The Tsakonikos or Tsakonikos horos (Greek: Τσακώνικος χορός "Tsakonian dance") is a dance performed in the Peloponnese in Greece. It comes from the region, chiefly in Arcadia, known as Tsakonia. It is danced in many towns and villages there with little variation to the steps.
In Ayios Andreas, it is performed as a mixed dance in an open circle, with the hands held up (αγκαζέ angaze, in Greek). The most popular songs for the tsakonikos are "Sou ipa mana kale mana" and "Kinisan ta tsamopoula".[1]
The dance is performed to a 5
4 (3+2) rhythm in an open circle which slowly winds in upon itself, forming a snail-shaped design. This labyrinthine formation is, according to legend, linked to the Crane dance of Theseus in Greek mythology, who slew the Minotaur in the Labyrinth of King Minos. It has also been linked to the slaying by Apollo of the Python at Delphi.
Song words to the Tsakonikos Dance ΚΙΝΗΣΑΝΤΑ Κινῆσαν τὰ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν.
Κινῆσαν τὰ - τσανόπουλα.
Κινῆσαν τὰ τσανόπουλα κι’ ὅλα τὰ λεβεντόπουλα.
Καὶ πάν’ στὸν πὲ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν,
καὶ πάν’ στὸν πέρα Μαχαλά.
Καὶ πᾶν’ στὸν πέρα Μαχαλά, ποὺ εἶν
τὰ κορίτσια τὰ καλά.
Κι ἐκεῖ τους πιὰ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν,
κι ἐκεῖ τους πιάνει μία βροχή.
Κι ἐκεῖ τους πιάνει μία βροχή, μία σιγανή, μία ταπεινή.
Βραχήκανε κι ἀμὰν ἀμάν,
βραχήκανε τὰ τσάμικα καὶ τ' ἄσπρα τους πουκάμισα.
Μάστε κορὶ - κι ἀμὰν ἀμὰν
μάστε κορίτσια τσάκαλα.
Μάστε κορίτσια τσάκαλα, στεγνῶστε τὰ πουκάμισα [2]
(figurative translation)
So they went, the Tsakon youth
So went the Tsakon youth and all the lads
And off they go - aman aman
And off they go to yonder Mahala, where
the girls are fine
And there they were caught in - aman aman
And there they were caught in a rain
And there they were caught in a rain, a slow, a shy (rain)
They were soaked - aman aman
Soaked were their tsamika (dances) and their white shirts
Girls, gather - aman aman
Girls, gather quick
Girls, gather quick, (to) dry their shirts.