How to dance zeibekiko steps

First Steps – learnzeibekiko.com

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zeibekiko or zeimbekiko greek dance

Zeibekiko, or Zeimbekiko, is a Greek Dance, one of the most popular and beloved dances and rhythms in Greece. It is considered an urban improvisational dance, following a dancing pattern of 9/8.

Zeibekiko in Greek is written as zeimpekiko (ζεϊμπέκικο).

The οrigins of zeibekiko

Zeibekiko dance is considered a Greek dance, but its origins are found to a particular dance of warriors in Anatolia (today’s Turkey), called Zeybek.

This rhythmic dance was a little different, and less improvisational, as it was a typical tribal dance mostly in the villages of Aydin and Western Turkey.

It was a dance known only to the islanders in Greece, especially the ones living close to Asia Minor, due to the commercial exchanges and strong relationships that islanders kept with their families and friends from Asia Minor.

Zeibekiko was introduced in Greek mainland after the 1922 genocide in Asia Minor and the incoming refugees towards Greece.

The zeibekiko dance and rhythm, bearing something nostalgic, but yet brave and audacious became naturalized in Greece and became a typical and popular Greek dance. It was re-introduced to Turkey as a Greek Rhythm, as the original dance is considered more folkloric. Zeibekiko dance used to be a men’s dance, although last few decades women have also mastered the art of dancing it.

Zeibekiko Composers and Players

One of the most important Reberiko composers, Markos Vamvakaris from the island of Syros, was one of the pioneers in importing, shaping and naturalizing zeibekiko dance.

Some of the most known zeibekiko composers in Greece are Vassilis Tsitsanis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Stavros Xarhakos, Manos Loizos and many more.

In the featured here, you can see the infamous Zeibekiko of Evdokia, one of the most known Greek Songs, which is actually instrumental, because the sound and melody are so powerful that lyric writers refused to write lyrics on the melody, fearing that they will ruin it. It was composed by Manos Loizos.

Zeibekiko dance today

Zeibekiko is definitely one of the most beloved Greek dances, because it’s passionate and flamboyant. It is a personal dance, a way to express individuality, but also fears and desires, a way to unwind through music and dance. Usually only one person at a time may dance it and everyone else has to kneel down, forming a circle around the dancer, clapping following the rhythm and encouraging the dancer.

Zeibekiko dance does have some particular steps, but the most impressive dance is the one where the dancer shows his creativity, performing special feats, adding a little humor and personal touch to the occasion.

The real zeibekiko for Greeks, though, is heavy and impassionate, a spoony dance; an expression of sevdah danced by buster guys. An introverted dance that reflects the sorrow, anguish and pain of the dancer as well as his emotional distress and his losses.

Zeibekiko is the most commonly danced rhythms in feasts, and when Greeks go to taverns or night clubs with live music.

Categories Greek Music Tags folk dances, zeibekiko

Zeibekiko (dance, rhythm, style) - collection of Greek songs

Information

Ακούνε τα ζεϊμπέκικα
Σαν το "Πάτερ Ημών"

Listening to zeibekiko
Like "Our Father"

Various Greek songs "zeybeko" are collected on this page.

Zeybeko 0017 ζεϊμπέκικα in the plural) is also a male dance, it is also the name of a special rhythm of this dance, it is also the name of a style of modern Greek music that has such a rhythm as, for example, the well-known waltz or saidi . On the right of the video, a young man is dancing zeybeko , the melody on the video is "Zeybeko Evdokia". It is very easy to identify zeybeko by ear - it is always a specific, ragged rhythm - 9/4 or 9/8: we count up to 9 to the beat of the music, if a new measure begins - most likely it is exactly zeibekiko . As soon as I started to get involved in Greek music, songs in the style of zeybeko immediately became my favorite, although at that time I did not understand and did not know that all of them can be attributed to zeybeko .

There are several versions of the origin of the word "zeybeko" .
The funniest thing is when you take the word apart: ζει - lives, μπε - a sheep makes such a sound, κικ - English. kick, kick, ο - an expression of delight, that is, zeibekiko is a dance of a living person who kicks sheep, and everyone admires him.
The second option is Ζεϋ + μπέκος (βέκος) - Zeus + bread, while Zeus symbolizes the soul, and bread - the body, and zeybeko - their harmony, that is, everything a dancer needs. Or here's another version Ζευς + Βάκχος - Zeus and Bacchus, aka Dionysus, the god of winemaking - and where there is wine, there is dancing.

