The Kalamatianós ( el, Καλαματιανός) is one of the best known dances of
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
. It is a popular
Greek folkdance throughout
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
,
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...
and internationally and is often performed at many social gatherings worldwide. As is the case with most Greek folk dances, it is
danced in chain with a counterclockwise rotation, the dancers holding hands.
It is a joyous and festive dance; its musical beat is , subdivided into of three parts of 3+2+2 beats, corresponding to 3 steps per bar. There are 12 steps in the dance corresponding to 4 bars of music. These steps include 10 steps counterclockwise ("forward") followed by 2 steps clockwise ("backwards"). Depending on the occasion and the dancers' proficiency, certain steps may be taken as jumps or squats.
The lead dancer usually holds the second dancer by a
handkerchief
A handkerchief (; also called a hankie or, historically, a handkercher or a ) is a form of a kerchief or bandanna, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric which can be carried in the pocket or handbag for personal hygiene purposes such as wi ...
, this allowing him or her to perform more elaborate steps and acrobatics. The steps of the Kalamatianós are the same as those of the
Syrtos
Syrtos ( el, συρτός, ''syrtos'' (also ''sirtos''); plural , ''syrtoi'' (also ''sirtoi''); sometimes called in English using the Greek accusative forms ''syrto'' (also ''sirto''); from the el, links=no, σύρω, ''syro'' (also ''siro''), ...
, but the latter is slower and more stately, its beat being an even .
History
The roots of Kalamatianos can be found in
antiquity.
Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
, in the ''
Iliad
The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...
'', describes three performances made around the spear of
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...
that depict a dance in an open circle. The ancient
Sparta
Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referre ...
ns had a dance called ὅρμος ''hormos'', which was a syrto style dance described in detail by
Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; grc, wikt:Ξενοφῶν, Ξενοφῶν ; – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected commander of one of the biggest Anci ...
where a woman led a male into dance using a handkerchief.
Lucian states that the ''ormos'' dance was performed in an open circle and was done by young men and women. The men would dance vigorously while the women danced with modest movements.
In the 19th century, this dance was called ''Syrtos O Peloponisios''. It is believed to have acquired the name ''kalamatianos'' from the town of
Kalamata
Kalamáta ( el, Καλαμάτα ) is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula, after Patras, in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. As the capital and chief port of the Messenia regi ...
in southern Greece; most Greek dances are commonly named after the villages or areas from which they are considered to have originated.
Kalamatiano songs are many and popular – some of the more traditional kalamatiano songs are ''
Samiotissa'' (The girl from
Samos
Samos (, also ; el, Σάμος ) is a Greece, Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, south of Chios, north of Patmos and the Dodecanese, and off the coast of western Turkey, from which it is separated by the -wide Mycale Strait. It is also a se ...
), ''Mandili Kalamatiano'' (Kerchief from
Kalamata
Kalamáta ( el, Καλαμάτα ) is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula, after Patras, in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. As the capital and chief port of the Messenia regi ...
), ''Milo Mou Kokkino'' (My Red Apple), ''To Papaki'' (The Duckling), ''Mou Pariggile To Aidoni'' (The Nightingale sent me a message), ''Ola Ta Poulakia'' (All Birds), ''Palamakia'' (Clapping) and more. An especially haunting example of the kalamatianos, ''Mekapses Yitonissa'' (Μέκαψες Γειτόνισσα), was recorded for the
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...
's groundbreaking ''Music of Greece'' album, released in 1968.
The Kalamatiano is played at special occasions, such as Easter and Weddings.
Contemporary influence
The American jazz composer,
Dave Brubeck, well known for his exploration of asymmetrical rhythms in his own music, used a variant of the rhythm of the Kalamatianos for his
Unsquare Dance
"Unsquare Dance" is a composition by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck that was released as a single in 1961. Included on Brubeck's album ''Time Further Out'', the piece reached No. 93 on the ''Cash Box'' chart on December 16, 1961.
Time signature
Wri ...
, though the measures are divided into two groups of 4 followed by 3 beats rather than 3 followed by 4.
The 1960s popular singer, formerly known as
Cat Stevens, wrote and performed a song, ''Ruby Love'', in time with a distinctive Greek flavour. Stevens, who would later convert to Islam, has paternal Greek Cypriot roots. Near the end of the 2002 film, ''
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and written by Nia Vardalos, who also stars in the film as Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos, a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with White Anglo-Sax ...
'', the cast dances the kalamatianos to the song "" (Orea Pou Ine I Nifi Mas/How Wonderful Is Our Bride) at Ian and Toula's wedding reception.
Song example
Milo Mou Kokkino a traditional kalamatiano song from
Western Macedonia
Western Macedonia ( el, Δυτική Μακεδονία, translit=Ditikí Makedonía, ) is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Macedonia. Located in north-western Greece, it is divided into the regional uni ...
.
