Zervodexos (Crete)

Rhythm

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Formation

Dancers follow one another, first in a circle and then freely, often linked by a handkerchief; at a sharp signal from the musician everyone reverses direction.

Instruments

Cretan lyra, Violin, Laouto, Guitar

Occasion

Gathering, Carnival

Character

• Joyful
• Playful

Who dances it: Everyone

A playful dance from Ierapetra, with six steps (seven in the Krousta variant). The name ("left-right") comes from the changes of direction: when the musician gives a sharp, shrill stroke, everyone turns and the first dancer becomes the last. Old musicians played it late at night to lift the mood. It is a different dance from the Thracian dance of the same name.

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Its story

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What they wear

• Women’s festive costume Crete Women’s
• Men’s festive costume Crete Men’s

Where it’s danced

• Crete › Lasithi · origin

In the Dora Stratou Theatre archive

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

Zarvodexos or Zervodexios (Two-Handed): Dance in Dodecanese. See also: Two-Way.

Places in the archive

• Chalki · Dodecanese
• Dodecanese
• Rodos · Rhodes
• Leros
• Afantou · Rhodes
• Dodecanese

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