a steady 4 4...
acrobatics. The steps of the Kalamatianós are the same as those of the Syrtos, but the latter is slower and more stately, its beat being an even 4 4....
is an anonymous Greek folkloric tune (syrtos or sousta). The meter is 4 4. The original Greek form of the syrtos is a popular folk dance in Greece (Cyclades)...
faster syrtos (Syrtos, Sirto, Sirtos), that can also be danced going backwards and forwards or with partners. Greek music Greek dances Syrtos Kalamatianos...
from Thessaly are slow and stately, however the music accompanying the Syrtos dance, is typically livelier and more energetic than it is in other parts...
She contacted Mercine Nesotas, who taught several Greek dances, including Syrtos Haniotikos (from Crete), which she called Kritikos, but for which they had...
of Peloponnese. Folk dances from Peloponnese, include the basic form of syrtos music and its alternative kinds. The most common dances of Peloponnese are:...
Greek folk dance from Zagorochoria and Tzoumerka in Greece. It is based on syrtos and the movements of the legs and arms. Music of Greece Greek dances Greek...
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culture Armenian dance Assyrian folk dance Dabke (a form of Arabic dance) Syrtos (Greek) Turkish dance Shwartz-Be'eri, Ora; Yiśraʼel (Jerusalem), Muzeʼon...
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anonymous Greek folkloric tune (Sousta or syrtos ).The meter is 4 4. The original form of the Sousta or syrtos was popular folk dance in Amorgos . Sousta...
include: Ai Georgis Ballos Cerigotikos Diavaritikos Fourlana Kerkiraikos Syrtos Music of Greece Greek dances Greek folk music Ionian School (music) Music...
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