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[T_C]

OK. This thread will be dedicated to the best folk dances.

Here are some bad ass Pontians to begin with...

[zan]

This always harps back to the Ottoman era for me T_C and the Karadeniz dances. They in turn remind me of Bulgarian dances and music. I will try to find wht I am refering to.

[zan]

There ya go...Try this one:

[T_C]

Great clip mate. The black sea dances are always good.

[webbo]

OK. This thread will be dedicated to the best folk dances.

Here are some bad ass Pontians to begin with...

Wow!! That's it, just WOW!!

Excuse my ignorance but what actually are 'Pontians'?

Bubbles x

[Nikitas]

Bubbles,

Pontians are Greeks who used to live along the northern coast of Turkey on the Black Sea. They were expelled in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some moved to the Russian coast of the Black Sea, hence the name Rossopontians used today by some Greek people. Most were moved to Greece under the exchange of populations agreement of 1923 (give or take a year on that date). The family names retain the ancient Greek ending in "idis" like Egenidis for example.

Pontians speak a dialect or idiom based on ancient Greek. In parts of northern Turkey the dialect is still in use by isolated populations of Moslem Pontians, and in Turkish they call it Romja, Rom being a word for Greek. Its use was forbidden in the past I do not know what the situation is now. However, the Pontian dialect has many similarities with Cypriot, and is more understandable to us Cypriots than to mainlanders.

The music you heard in the clips posted by TC is typical, using the Pontian Lyra, and it retains the characteristic "isocratic" a constant note in the background that you also get in Orthodox church chanting. The songs are quite poetic and justify learning the dialect, if you have the patience and inclination!

[Nikitas]

Now for my choices as the best folk dances, I assume you mean folk dances from our part of the world because Flamenco ranks pretty high, but it is from the other end of the Med.

Dance number 1 of the classic Cypriot wedding dances, known also as Antikrystos or Karsilamas

Then from Crete Pentozalis and Sousta

Laistera of Pontos

Ballos of the Aegean.

Mainland dances do not do it for me, too slow and dragging . I will leave out Greek Zeibakiko because it does not count as a fold dance in Greek culture, but as a popular dance. I know I will get flamed for that one.

[webbo]

Bubbles,

Pontians are Greeks who used to live along the northern coast of Turkey on the Black Sea. They were expelled in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some moved to the Russian coast of the Black Sea, hence the name Rossopontians used today by some Greek people. Most were moved to Greece under the exchange of populations agreement of 1923 (give or take a year on that date). The family names retain the ancient Greek ending in "idis" like Egenidis for example.

Pontians speak a dialect or idiom based on ancient Greek. In parts of northern Turkey the dialect is still in use by isolated populations of Moslem Pontians, and in Turkish they call it Romja, Rom being a word for Greek. Its use was forbidden in the past I do not know what the situation is now. However, the Pontian dialect has many similarities with Cypriot, and is more understandable to us Cypriots than to mainlanders.

The music you heard in the clips posted by TC is typical, using the Pontian Lyra, and it retains the characteristic "isocratic" a constant note in the background that you also get in Orthodox church chanting. The songs are quite poetic and justify learning the dialect, if you have the patience and inclination!

Cheers Nikitas, that was very informative and very well written.

I do actually do go to Greek lessons, they resume next month. Can hardly wait! I am improving siga siga, but I still find it a very hard language to learn and also, I have been told that I speak Greek like a Greek. Is this an insult to my rubbish pronunciation, or a compliment to my fantastic efforts

Bubbles x

[T_C]

I am LOVING Pontians right about now...I could design a whole collection of clothes just from watching them. They're so inspiring!!

[Hazza]

Ok, stole this from hellasangels which Mizz pointed me to