GREEK FOLK DANCES

A REPORT BY HARVEY JOHN POLIDARIO

 KARIOTIKOS

• COMMONLY REFFERED TO AS “KARIOTIKOS” IS A SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN DANCE

FORM KNOWN AS IKARIOTIKOS.
• IT IS MAINLY PERFORMED DURING FESTIVE OCCASIONS SUCH AS MARRIAGE,
AND RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL.
• THIS TRADITIONAL DANCE IS SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM AN ISLAND
“IKARIA” AND IS LOCATED IN GREECE. THIS DANCE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A
FAMOUS SONG ENTITLED “MY LOVE OF IKARIA” WRITTEN AND COMPOSED BY
GIORGOS KONIPOULAS. SOCIALIST SAYS THAT THE TRADITIONAL IKARIOTIKOS
WAS SLOW AND QUICK.
 HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF
THE IKARIOTIKOS
THE ISLAND OF IKARIAN IN GREECE IS KNOWN TO
CELEBRATE FESTIVE OCCASION SUCH AS MARRIAGE AND
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS USING THE COMBINATION OF MUSIC
AND DANCE.
 COSTUMES USED IN
IKARIOTIKOS
THE COSTUMES WORN BY A PERFORMER VARIES
ACCORDING TO THE GENDER AS FOLLOWS:

MALES: THE ATTIRE WORN WILL INCLUDE A WHITE FULL

SLEEVED SHIRT, A BLACK TROUSER, BLACK OVERCOAT,
BLACK CAP, PAIR OF BLACK SHOES, AND BLACK SOCKS.
 COSTUMES USED IN
IKARIOTIKOS
THE COSTUMES WORN BY A PERFORMER VARIES
ACCORDING TO THE GENDER AS FOLLOWS:

FEMALES: THE ATTIRE WORN WILL INCLUDE COLORFUL

LONG DRESS THAT WILL INCLUDE A SKIRT, AN APRON, A
HEADGEAR, PAIR OF WHITE SOCK, AND BLACK SHOES.
 MUSIC INVOLVED IN
IKARIOTIKOS
THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS MAINLY INVOLVED DANCE
STYLE INCLUDES A MIXTURE OF STRINGED INSTRUMENTS,
CHORDOPHONES, WIND INSTRUMENTS, AERO PHONE
DRUM INSTRUMENTS, AND MEMBRANOPHONES.
 TRAINING AVAILABILITY
AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED
IN IKARIOTIKOS
THE PERFORMER OF THIS DANCE INITIALLY ARRANGE
THEMSELVES IN A SEMICIRCLE, HOLDING EACH OTHER AT
THE SHOULDER. THIS DANCE COMPRISES 3 PARTS AND
THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING:

PART 1: INVOLVES PERFORMER USING SLOW STEPS THAT

CLOSELY RESEMBLES WALKING.

PART 2: PERFORMER USES STEPS THAT ARE USED IN DANCE

FORM CALLED ISSIOS.

PART 3: MALES USED IF QUICK STEPS THAT INVOLVED

FLUIDITY IN BOTH LEG AND BODY.
 TRAINING AVAILABILITY
AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED
IN IKARIOTIKOS
AS FOR TRAINING SCHOOLS AND CENTERS, THIS
TRADITIONAL DANCE IS MAINLY PERFORMED IN GREECE.

IKARIOTIKOS IN MUSIC AND DANCING ARE MAJOR FORMS

OF ENTERTAINMENT IN IKARIA. IKARIA HOST BAPTISM,
WEDDINGS AND PARTIES WHERE ONCE CAN LISTEN AND
DANCE TO LIVE TRADITIONAL IKARIAN MUSIC.