Kato choros of Karpathos

Rhythm

2/4 · Slow

Formation

Open circle, mixed; the men start it, led by the "kavos", and the women join in groups ("meries") behind the man who escorts them.

Instruments

Tsampouna (bagpipe), Laouto, Lyra

Occasion

Wedding, Village festival, Feast day

Character

• Solemn
• Reflective

Who dances it: Everyone

The slow ("sianos", quiet) dance that opens the dancing at a Karpathian glenti, once the improvised couplets of the seated part run out. It is danced to Karpathian lyra, tsampouna bagpipe and laouto while the revellers keep singing mantinades. It is followed by the kneeling dance (gonatistos) and then the fast pano choros. The Karpathian glenti is listed in Greece's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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Its story

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What they wear

• Women’s festive costume Dodecanese Women’s
• Men’s festive costume Dodecanese Men’s

Where it’s danced

• Dodecanese › Karpathos and Kasos · origin

In the Dora Stratou Theatre archive

The Greek Dance Pandect records this dance. Each item opens on its own website.

Down or Down Dance: Dance in Dodecanese. Other names: Sianos, Nyfatos. See also: Vatani, Sperveri.

Places in the archive

• Karpathos · Karpathos and Kasos
• Rodos · Rhodes
• Chalki · Dodecanese
• Patmos
• Archangelos · Rhodes

Recordings 7

• Αετός (1928) Dodecanese · [DS1375] /13
• Ο κάτω Dodecanese · [AR0473] PAN VOX SPV 16312 /04
• Ο κάτω Apollona · [AR1486] CD, Α.Ε.Μ. 101 /04
• Σκοπός "Δυο μου μάτια" Apollona · [AR1486] CD, Α.Ε.Μ. 101 /07
• Το μπαρμπουνάκι (1928) Dodecanese · [DS1375] /09
• Τραγούδι του γάμου Dodecanese · [AR0204] SDNM 104 /12
• Τσακιστές Μαντινάδες Apollona · [AR1486] CD, Α.Ε.Μ. 101 /11

More videos (2)