The Tsakonikos or Tsakonikos horos ( el, Τσακώνικος χορός "Tsakonian dance") is a
dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
performed in the
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
in
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 comes from the region, chiefly in
Arcadia
Arcadia may refer to:
Places Australia
* Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney
* Arcadia, Queensland
* Arcadia, Victoria
Greece
* Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese
* Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...
, known as
Tsakonia
Tsakonia ( ell, Τσακωνιά) or the Tsakonian region () refers to the small area in the eastern Peloponnese where the Tsakonian language is spoken, in the area surrounding 13 towns, villages and hamlets located around Pera Melana in Arcadia. I ...
. It is danced in many towns and villages there with little variation to the steps.
In
Ayios Andreas, it is performed as a mixed dance in an open circle, with the hands held up (αγκαζέ ''angaze'', in Greek). The most popular songs for the ''tsakonikos'' are "''Sou ipa mana kale mana''" and "''Kinisan ta tsamopoula''".
The dance is performed to a (3+2) rhythm in an open circle which slowly winds in upon itself, forming a snail-shaped design. This labyrinthine formation is, according to legend, linked to the
Crane dance of
Theseus
Theseus (, ; grc-gre, Θησεύς ) was the mythical king and founder-hero of Athens. The myths surrounding Theseus his journeys, exploits, and friends have provided material for fiction throughout the ages.
Theseus is sometimes describe ...
in
Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...
, who slew the
Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur ( , ;. grc, ; in Latin as ''Minotaurus'' ) is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a being "pa ...
in the
Labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (, ) was an elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, the monster eventually killed by the ...
of King
Minos
In Greek mythology, Minos (; grc-gre, Μίνως, ) was a King of Crete, son of Zeus and Europa. Every nine years, he made King Aegeus pick seven young boys and seven young girls to be sent to Daedalus's creation, the labyrinth, to be eaten ...
. It has also been linked to the slaying by
Apollo
Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...
of the
Python
Python may refer to:
Snakes
* Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia
** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia
* Python (mythology), a mythical serpent
Computing
* Python (pro ...
at
Delphi
Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The oracle ...
.
Song words to the Tsakonikos Dance
ΚΙΝΗΣΑΝΤΑ
Κινῆσαν τὰ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν.
Κινῆσαν τὰ - τσανόπουλα.
Κινῆσαν τὰ τσανόπουλα κι’ ὅλα τὰ λεβεντόπουλα.
Καὶ πάν’ στὸν πὲ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν,
καὶ πάν’ στὸν πέρα Μαχαλά.
Καὶ πᾶν’ στὸν πέρα Μαχαλά, ποὺ εἶν
τὰ κορίτσια τὰ καλά.
Κι ἐκεῖ τους πιὰ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν,
κι ἐκεῖ τους πιάνει μία βροχή.
Κι ἐκεῖ τους πιάνει μία βροχή, μία σιγανή, μία ταπεινή.
Βραχήκανε κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν,
βραχήκανε τὰ τσάμικα καὶ τ' ἄσπρα τους πουκάμισα.
Μάστε κορὶ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμὰν
μάστε κορίτσια τσάκαλα.
Μάστε κορίτσια τσάκαλα, στεγνῶστε τὰ πουκάμισα
[http://apelon.bekyros.gr/tanz2019.pdf ]
(figurative translation)
So they went, the Tsakon youth
So went the Tsakon youth and all the lads
And off they go - aman aman
And off they go to yonder Mahala, where
the girls are fine
And there they were caught in - aman aman
And there they were caught in a rain
And there they were caught in a rain, a slow, a shy (rain)
They were soaked - aman aman
Soaked were their tsamika (dances) and their white shirts
Girls, gather - aman aman
Girls, gather quick
Girls, gather quick, (to) dry their shirts.
See also
*
Greek music
The music of Greece is as diverse and celebrated as its History of Greece, history. Greek music separates into two parts: Greek folk music, Greek traditional music and Byzantine music. These compositions have existed for millennia: they originat ...
*
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 form ...
*
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 ...
*
Sirtaki
Sirtaki or syrtaki ( el, συρτάκι) is a dance of Greek origin, choreographed for the 1964 film ''Zorba the Greek''. It is a recent Greek folkdance, and a mixture of "syrtos" and the slow and fast rhythms of the hasapiko dance. The dance ...
*
Kalamatianos
The Kalamatianós ( el, Καλαματιανός) is one of the best known dances of Greece. It is a popular Greek folkdance throughout Greece, Cyprus and internationally and is often performed at many social gatherings worldwide. As is the ca ...
*
Dora Stratou
Dora Stratou (born Dorothea Stratou; el, Δωροθέα (Δόρα) Στράτου; 1903–1988) was a significant contributor to Greek Folk Dancing and Greek Folk Music. She issued one of the largest series of folk music in the world with 50 re ...
References
External links
*"The Tsakonian Dance" from the
University of Patras
The University of Patras (UPatras; el, Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών, ''Panepistímio Patrón'') is a public university in Patras, Greece. It is the third-largest university in Greece with respect to the size of the student body, the s ...
(English; incl. photo
*Τσακώνικος Χορός from the University of Patras (Greek; with additional photos & video not available in English-language versio
*Video from the 2010 Grand Festival of Greek Dance at Argo
*The Tsakonian Dance By Mpekios and Tsaggouri (Origins, History of the dance and explanations in Greek
*Lecture and singing of the song Kinisanta in Gree
* Recording by Diamantis Roumelioti
* Folkdance Footnote
{{Greek dances
Greek dances
Tsakonia