Podaraki (
Pontic Greek
Pontic Greek (, ; or ''Romeika'') is a variety of Modern Greek indigenous to the Pontus region on the southern shores of the Black Sea, northeastern Anatolia, and the Eastern Turkish and Caucasus region. An endangered Greek language variety ...
: ) is a
Greek dance from the Pontos region. The dance dates to the 10th century.
It is now danced in modern-day
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
as well as the northern
Thrace
Thrace (, ; ; ; ) is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe roughly corresponding to the province of Thrace in the Roman Empire. Bounded by the Balkan Mountains to the north, the Aegean Sea to the south, and the Black Se ...
.
The dance is called Podaraki (meaning "small foot" in Greek) because it involves much stomping with the (feet) of the dancer. It is danced both by men and women usually in an open circle, and rarely in straight line. It's a female song, also called , meaning "go girls to the dance." In the song, a supposed girl calls the other girls to go dancing and to have fun before marrying. In its second half, after expressing the traditional criticism against both her husband and her mother and father-in-law for not letting her go dance and have fun, the supposed girl explains how she avenges both them and her children for that.
References
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See also
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Greek folk music
Greek traditional music (, , 'traditional music'; also , , 'folk songs') includes a variety of Culture of Greece, Greek styles played by Greek people, ethnic Greeks in Greece, Cyprus, Australia, the United States and other parts of Europe. Apar ...
*
Greek dances
Greek dance (''choros''; ) is an 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 ...
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Tropanka Tropanka () is a folk dance from the region of Dobrudzha in northeastern Bulgaria. It's known for its heavy earthy styling, pumping arm motions and foot stamps.
It is a line dance, done with the dancers in a line or arc, holding hands, facing in, t ...
{{Greek dances
Greek dances
Pomak dances
Pontic Greek dances