HASAPOSERVIKO Greek
PRONUNCIATION:	hah-SAH-poh-SEHR-vee-koh
TRANSLATION:	Hasapiko Serbian-speed
SOURCE:	Dick Oakes learned this dance in the Greek community of Los Angeles. Athan Karras, a prominent Greek dance researcher, also has taught Hasaposerviko to folk dancers in the United States, as have several other teachers of Greek dance.
BACKGROUND:	Hasaposerviko is an expanded Grigoro Hasapiko (or Hassapiko), meaning "fast butcher's dance" from the Turkish work "Hassip," for butcher. The tempo of the dance is a slow 2/4, but not as slow as the Vari Hasapiko (4/4). Its underlying Hasapiko dance motif has been transformed and expanded through Serbian, Romanian, and Bulgarian influences by traveling Gypsy musicians.
MUSIC:	Grecophon (LP) GR 307, side 2, band 3; Phillips International (P.I.) Records (LP) PI-LPS-33, side 1, band 3; Festival (45rpm) F-3501 B; Festival (45rpm) F-3503 A; Festival (45rpm) F-3504 B; Festival (45rpm) F-3509 A; Festival (45rpm) F-3510 A; Fest Records (45rpm) F-3513-B; Festival (45rpm) F-3514-B; National Records (45rpm) N-4537-A; or any of a number of recorded Hasaposervika.
FORMATION:	Short lines of mixed M and W holding near shldrs of neighbors in "T" pos. End dancers have arms outstretched, often snapping fingers on the first ct of each meas.
METER/RHYTHM:	2/4
STEPS/STYLE:	PAS DE BASQUE: Step (or leap) R swd (ct 1); step L across in front of R (ct &); step R back to place (ct 2). May also beg L and danced to L with opp ftwk. Athan Karras writes, ". . . developments in the dance ar either called out or are immediately felt with the dancers as you are dancing. In essence, this dance establishes a "dialogue" between dancers, and all are always aiming to follow each other, as opposed to other dances where the leader has greater flexibility."
MEAS	MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION
	BASIC HASAPIKO
1	Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);
2	Step R swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct 2);
3	Step L swd (ct 1); close R to L without wt (ct 2).
	This motif may be eliminated. When it is danced, it is often danced only as an introduction.
	BASIC HASAPOSERVIKO
1	Step R swd (ct 1); step L across in back of R (ct 2);
2	Step R swd (ct 1); bring L to R ankle (ct 2);
3	Step L fwd (ct 1); raise R fwd with bent R knee (ct 2);
4	Bringing R out and in back of L in an arc, step R in back of L (ct 1); step L in back of R (ct 2);
5	Step R swd (ct 1); close R to L without wt (ct 2);
2	Step L swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct 2);
	PAS DE BASQUE VARIATION
1-4	Repeat action of Basic Hasaposerviko, meas 1-4;
5	Pas de Basque R;
6	Pas de Basque L.
	WRAP VARIATION
1-2	Repeat action of Basic Hasaposerviko, meas 1-2;
3	Step L fwd, raising R fwd with bent knee (ct 1); pause (ct 2);
4	Step R across and to the outside of L, "hugging" L ft with R ft so that ft are crossed (ct 1); shift wt to L in place (ct 1);
5	step R around in back of L, "wrapping" L so that R toe is next to the outside of L heel (ct 1); step L around in back of R, "wrapping" R so that L toe is next to the outside of R heel (ct 2);
6	Step R swd (ct 1); close R to L without wt (ct 2);
7	Step L swd (ct 1); close L to R without wt (ct 2).
	Several other variations may be danced.
	HEEL-SLAP VARIATION
1-2	Repeat action of Basic Hasapiko, meas 1-2;
3	Releasing hand hold, clap hands in front of torso (ct 1); bringing R heel up to the side with bent knee, slap outside of R heel with flat of R hand (ct 2);
4	Raise R in front with bent knee (ct 1); pause (ct 2);
5	Placing R across and to the outside of L, "hugging" L ft with R ft so that ft are crossed, pivot a full turn CCW on balls of both ft, shifting wt to R and ending with L crossed over R (cts 1-2);
6	Step L swd (ct 1); close R to L without wt (ct 2).
Copyright © 2003 by Dick Oakes