Sousta (Greek: Σούστα) is a Greek folk dance, performed at weddings as an activity of courtship between husband and wife.[1] It originates from Ancient Greece, and holds prominence in Dodecanese Islands,[2] and broader Aegean region.[3] It is the second most common Greek dance, after the Syrtos, with many Greek islands and villages adopting their own version.[4] The performance of the dance reflects various gender roles, inter-played with values of romance and marriage.[1] The Sousta acted as a socialisation process between the youth of a village, evolving into a dance central to these youth as they grew up and formed relationships with others.[1] Socially, the Sousta also functioned as a visible verification of courtship, namely paying respects to the wife and her family.[1] The Sousta is most commonly performed as a three-step dance, with a 'hopping' motion and crossed-over hands.[4]
There are elements of eroticism and courtship acted out in the dance, which is usually performed by pairs of men and women dancing opposite. Another form is where all the dancers in a row follow the first dancer who moves in complex patterns. Almost every island of Aegean has a sousta dance.
^Rechberger, Herman (2018). "Balkania: Rhythms in songs and dances from Albania, Bulgaria, The Republic of Macedonia, Romania and Serbia": 44–45. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ abRinaldi, Robin. (2010). European dance : Ireland, Poland, Spain, and Greece (2nd ed.). New York: Chelsea House. ISBN978-1-60413-480-3. OCLC401141759.
