Dance is a unique way of expressing oneself, speaking with body language. And the Greek dance also has an ancient origin, rooted in the legendary Ancient Greece. This spectacular art was revered by the peoples of the territory of Hellas. How did sirtaki become the national dance of Greece?
Sirtaki
Surprisingly, the most popular Greek dance known is by no means ancient. Sirtaki is more modern than Latin American lambada and Brazilian samba.
Sirtaki was created in the 20th century, in 1964. It was invented for the filming of the film "The Greek Zorba". Fancy movements to a recognizable melody are known all over the world today.
This melody was written by musician and composer Mikis Theodorakis. Thanks to the exciting plot and musical component, the movie itself was released on screens with great success, after which the dance was called a real symbol of Hellas.
The whole world after the premiere perceived it as a folk dance, like a lezginka in the Caucasus. The Greeks did not dispute this, they themselves really liked the scene performed by the American actor Anthony Quinn. Thus, sirtaki was ranked among the national ones.
It is interesting that he is performed not in recognizable outfits of Greece, but in modern, as in the film, costumes, consisting of a black bottom and a white top. And yet, national elements are present in it.
It is based on the classic dance of the butchers - hasapiko.
Hasapiko
Constantinople butcher traders, according to historical data, danced the traditional hasapiko on holidays.
It is performed as follows: men, holding each other by the shoulders, create a chain and repeat a combination of certain steps at the same pace.
Hasapiko earned popular love in 1955, at the dawn of cinematography in Greece. He was present in every film, any Greek knew this set of steps, and any tourist after training could repeat them. According to art researcher Elizabeth Chenier (France), the dance most likely symbolizes the battle of Alexander the Great with the Persian king Darius.
Hasapiko and sirtaki are not just dances, they are life itself and the personification of the people of Greece.
