Greece Culture: The Peloponnese Music and Dance

Most of the dances performed today in Pelops island (the literally meaning of Peloponnese), are what are commonly referred to as pan hellenic dances (dances performed all over Greece), such as Syrtos/Kalamatianos, Tsamikos and Sta Tria, as well as the Tsakonikos. Sta Tria means, literally, 'in three', and is an ancient and widespread dance step beginning on the right foot, moving three times to the right, and then moving back once to the left, in each case doing something with the foot that is free in between the change of direction. In the Peloponnese it is danced to a 2/4 or 4/4 rhythm, with hands either on shoulders or linked at shoulder height, with men using high leg lifts. There are various stories about the origins of the Tsamikos, which is a dance sometimes very freely interpreted, the lead dancer deciding how many steps to the right or left as he or she wants, while sometimes it is danced in place, or occasionally move to one direction or the other. Alternatively, it is often danced with a set number of steps to right and left. Energetic variations are often performed by lead male dancers of the tsamikos, with leaps, squats, foot or leg slapping, and stamps of the feet. Variations performed by women can also be very impressive, though less athletic.

Though the dancers in the line often execute the steps in a simple manner while the lead dancer is doing intricate variations, they are not bored by this (as outsiders may sometimes think), as vicarious enjoyment of the high spirits of the lead dancer is a deep part of the Greek dance experience. In addition to this, in villages, the dancers are usually either relatives, friends, or (at the very least) members of the same community, who can easy share each other's pleasure.

The very widespread mainland dance called both Syrtos and Kalamatianos can be danced to tunes with these two names, but the two are counted differently rhythmically, the syrtos counted 3.3.2 (adding up to 8 beats per measure), and the kalamatianos 3.2.2. (adding up to 7) The same dance steps are done to the two on the mainland, though many dancers are unaware that the rhythms are counted differently by musicians. The first part of the mainland dance exactly resembles the steps of the island syrtos done in the Cyclades, but with a couple of forward and back steps added, and dancers will add these extra steps if dancing to a kalamatiano rhythm. These dances can both be fast or slow, smooth or bouncy, depending on the music, and on the 'kefi' (roughly, high spirits) of the dancers. It is danced and led by both women and men. The dance known as Tsakonikos is a dance popular with performing dance groups, though often executed far differently than in the villages.