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 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, 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, but the latter is slower and more stately, its beat being an even .

History

The roots of Kalamatianos can be found in antiquity. Homer, in the ''Iliad'', describes three performances made around the spear of Achilles that depict a dance in an open circle. The ancient Spartans had a dance called ὅρμος ''hormos'', which was a syrto style dance described in detail by Xenophon 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 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), ''Mandili Kalamatiano'' (Kerchief from Kalamata), ''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'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, 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'', 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.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
*Ballos
* Faroese dance
*Greek dances
*Greek folk music
* Ikariotikos
* Kalamatianó (music)
* Kurdish dance
* Music of Greece
* Nisiotika
* Pentozali
* Sousta
* Syrtos
* Tamzara
* Tsamiko
* Turkish dance

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 KalamatianoKalamatianos – Dance Steps
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Tous aux Balkans: Kalamatianos songs

{{Balkan music

Greek dances
Greek words and phrases
Circle dances