Greek Dance

Traditional Greek dances are so much a part of the history and culture of Greece that it is almost impossible to think of a traditional Greek celebration without including dance. Dancing has been recorded in the ancient writings of Plato and Aristotle, and it continues through to the modern day. There are over 4,000 traditional Greek dances! Through the years, the traditional dances were done differently on the many islands and in the different regions of Greece, creating a wide variety of traditional dances.

The traditional dances are social developments that play key roles in holidays and personal celebrations, such as weddings and baptisms. The music is very much a part of the dance. Ancient Greek theater used music, dance, and song as an integral part of a performance. In fact, the Greek word “horos” means both dance and song.

Traditional Greek dances have roots that date back centuries. Dances are done in a line or a circle, and the same handholds are still used today. These include the shoulder hold, chain hold, and the most common hold, where joined hands are held shoulder high with the elbows down. Circle dances may be done with the musicians in the center and the dancers moving around them.

Greeks are often impromptu in their dancing; all they need is the right mood, and maybe a singer, and someone can be up and dancing. It is a method of self-expression today as it has been for centuries. The Greek folk dances continue to evolve as dancers improvise and express themselves.