CRETE

Cretan dances are centuries old, passed from generation to generation, and
tell of the spirit of Crete and of the pride, bravery, and passion of the
Cretan people.

The dances of Crete represent the Cretan spirit and tell of the Cretans'
pride, bravery, and passion. These dances are centuries old but have been
maintained by the Cretans to pass on this intensely proud Cretan spirit from
generation to generation. In order to better understand the Cretan dances, one
must look back into the history of this island and its people. Since the times
of the early Minoan civilization which ended by eruption of the volcano of
nearby Thera (Santorini) in 1400 B.C., Cretan history has been filled with
violence and suppression, invasions and occupation by the Dorians, Romans,
Venetians, Genoans, Saracens, Turks, and Nazis. The Cretans waged 350
revolutions during 200 years of Turkish occupation from about 1700 to 1900.
During the many centuries of occupation, despite the influence and control of
the invaders, the Cretan people retained their culture, language, religion,
dances, and their intense Cretan spirit and pride.

Authentic Cretan dance is characterized by small, quick, precise steps in the
Sousta and Kastrinos, and by longer, more graceful steps in the Syrtos. The
leader and other male dancers who do variations in front of the group do
larger movements, kicks, variations, and add other flourishes to their steps.
The women always dance in a more subdued, delicate way, even when doing
variations in front of the group. The music of Crete is characterized by the
melody of the lyra or the violin and the constant, steady drumming of the
laouto which is similar to the guitar.

The Dances of Crete

Kastrinos
Also called Maleviziotikos or Pidichitos. The Kastrinos is a triumphant dance.
This masculine, heroic dance took its name from the large castle (kastro) of
present day Iraklion. Its steps are fast and its movements quick and precise.
The male dancers improvise intricate steps and kicks. The Kastrinos represents
the eternal will for freedom of the Cretan spirit from everything that
attempts to enslave it. It is a dance of war and of freedom.

Pentozali
The Pentozali is a war preparation dance. It begins slowly and calmly and then
erupts into full-scale battle--the dancers hold each other by the shoulders
and perform both small intricate steps and large sweeping kicks.

Syrtos
The movements of the Cretan Syrtos are calm, sober, and gentle. They
constitute the respite before the battle, the resting of the soul, and calming
of thoughts. The Syrtos is danced in a manner reminiscent of a religious
ceremony that expresses the mystical aspects of life and death, passion and
grief of the Cretan spirit.

Sousta
Formerly a war dance, the Sousta is a dance of love and passion. The male
dances opposite his female adversary, and tries to entice her with steps full
of longing, with promises, lively gestures, and quick, burning glances. The
woman dances with small, delicate steps, and graceful and gentle movements of
her hands and her head. She gives him quick, passionate glances that one
moment repel him and the next moment give him hope. In Greek, Sousta means
spring, and this dance took its name from the springing movements in the
dancers' steps.

Click here for photos of Cretan dances:

Kastrinos
     1989-FDF-MII-Kastrinos
     1990-FDF-MI-Kastrinos
     1991-Kastrinos1
     1991-Kastrinos2
     1991-Kastrinos3
     1994-SFEDF-Kastrinos

Cretan Syrtos
     1990-FDF-MI-Cretan Syrtos
     1994-FDF-Cretan Syrtos
     1994-FDF-LM-Cretan Syrtos
     1994-Festival-LM-Cretan Syrtos
     1994-Festival-MI-Cretan Syrtos
     1996-FDF-MIII-Cretan Syrtos-Hugh
     1996-Festival-MIII-Cretan Syrtos-Hugh
     1999-FDF-MIII-Cretan Syrtos-Achilleas

Cretan Sousta
     1989-FDF-MII-Cretan Sousta
     1991-FDF-MII-Cretan Sousta

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