Tsamiko

Today I would like to introduce a very important part of the Greek culture to you: The folk dances. But actually I want to tell you something about a very specific dance called “Tsamikos”.

In my opinion it is one of the most impressive Greek folk dances as it contains many acrobatic figures which are mostly performed by the first or last person of the dance circle. While performing the acrobatic figures, which are mostly scissor-like jumps where the dancer kicks up his one leg followed by the other leg, the person performing the jumps is supported by the dancer next to him by either holding each others hand or a white cloth that connects the two dancers.

Another name for the “Tsamiko” is also “Kleftiko”. The reason for that name is that the “Klephts” who fought in the Greek War of Independence from 1821 to 1830 performed the dance on the battlefield.

The “Tsamiko” is a very hard and challenging dance but it is definitely worth taking your time to learn it because once you are able to perform this dance it will look very impressive and you will let a part of Greek culture become a part of you.