Greece Culture: Thessaly Music and Dance

The main dances are again Syrtos/Kalamatianos, Sta Tria and Tsamikos, but in the eastern part, which borders the Aegean, near the city of Volos, on the Pilio peninsula, and in Trikeri, dances resemble those of the islands. In Trikeri there are many sponge fishermen whose dances and music resemble that of the sponge diving island of Kalymnos. Though the sponge diving industry is only a shadow of its former self in present times, the music and dance remain a part of the local culture in these areas.

In the main towns of Thessaly such as Kardhitsa, Sofadhes, Palamas and Farsala, are found the Karagouna dances which are traditionally more simple than the choreographed versions usually seen. There is a women's dance in the Karagouna village called Dalijana, done in tsamikos rhythm, danced to the song with the same name Another Thessalian dance is the Svarniara, also the name of a song, which is used for various dances. The Beratis is yet another, done in 2/4 or in 7/8, and is a slow dance done free style. In some parts of Thessaly the music quickens and the dance moves into another dance known as Syngathistos, another free style dance, accompanied by various songs. In the Thessalian region of Argithea (in the Agrafa mountains), there are some dances that combine rhythms, such as one beginning with the tsamikos rhythm and changing to a 2/4, with the handhold changing with the change to the second rhythm.

A dance called the Tai Tai is found in Aidonohori, performed during the Easter season, danced by men and women to a song sung by the dancers, and in which the crossed handhold allows the men, at a certain point in the music, to raise their arms over the heads of the women and thus create two lines divided by gender, but with the first man and first woman linked by handkerchief, and also the last man and woman.