Boston Lykeion Ellinidon – Milo Mou Kokkino
Lyrics
Μήλο μου κόκκινο, ρόιδο βαμμένο (×2)
Γιατί με μάρανες το πικραμένο 1
Παένω κ’ έρχομαι μα δεν σε βρίσκω (×2)
Βρίσκω την πόρτα σου μανταλομένη 1
Τα παραθυρούδια σου φεγγοβολούνε (×2)
Ρωτάω την πόρτα σου, που πάει η κυρά σου; 1
Κυρά μ’ δεν είναι ‘δώ, πάησε στην βρύση (×2)
Πάησε να βρει νερό και να γεμίσει 1
Translation
My red apple, painted (like a) pomegranate,
why have you wilted me, the bitter one?
I come and go, but cannot find you
I try your door, and it's locked.
Your windows are always lighted
I ask your door, "Where has your lady gone?"
"My lady is not here, she is at the wellspring
She's gone to find water and to fill (her bucket)". thank you thank you
See also
* Armenian dance
*Assyrian folk dance
Assyrian folk dances are sets of dances that are performed throughout the world by Assyrians, mostly on occasions such as weddings, community parties and other jubilant events.
Assyrian folk dances are mainly made up of circle dances like ball ...
*Ballos
The Ballos ( el, Μπάλος) is a Greek folk dance and a form of sirtos. There are also different versions in other Balkan countries.
The Ballos is of Greek origin, with ancient Greek elements. The name originates in the Italian ''ballo'' ...
*Faroese dance
The Faroese chain dance ( fo, Føroyskur dansur, da, Kædedans) is the national circle dance of the Faroe Islands, accompanied by kvæði, the Faroese ballads.
The dance is a typical mediaeval ring dance. The dance is danced traditionally in a ...
*Greek dances
Greek dance (''choros'') 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 forme ...
*Greek folk music
Greek traditional music (Greek: παραδοσιακή μουσική, "traditional music"; also δημοτικά τραγούδια, "folk songs") includes a variety of Greek styles played by ethnic Greeks in Greece, Cyprus, Australia, the Uni ...
*Ikariotikos
''Ikariotikos'' ( el, Ικαριώτικος) or ''Kariotikos'' ( el, Καριώτικος, sometimes written with an apostrophe as 'Καριώτικος) is a traditional dance and accompanying song originating in Ikaria a Greek island in the N ...
* Kalamatianó (music)
*Kurdish dance
Kurdish dances ( ku, Govend, Dîlan, Helperkê, Helperge, Şayî, script=Latn; , , , , ) are a group of traditional dances among Kurds. It is a form of a circle dance, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical cent ...
*Music of Greece
The music of Greece is as diverse and celebrated as its history. Greek music separates into two parts: Greek traditional music and Byzantine music. These compositions have existed for millennia: they originated in the Byzantine period and Greek ...
*Nisiotika
Nisiotika ( el, νησιώτικα, meaning "insular (songs)") are the songs and dances of Greek islands with a variety of styles, played by ethnic Greeks in Greece, Turkey, Australia, the United States and elsewhere.
The lyre is the dominant fo ...
*Pentozali
The Pentozali or Pentozalis ( el, Πεντοζάλης) is the trademark folk dance of the island of Crete. It takes its name from the fifth (''pente'') attempt or step (ζάλος being a Cretan Greek word for "step") of the Cretan people to li ...
*Sousta
Sousta ( gr, Σούστα, links=no) is a Greek folk dance, performed at weddings as an activity of courtship between husband and wife. It originates from Ancient Greece, and holds prominence in Dodecanese Islands, and broader Aegean region. It ...
*Syrtos
Syrtos ( el, συρτός, ''syrtos'' (also ''sirtos''); plural , ''syrtoi'' (also ''sirtoi''); sometimes called in English using the Greek accusative forms ''syrto'' (also ''sirto''); from the el, links=no, σύρω, ''syro'' (also ''siro''), ...
*Tamzara
Tamzara ( hy, Թամզարա, translit=T'amzara; aii, ܬܢܙܪܐ, translit=Tanzara; az, Tənzərə; el, Τάμσαρα, translit=Támsara; tr, Tamzara) is a folk dance native to Armenian Highlands. It is today performed by Armenians, Assyria ...
*Tsamiko The Tsamikos ( el, Τσάμικος, ''Tsamikos'') or Kleftikos ( el, Κλέφτικος) is a popular traditional folk dance of Greece, done to music of 3/4 meter.
The dance
The dance follows a strict and slow tempo not emphasising on the st ...
*Turkish dance
Turkish may refer to:
*a Turkic language spoken by the Turks
* of or about Turkey
** Turkish language
*** Turkish alphabet
** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
*** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey
*** Turkish communities and ...
Notes
References
*George H. Lykesas ιώργος Χ. Λυκέσας ''Οι Ελληνικοί Χοροί'' reek Dances Thessaloniki: University Studio Press, 2nd Edition, 1993.
*Yvonne Hunt. Traditional Dance in Greek in Greek Culture. Athens 1996
External links
Learn to Dance the Kalamatiano
Kalamatianos – Dance Steps
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Tous aux Balkans: Kalamatianos songs
{{Balkan music
Greek dances
Greek words and phrases
Circle dances