Dancing culture of the region

A dance from Thrace, which is danced in varying styles (the dance description refers to the most common and typical version) in all of Thrace as well as in other regions in Greece where migrants from Eastern Romilia have settled. The name of the dance refers to the dancers way of holding on to each other (clinching on each others' belts). It is danced by men and women. Men line up at the top end, holding each other, and women follow at the bottom end.

Music: The music of zonaradikos has a 2/4 tempo. 
 

COUNTING OF STEPS:

1st Variation (6 steps)

Counting of steps: (1)2 - (3)4 - (5)6, emphasizing steps (1), (3) and (5).

 
The first variation consists of 6 steps and the tempo of 2/4 is repeated 3 times. Every tempo begins with the emphasized steps. All steps are of the same duration, equal to 1/4.

2nd Variation (12 steps or 2x6steps)

Counting of steps: (1)2 - (3)4 - (5)6 - (7)8 - (9)10 - (11)12, with an emphasis on (1), (3), (5), (7), (9), (11); OR in the first six steps: (1)2 - (3)4 - (5)6 and in the second six: (1)2 - (3)4 - (5)6, with an emphasis on (1), (3), (5).

The second variation consists of 12 steps (2 sets of six), with the tempo of 2/4 repeated 6 times. Every tempo begins with the emphasized step number. All steps are at the same pace, equal to 1/4.

HAND HOLD

a) from the belts of the dancers,

b)in the form of handshakes between every other person (a chain of crossovers).

There are more ways in which dancers can hold hands, depending on the Zonaradikos variation danced.

Costume

Steps

1st Variation

1. On (1) the right foot steps in the direction of the dance (anticlockwise).
2. On (2) the left leg crosses over the right, in the direction of the dance.
3. On (3) the right leg steps in the direction of the dance, while the toes turn to point towards the centre of the circle.
4. This step is broken into two halves. In the first half, the right leg bends and raises its heel, while the left leg is lifted diagonally to the left, slightly bent. In the second half the right leg steps back on its place, while the left remains in the same position. Thus on (4), the right leg performs a shift of the body weight from heel to toe and back, while the torso is turned diagonally to the left.
5. On (5) the left leg (which is lifted, diagonally to the left) steps a little further behind the heel of the right foot.
6. This step is also broken in two. In the first half, the left leg bends and raises only its heel, while the right leg is lifted diagonally to the left, slightly bent. In the second half, the left foot steps on its position (the heel touches the ground again), while the right leg remains at its position. On (6) the left leg performs a shift of body weight from heel to toe and back, while the torso turns diagonally to the right.

2nd Variation

REFERENCES:

The photographs are from the performance "Music from Thrace" - SONGS AND DANCES FROM EVROS AND DIASPORA, 18 & 19 February 1997, at the Athens Concert Hall.

The steps of this dance are based on Giorgos Roumpis book.

Roumpis, G. 1993. Elliniki Hori. Athens, Greece: Smpilias publishers.