07 September 2010 By Stelios 0
The Sarakatsani nomadic shepherds of continental Greece are mainly located along the ranges of the Pindos massif. Epirus, Thessaly, Macedonia and Thrace are the provinces in which they are most numerous. Sarakatsani communities are also found further in the north. Their seasonal migrations had led many of them across the border to Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania and Yugoslavia. They all are Greek-speaking, wherever they live.
Kaltsadikos was danced by sarakatsani, Greeks who used to live on the mountain Pindos and rebelled against the Turkish occupation of Greece. Kaltsadikos was danced by both men and women, although it is described more as a kleftikos dance (danced by rebels). Men were leading the dance, while women were following by dancing the same steps in a more reserved way.
Kaltsadikos has nine steps of which the first three are just steps going forward. On the fourth step the right foot is kicking forward, while the left on spot. On the fifth step the reverse applies; left foot is kicking backward, while the right on spot. On the sixth step the dancer is doing a deep squad (women are just bending their knees). On the seventh the right foot bends back, while the left on spot. On the eighth the left foot on spot and the right bends slightly up. On the ninth step the right foot crosses the left, while the left still on spot.
Roumpis, G. 1993. Elliniki Hori. Athens, Greece: Smpilias publishers.
