Zonaradiko
Encyclopedia
Zonaradiko is a traditional folk dance
from Thrace (Greece) that is named after the dance's handhold. Dancers hold the adjacent dancer's zonaria (belt
) during the dance. Zonaradiko is a dance done in one form or another
all over Greece. In each village the dance will look somewhat different, but the basic structure is essentially the same. The variations below are a collection of steps commonly done by folk dancers throughout the US and as seen done by various groups in Greece.
Many variations of the dance exist. In northern Thrace, zonaradikos turns into a fast tsestos dance. In western Thrace, the dance is led by the males, and the females follow towards the end of the line. As the dance nears the end, the first dancer moves to the centre and the others twist around him, then they "unwist" and go back to their normal positions.
Mixed lines of men and women, holding belts. The leader is on the right. When the Tsestos portion starts, either the entire line does the Tsestos steps, or those doing the Tsestos steps form a new belt-hold line inside (towards the center) of the original line. Traditionally, some or all of the men would leave the line and the women would either stop and watch or continue the pravo around the men's line. The entire dance is done with the knees bent. This position is especially evident in the Tsestos.
Songs like Lianohortarouthyia, Steryios Pismanipsi, and Yiannis Dimarhos are all zonaradika.
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
from Thrace (Greece) that is named after the dance's handhold. Dancers hold the adjacent dancer's zonaria (belt
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
) during the dance. Zonaradiko is a dance done in one form or another
all over Greece. In each village the dance will look somewhat different, but the basic structure is essentially the same. The variations below are a collection of steps commonly done by folk dancers throughout the US and as seen done by various groups in Greece.
Many variations of the dance exist. In northern Thrace, zonaradikos turns into a fast tsestos dance. In western Thrace, the dance is led by the males, and the females follow towards the end of the line. As the dance nears the end, the first dancer moves to the centre and the others twist around him, then they "unwist" and go back to their normal positions.
Mixed lines of men and women, holding belts. The leader is on the right. When the Tsestos portion starts, either the entire line does the Tsestos steps, or those doing the Tsestos steps form a new belt-hold line inside (towards the center) of the original line. Traditionally, some or all of the men would leave the line and the women would either stop and watch or continue the pravo around the men's line. The entire dance is done with the knees bent. This position is especially evident in the Tsestos.
Songs like Lianohortarouthyia, Steryios Pismanipsi, and Yiannis Dimarhos are all zonaradika.
See also
- PravoPravoPravo horo Pravo horo (Право хоро) Pravo horo (Право хоро) (2/4 or 6/8 --counted as 2 triplets 3+3. Often in music for the pravo, both 2/4 and 6/8 time signatures will be used where 2/4 is used for the singing and 6/8 is used for the slightly faster instrumental portions...
- Greek dancesGreek dancesGreek dance 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 formed its own choreography and style to fit in with their own ways...
- Greek music
- KalamatianosKalamatianosThe Kalamatianós Dance is one of the best known dances of Greece. It is popular Greek folkdance throughout Greece, Cyprus and internationally and is often performed at many social gatherings worldwide. As is the case with most Greek folk dances, it is danced in circle with a counterclockwise...
- SoustaSoustaSousta is the name of a folk dance in Cyprus and Crete which is danced in Greece and generally in the Balkans. The music is generally played with a lyre , laouto, and mandolin ....
- Tsamikos
- SyrtosSyrtosSyrtos , is the collective name of a group of Greek folk dances. Syrtos, along with its relative kalamatianos, are the most popular dances throughout Greece and are frequently danced by the Greek diaspora worldwide. They are very popular in social gatherings, weddings and religious festivals...
- BallosBallosThe Ballos Sirtos , is one of the best known Greek folk island dances in Greece...
- HasapikoHasapikoThe Hasapiko , is a Greek folk dance from Constantinople. The dance originated in the Middle Ages as a battle mime with swords performed by the Greek butchers guild, which adopted it from the military of Byzantine era. In Constantinople during the Byzantine times, it was called in Greek...
- Pentozali
- List of folk dances sorted by origin