- Chaniotikos is a lively and fun Cretan syrto that I learned when I was at a dance seminar on the island of Ikaria, from a teacher from Crete who was very specific about styling.
- Zagorisios is a wonderful dance in 9/8 rhythm (QQQS) from Epirus.
- Sofka is danced in Greek Macedonia, in northern Greece.
- Dipat (sometimes spelled Dhipat) is a beautiful, hypnotic Pontic dance in 9/8 rhythm (QQQS), danced very close together in a closed circle.
- I learned the last three dances when I was at a dance seminar in the town of Prespa, in Greek Macedonia.
And just to mix it up, next month I'll be teaching two Israeli folk dance favorites: Darkenu (Gadi Bitton, 2002) and Liya (Moshe Eskayo, 2007).
Come dance! You can drop-in any time for International Folk Dance on Mondays 7-9:15 p.m. at Hermann Sons Hall,m 860 Western Avenue, Petaluma or Israeli Folk Dance on Thursdays 1:30-4 p.m., Osher Marin JCC, 200 N, San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Beginners and newcomers are always welcome.
