Tsakonikos

The Tsakonikos or Tsakonikos horos (Greek: Τσακώνικος χορός "Tsakonian dance") is a dance performed in the Peloponnese in Greece. It comes from the region, chiefly in Arcadia, known as Tsakonia. It is danced in many towns villages there with little variation to the steps.

In Ayios Andreas, it is performed as a mixed dance in an open circle, with the hands held up (αγκαζέ angaze, in Greek). The most popular songs for the tsakonikos are "Sou ipa mana kale mana" and "Kinisan ta tsamopoula".^[1]

The dance is performed to a 5
4 (3+2) rhythm in an open circle which slowly winds in upon itself, forming a snail-shaped design. This labyrinthine formation is, according to legend, linked to the Crane dance of Theseus in Greek mythology, who slew the Minotaur in the Labyrinth of King Minos. It has also been linked to the slaying by Apollo of the Python at Delphi.

See also

• Greek music
• Greek dances
• Tsamiko
• Sirtaki
• Kalamatianos
• Dora Stratou

References

1. Prantzidis, Yiannis. Dance in Greek Tradition and the Teaching of it. Ekdotiki Aiginion.

External links

• "The Tsakonian Dance" from the University of Patras (English; incl. photos)
• Τσακώνικος Χορός from the University of Patras (Greek; with additional photos & video not available in English-language version
• Video from the 2010 Grand Festival of Greek Dance at Argos