The dance of Chasapikos of Poros
The Chasapikos dance is coming from Minor
Asia. It was originally a male dance and owes
its name from the Chasapides or the Makelarides
of Byzantio.
While it was a clearly traditional dance,
after the great popularisation of bouzouki
and baglamas, it began to be danced in different
ports and in cities.
It was choreographed and was developed in
something entirely different from its initial
origin. Nowadays, it is danced by men and
women and has been promote in such a range
that is regarded, mostly by the foreigners,
as the most representative Greek dance, also
known as syrtaki.
In Poros, a different choreography prevails,
known as ''the Chasapikos of Poros''. It is
influenced by many places of Greece and is
enriched with the phantasy of the ''Meraklides''
(people with talent, will and eagerness) of
Poros.
The Chasapikos of Poros, since the beginning
of the 50's, was danced by local inhabitants
on boats, in taverns, celebrations and festivals
also for reasons of living.
It is very impressive and manful dance and
is regarded today as one of the most beautiful
dances of chasapikos in Greece.
The choreography of Poros is consisted,
except of the classic steps of chasapikos
also of the following figures:
Halfs
| in/out | ''surta spasta'' | Pireaus | Sotiris
| half closed | Koulouri | ntoulpes
Other older figures are:
Stavreas
| jumped or seated ntoulpes No 1 or No 2
The dancers are choosing what figures
they want and with any row. The musical
meter of Chasapikos is 2/4.
Music - Bayianteras
One
of the greatest pages of the history of
the Greek music was written at the yards
of Piraeus and at the islands of the Saronic,
by Mitsos Gkogkos.
Dimitris
Gkogkos was born in 1903 in Piraeus. He
was the 22nd child of the non-commissioned
officer of the Port Corps, Yannis Gkogkos.
Dimitris
started learning music from a very young
age, from 7 years old; he started playing
the mandolin, then the guitar, the violin,
the bouzouki and the small bouzouki. He
was educated (certificate of an electrician).
Since
1925, when he made a new version of the
Italian operetta “Bayantera” of Erich Kalman
for a public orchestra, he took the nick
name “Bayanteras”. Just a while before
the decade of 1930, he plays in the Piraeus’
industrious pitches of the port.
He
obtains a tight relationship with the protagonists
of the rempetiko, Markos Vamvakaris, Stratos
Pagioumtzis and the Methanian George Batis.
In
1937, he records his first disc and since
then he composed unforgettable hits, like
“Chatzikyriakeio”, “A fish boat starts”,
“I was leaving alone without love”, “My
mind twinkles like it would be enchanted”
etc. In 1941, Bayanteras lost his vision,
while he was singing on the stage, by
a fast evolvent glaucoma.
During
the German
Possession, he participates in the Resistance
with his lyrics, his music and his rebellious
heart, by composing rebellious songs.
He
died in his home, in Saint Ierotheos,
with only companion, his “lady” Despoina
Arampatzoglou, smoke worker and lyricist,
in 1985.
