 |
|
 |
Greece
The
Greek people are a mixture of East and West, and their music
shows the influence of the Turks who occupied the country
many years ago. There are still relics remaining of the ancient
Greek civilisation: temples, theatres and monuments of all
kinds.
|
|
Some
of the folk dance rhythms are taken from the poetic metre
of the ancient Greek dramas. Greek music today is of two styles:
the village, and city forms. Country people use woodwind,
drums and an unusual type of violin. During this century the
city musicians began to use the bouzouki, and the special
sound of the bouzouki is now always associated with Greece,
especially through the films Zorba the Greek and Never on
Sunday.
|
|
|
|
Costume
In such a land of contrasts, there is naturally a wide
variety of costumes, but all show exquisite decoration
with weaving, embroidery or metal work. Many of them
have a long skirt called the Amalia named after the
wife of King Otho, the first King of Greece. With this
is worn a gold embroidered jacket over a white blouse.
|
|
|
In
northern Greece the skirt is often shorter, with the
embroidered edge of an undersmock showing below the
hem, worn with knitted socks and soft leather sandals.
There are many different head-dresses, and gold and
silver chains and coins are worn on the head-dress,
round the neck or waist.
Men's
costumes are divided into two styles: those based on
the baggy trousers and those on the white skirt or foustanella.
With the foustanella is worn a white shirt, waistcoat,
broad sash and pom pommed shoes. In the regions where
baggy trousers are worn, they are tucked into black
boots and worn with different types of waistcoats and
jackets.
|
|
Dances
There are three different styles of dance in Greece:
1) the lilting movements of the coastal regions; 2)
the firm movements of the plains, with emphasis on the
ground; 3) the slower and more bouncy steps of the mountains.
The dance and mime performed by the chorus in Greek
plays are reflected in the Greek folk dance of today,
with the chain or circular form of dance in which everyone
can take part - including the tourists!
|
|
Customs
In Greece the family is very important, and even today
the man is always the boss. This affects the dances,
where the girls take a less important part than the
boys. There are many customs connected with marriage;
a lantern or candle is blessed in the church, and then
carried home. If it doesn't blow out, marriage will
take place within the year. At a wedding the guests
throw sweets, coins, barley, chick peas and rice over
the bride and groom.
|
 |
 |
Silk
worms are cultivated in Greece and a red silk handkerchief
is a prized possession. It is often carried by the leader
in a chain dance. Easter is the most important festival,
and there are many customs related to the spring, lots
of them using eggs. On the Thursday before Easter, know
as Red Thursday, eggs are dyed red and buried in each
corner of the vineyard to protect the grapes.
|
|
Where
will Fred and Ginger travel to next?
Come back soon to find out!
©1990
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
|
|
|
|