But in most cases it is considered that the word zeybeko comes from the dance zeybeks - a small nation that lived on the territory of Asia Minor, this word was first mentioned in the 13th century. Zeybeks are neither Turks nor Greeks, and in general they did not submit to either Greek or Turkish rulers, retained their national identity, and at first religion, but they constituted an irregular army of the Ottoman Empire, and later they were massacred by the Turks for disobedience. The dance zeybeks was adopted by both the Greeks and the Turks - in Greek the word 9 is used for it0017 ζεϊμπέκικο (zeybek, zeybek, typical for zeybeks), in Turkish - zeybek . From Turkish , zeybek is translated as elder brother, friend, protector, but it is argued that in older Turkish it also meant a hooligan knife or defensive weapon in some villages of southeastern Asia Minor. The massive flow of migrants that

rushed from Turkey to Greece as a result of the Asia Minor catastrophe

significantly influenced Greek music, in particular, zeibekiko .

Turks dance this dance in a group (as in the video on the left), or

a man with a woman

(and they do not touch each other), and sometimes

only a man

, but it is always an expression of male prowess, courage and some bravado. It is believed that the position of the hands resembles the wings of an eagle, and in general the dance consists of steps, squats and turns. Similarly, in Greece - almost the same position of the hands, only a little lower, the same steps, squats and turns. However, in Greece zeybeko is a purely male dance, every second it is an improvisation and there are no obligatory elements, it is an expression of the mood that the dancer has at the moment. Zeybekoko - Greek man's tragedy dance. On a small, cramped section of the "dance floor" that he can find in a drinking establishment, he expresses his grief and despair in a dance. The songs of zeybeko sang about unfulfilled dreams, unsettled life, social problems of that time, broken love, deceit and death. They say that dancing zeibeko is fighting Death at this moment, and she is spinning the dancer, pulling him into a whirlpool, and he loses all orientation, that is why there are so many turns and lunges in zeibeko . And in some places it is stated that the dance zeybeks depicted a battle followed by a defeat. Therefore, when his comrades are dead, he, dancing zeibekiko , is the only one fighting for survival, even more - he is already dead, but still fighting. His uneven steps reflect his strength - sometimes they end, then again he fights, and when he lightly hits the floor with his hand - it's him, dead, knocking on the doors of hell.

Often zeibekiko looks like a dance of a drunk person (and sometimes it is called "the dance of drunks") - these are deceptive steps, and staggering / swaying the body, falls and rises, as well as a characteristic slowdown in movements and a subsequent surge of emotions, reminiscent of a temporary sobering up of a drunk , then this is restraint of feelings, then their violence. At the same time, the head is often lowered down, and the dancer himself hunches a little, as if he is alone with his deeply personal tragedy. Interrupt dancing zeybeko in such an intimate moment is considered indecent. Moreover, earlier the exit of the second dancer to the dance floor was an insult, a challenge and an excuse for a fight. However, usually a man dances only one dance, and ends it as soon as the music ends. And then the next one comes out, observing a kind of etiquette. Usually, in a smoky cramped hall, the rest of the visitors over a glass of alcohol either skeptically or with silent understanding look at the dancer, some clap to the beat of the music. Applause after zeybeko were also considered an insult - after all, the Greek danced not for anyone, but to express his pain, and this was the only way to do it. It is impossible to force a Greek to dance if he does not want to, just as it is impossible to keep him if he wants to sing or dance.

And the Greeks want to dance often. And they dance zeybeko everywhere - at weddings, family holidays, in taverns, in clubs and just in open areas. Moreover, modern zeybeko is not always gloomy and tragic, the music is more fun and faster, and the Greeks dance to it with a twinkle and enthusiasm. With the same shade of anguish and concentration, the man not only dances, but also diligently flaunts. Zeybekoko becomes a dance for demonstrating dexterity, performing tricks, a dance of self-pride, beloved and unique, Greek to the fingertips. Often these are high jumps with a turn, or touching the floor with the shoulder blades, when the dancer, sitting on his knees, lies on his back. Or, for example, a dancer performs the following number - raises a glass of wine from the floor with his mouth and drinks a glass of wine without touching it with his hands, or dances zeibekiko with a glass on his head, or, for example, jumping on a standing glass on the floor, crushing it into pieces. In general, every Greek expresses himself and tulips as best he can. Zeibekiko in Greece, men of any age dance, boys imitate adults from childhood, repeat their movements - this was the case in the 40s, this is happening now, some schoolboy / teenager can easily make several movements as a joke. Dance zeybeko and older Greeks, already with a special charm, restraint, as opposed to young guys who tend to dance more violently.

It used to be considered indecent for a woman to dance zeybeko . By the way, I am not talking about dance zeybekikos (or also zeybekiko ), which is a folk dance in Cyprus

and is typical for villages, which is danced in groups, etc. That zeybeko that I mean came from the city, it is a lower class dance that became popular in all walks of life in the post-war period. But even if we leave all class prejudices aside, the woman herself is a soft, flexible and plastic being, and zeibekiko - the dance is in a sense rough, intense, not at all for her. But modern women do not worry about this topic and dance. Despite all my desire to be able to dance zeybeko , I don’t like how they do it, for myself I didn’t find a single video where I really liked it at all. Women just dance otherwise , it seems that the movements are beautiful, but "not that". And

in this video

five girls are dancing zeybeko , generally violating all traditions zeybeko and creating a kind of parody of this dance, even the name is a cross between zeybeko and the songs of Yorgos Zabetas. And everyone sings zeybeko .

When a Greek dances zeybeko , friends, girlfriends, relatives, etc. they go out to the dance floor to support the dancer, everyone squats around him, girls in short skirts often just kneel, they clap their hands to the beat of the music and enthusiastically look at the dancer, catching his every movement. This is where women are needed! In a fit of feelings, the support group beats the cymbals, often holding a stack of them in one hand, and in the second - one cymbal, with which the entire stack is broken with a characteristic sound "so-so-so-so". In ancient times, the plates were real and the visitors paid for them separately, but because this ardent habit of the Greeks could not be eliminated, the plates began to be specially made for beating, now they are thin and easily broken. Another trick is to throw flower buds at the dancer, and sometimes pour the whole tray of carnations on him. Several groups can form on the dance floor, in each of which a soloist dances, who dances in his own unique manner, and around him there is his own company.

Modern composers still draw inspiration from the style of zeybeko , create and write songs. Below in the list you can find both the old "unforgettable" zeybek , and completely new, recent years. Enjoy listening and I wish you to love zeibekiko as much as I love him, and maybe even more!

Greek dance Zeybekoko

Topic of the lesson. Zeybeko - Greek dance

Zeybeko - history of dance

This slightly wild and strange dance got its name from Zeybeks - Thracian Greeks who once emigrated to one of the regions of Turkey.

They constituted a separate caste, from which the Turks recruited special military detachments such as the gendarmerie (bashi-bazouks). And the Turks contemptuously called them "giaurs" - infidels. Gradually, however, the Zeybeks became Muslims.

But they did not want to forget their origin and customs, and until 1883 they dressed in national Thracian costumes, until Sultan Mahmud II ordered them to surrender their weapons and wear the official gendarmerie uniform.

Proud zeybeks could not bear such a thing and rebelled in the amount of about 40 thousand people, but after an unequal struggle with the Sultan's troops, they were practically massacred. The remaining descendants of the Zeybeks returned to Greece from Asia Minor in the 1920s.

Zeibekiko is a dance-improvisation, dance-self-expression in 9/8 rhythm. Its peculiarity is the absence of any mandatory steps, there are only figures, and each dancer can have their own. Zeibekiko is not just a dance, it is the pride of a Greek.

During the dance, the dancer is concentrated, he is driven by his inspiration, the feelings that he wants to express in the dance, and no one has the right to interrupt him. Initially, zeibekiko expressed heartache, grief, despair, love, now it can be a demonstration performance, proving that you are a real man.

In this case, all sorts of tricks are allowed, such as lifting a glass from the floor with your mouth and drinking wine from it, or lifting a lit cigarette with your mouth. It is not allowed to lift anything with your hands, whatever falls out of the dancer's pockets. Previously, the most "cool" lovers of effects included jumping over chairs or tricks with melee weapons in their repertoire.

A “support group” usually gathers around - friends and girlfriends, the dancer's girlfriend or wife, who, sitting down, should cheer the soloist by clapping to the beat of the music.

There are quite a few types of zeibekiko. In Greece, this is a classic single male dance, although sometimes women also come out to dance it. In Turkey it is a group dance, but in Cyprus it is danced only by women.

Here the main thing in zeybeko is the state of the soul, it is passion, pathos, courage. Each Greek dances HIS dance, which sometimes may seem ridiculous and ridiculous to others. But this does not bother the dancer - his soul pours out in these movements and figures, and he expresses himself as best he can.

Zeibekiko rhythm inspired many Greek composers to write melodies and songs. One of the most famous melodies in the rhythm of zeibekiko was written by the wonderful Greek composer Manos Loizos in 1971 for the feature film Evdokia. That is why this dance is well known: “Zeybeko Evdokia”.

Watch an excerpt from this iconic Greek film:

Read more: http://elramd.com/grecheskij-narodnyj-tanec-zejbekiko/#ixzz6KswaF8gC

Many wonderful Greek songs have been written in the rhythm of zeybekoko, and Greeks dance to their melodies and will dance for many more years.