History of Syrtos DanceSince the ancient times, folk dances have been a tradition in Greece, and are still as popular today as they were then. The citizens of the Greek civilization believed that folk dance were spiritual in nature. Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, wrote that "Dancing is divine in it's nature and is the gift of the gods." Folk dances were used in wartime preparation to give confidence to the soldiers before going into battle, but they were more commonly held during extravagant celebration.
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Where it comes from |
Each region has there own varying folk dances. Syrtos originates from Crete, the largest and most popular island in Greece. Also known as the trailing dance, Syrtos is known as the oldest form of folk dancing. It tends to be a more serene and peaceful dance, though there are some livelier versions. Crete forms a significant part of the cultural heritage of Greece being one of the very first recorded civilizations in Europe. Being one of the first it was entitled to create local traits such as the Syrtos dance. This style has been carried throughout the generations and stayed almost exactly the same as when it was first created.
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Who danced it |
Although women are commonly included now, when Syrtos first came about, men were the sole participants in Syrtos dance. Typically, everyone in a village would take part in the dance, but where you stood in the line depended on your status and place in the village. The leader of the dance would be one of a higher status in the village and this would change regularly.
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