- published: 25 Aug 2008
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Sirtaki or syrtaki (Greek: συρτάκι) is a popular dance of Greek origin, choreographed, by Giorgos Provias for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek. It is not a traditional Greek folkdance, but a mixture of the slow and fast versions of the hasapiko dance. The dance, and the accompanying music by Míkis Theodorakis, are also called Zorbá's dance, Zorbas, or "the dance of Zorba".
The name Sirtáki comes from the Greek word:Syrtos, ("σύρω (τον χορό)") which means "drag (the dance)" a common name for a group of traditional Cretan dances of so-called "dragging" style, as opposed to pidikhtos (πηδηχτός), a hopping or leaping style. Despite that, Sirtaki incorporates both syrtos (in its slower part) and pidikhtós (in its faster part) elements.
Sirtáki is danced in a line or circle formation with hands held on neighbours' shoulders. Line formation is more traditional.
Meter is 4/4, tempo increasing, and often the signature is changed to 2/4 in the fastest part. Accordingly, the dance begins with slower, smoother actions, gradually transforming into faster, vivid ones, often including hops and leaps. Choreographer of the dance is Giorgos Provias.