Kalamatianos

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The Kalamatianos Dance is one of the most well known dances of Greece. It is Pan-Hellenic and is danced at every social gathering .

1 History
2 Song lyrics
3 References
4 Further Reading - Information

[edit] History

The roots of the Kalamatinos can be found in Antiquity. Homer in the Illiad describes three dance scenes on Achilles spear which was created by the Gods, which depict a dance in an open circle. The Ancient Spartans danced a dance called Ormos this Syrto style dance is described in detail by Xenophonon. Where a woman led a male into dance using a handkerchief. Loukianos states that this dance Ormos was danced in an open circle and was done by young men and women. The men would dance vigorously while the women danced with humble movements. ^[1]

In the 19th Century this dance was called Syrtos O Peloponisios. It is believed to have gotten its name Kalamatianos from the town of Kalamata in the South of Greece. As is with many Greek dances, they are commonly named after the villages or areas they are danced in. ^[2]

Kalamatiano songs are popular and vast - some of the more traditional Kalamatiano songs are Samiotissa,Mandili Kalamatiano, Milo Mou Kokkino, To Papaki, Mou Parrigile To Aithoni, Diamandi Dahtilidi, Ola Ta Poulakia, etc.

[edit] Song lyrics

Milo Mou Kokkino a popular Kalamatiano Song from Western Macedonia.

Μήλο μου κόκκινο, ρόιδο βαμμένο (x2)
Γιατί με μάρανες το πικραμένο

Παένω κ’ έρχομαι μα δεν βρίσκω (x2)
Βρίσκω την πόρτα σου μανταλομένη

Τα παραθυρούδια σου φεγγοβολούνε (x2)
Ρωτάω την πόρτα σου, που πάει η κυρά σου

Κυρά μ’ δεν είναι ‘δώ, πάησε στην βρύση (x2)
Πάησε να βρει νερό και να γεμίσει

[edit] References

^ ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ Χ. ΛΥΚΕΣΑΣ Οι Ελληνικοί Χοροί University Studio Press 2nd Edition Thessaloniki 1993 p122
^ ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ Χ. ΛΥΚΕΣΑΣ Οι Ελληνικοί Χοροί University Studio Press 2nd Edition Thessaloniki 1993 p123