Pidhichtos Tsamikos

PIDHICHTOS TSAMIKOS
Greek

PRONUNCIATION: pee-dtheek-TOHS TSAH-mee-kohs (or TCHAH-mee-kohs)

TRANSLATION: Leaping tsamikos

SOURCE: Madelynne Greene, who learned this dance from Agoritsa Kokkinou in Québek, Canada, in 1964, referred to the dance as the "16-count Tsamikos." Miss Kokkinou taught many variations, some of which were later introduced by John Pappas and David Henry. Two variations are noted here.

BACKGROUND: The tsamikos is probably named for the Tsames in Northern Epirus (today southern Albania), but some sources say it is named after the clothes of the klepthes, the mountain fighters in the Greek War of Independence, which were called "tsamika." The main feature of the kleftiko costume is the foustanella, a type of white pleated kilt. The foustanella may be seen today in parades and special events where they are worn by the special segment of the Greek army called Evzones.
The tsamikos had already spread from Epirus to Thessaly and Roumeli when it was adopted by the klephtes, who danced the warlike movements before and after battles. They spread the dance further so that today it is danced all over Greece, but is most popular in the south and was the most popular dance in the area of Tsamidon. It is traditionally a men's dance and is the best opportunity for a Greek dancer to show off his acrobatic skills. In the larger Greek cities women now dance it minus some of the more acrobatic stunts. It may be danced in 3/4, 3/8, or 6/8 time. The most common version in villages and in America consists of 12 slow steps, but most Greek schools teach the 16-step version described below, which is now common in the major cities of Greece. There are 8-, 10-, and 14-step versions that still exist in some regions of Greece, as well as some faster versions.

MUSIC: Kefi (EP) KER-101
Folkraft (45rpm) 1469x45 B;
Festival (45rpm) F-3502 A;
Festival (45rpm) F-3511 B;
Olympia (LP) OL24-13, side 1, band 3, or Side 2, band 3 (preferred);
Roulette (LP) LP 25229;
or any other good Tsamikos music.

FORMATION: Dancers in a line (usually segregated into M and W lines), facing LOD, hands joined with neighbors in "W" pos, but held almost at head level rather than at shldr level, higher than when doing the Syrto or Kalamatiano, for example. Wt is on L, R knee bent, R toe poised on floor, touching outside edge of L.

METER/RHYTHM: 3/4. The rhythm is SLOW-quick, with the major action on beats 1 (SLOW) and 3 (quick).

STEPS/STYLE: The style is somewhat heavy for M, lighter for W. W do not raise knees as high as M (knee level). W steps are smaller than M, unless W are in line of mixed M and W.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION - None. Dance starts at the whim of the leader.

THE DANCE

1 Step R in LOD (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 3);

2 Point R toe to R (ct 1); step slightly bwd on R (ct 3);

3 Point L toe to L (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 3);

4 Step R in LOD (ct 1); raise L knee in front of R (ct 3);

5 Step L to L (ct 1); step R across in front of L (ct 3);

6 Step L to L (ct 1); raise R knee in front of L (ct 3);

7 Step R to R (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 3);

8 Point R toe to R (ct 1); touch R toe over L, keeping wt on L (as in formation pose).

A. ROCKING VARIATION

1 Step RLR to R (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

5 Step LRL to L (cts 1&2); step R across in front of L (ct 3).

7 Step RLR to R (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

B. TURNING VARIATION

1 Dropping shldr hold and making one complete turn CW, step RLR (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

5 Dropping shldr hold and making one complete turn CCW, step LRL (cts 1&2); step R across in front of L (ct 3).

7 Dropping shldr hold and making one complete turn CW, step RLR (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes

PIDHICHTOS TSAMIKOS Greek

PRONUNCIATION:	pee-dtheek-TOHS TSAH-mee-kohs (or TCHAH-mee-kohs)

TRANSLATION:	Leaping tsamikos

SOURCE:	Madelynne Greene, who learned this dance from Agoritsa Kokkinou in Québek, Canada, in 1964, referred to the dance as the "16-count Tsamikos." Miss Kokkinou taught many variations, some of which were later introduced by John Pappas and David Henry. Two variations are noted here.

BACKGROUND:	The tsamikos is probably named for the Tsames in Northern Epirus (today southern Albania), but some sources say it is named after the clothes of the klepthes, the mountain fighters in the Greek War of Independence, which were called "tsamika." The main feature of the kleftiko costume is the foustanella, a type of white pleated kilt. The foustanella may be seen today in parades and special events where they are worn by the special segment of the Greek army called Evzones. The tsamikos had already spread from Epirus to Thessaly and Roumeli when it was adopted by the klephtes, who danced the warlike movements before and after battles. They spread the dance further so that today it is danced all over Greece, but is most popular in the south and was the most popular dance in the area of Tsamidon. It is traditionally a men's dance and is the best opportunity for a Greek dancer to show off his acrobatic skills. In the larger Greek cities women now dance it minus some of the more acrobatic stunts. It may be danced in 3/4, 3/8, or 6/8 time. The most common version in villages and in America consists of 12 slow steps, but most Greek schools teach the 16-step version described below, which is now common in the major cities of Greece. There are 8-, 10-, and 14-step versions that still exist in some regions of Greece, as well as some faster versions.

MUSIC:	Kefi (EP) KER-101 Folkraft (45rpm) 1469x45 B; Festival (45rpm) F-3502 A; Festival (45rpm) F-3511 B; Olympia (LP) OL24-13, side 1, band 3, or Side 2, band 3 (preferred); Roulette (LP) LP 25229; or any other good Tsamikos music.

FORMATION:	Dancers in a line (usually segregated into M and W lines), facing LOD, hands joined with neighbors in "W" pos, but held almost at head level rather than at shldr level, higher than when doing the Syrto or Kalamatiano, for example. Wt is on L, R knee bent, R toe poised on floor, touching outside edge of L.

METER/RHYTHM:	3/4. The rhythm is SLOW-quick, with the major action on beats 1 (SLOW) and 3 (quick).

STEPS/STYLE:	The style is somewhat heavy for M, lighter for W. W do not raise knees as high as M (knee level). W steps are smaller than M, unless W are in line of mixed M and W.


MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION


	INTRODUCTION - None. Dance starts at the whim of the leader.

	THE DANCE

1	Step R in LOD (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 3);
2	Point R toe to R (ct 1); step slightly bwd on R (ct 3);
3	Point L toe to L (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 3);
4	Step R in LOD (ct 1); raise L knee in front of R (ct 3);
5	Step L to L (ct 1); step R across in front of L (ct 3);
6	Step L to L (ct 1); raise R knee in front of L (ct 3);
7	Step R to R (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct 3);
8	Point R toe to R (ct 1); touch R toe over L, keeping wt on L (as in formation pose).

A.	ROCKING VARIATION

1	Step RLR to R (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

5	Step LRL to L (cts 1&2); step R across in front of L (ct 3).

7	Step RLR to R (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

B.	TURNING VARIATION

1	Dropping shldr hold and making one complete turn CW, step RLR (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

5	Dropping shldr hold and making one complete turn CCW, step LRL (cts 1&2); step R across in front of L (ct 3).

7	Dropping shldr hold and making one complete turn CW, step RLR (cts 1&2); step L across in front of R (ct 3).

Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes