~ On Saturday, June 14, 2008, a Festival of Greek Dance was
held in the village of Rahes, on the Aegean island of Ikaria, and this film,
one of several I have put together, shows the final dance of the night. The
tune is known as the Ikariotiko (or The Ikarian), and is the island’s
traditional tune and dance.
The festival took place on the village basketball court,
under lights that attracted hundreds of moths and other airborne insects which
fell constantly onto the heads of the audience below. This probably explains
why only half the lights were turned on during the performances. Unfortunately,
this also made it extremely difficult to get good, well lit footage of the
dances.
Audience chatter and the constant movement of children and
adults across the 'stage' seems to be part and parcel of any event of this
type, given the location, and the hot summer night. In the end, it all goes
towards creating yet another unforgettable and unique Greek island experience.
The wonderful thing about this festival is the way the
community totally involves itself in the event. Rather than assume the constant
chatter and movement as being disrespectful to the musicians and dancers, it is
instead a sign of the audiences involvement and connection with the music and
dancing.
Quite frankly, I'm surprised the adults didn't get up and
dance during the three hour show themselves. Greeks find it very difficult to
sit and watch something like this, when their natural inclination is to get up
and join in.
Throughout the night, local children stood at the edges of
the performance space intently watching the feet of the dancers, while they
tried to follow the steps of each dance. As everyone (dance troupes and
visitors alike), got ready to join the final dance.
This was the signal for children of all ages to join the
long lines―generally at the end of each line, as tradition dictates―to learn,
and carry on the island traditions. It would of course be unthinkable to tell
the children to keep out of the way while the adults did 'their thing'. The
children are literally learning at the feet of the adult dancers.
The music is performed here on a Tsampouna, an instrument
made out of goat skin, which has obvious links to the Scottish bagpipe and the
gaida. I should also add, the Ikariotiko is played constantly at festivals,
weddings, parties, in deed at celebrations and occasions of all types. And not
just once per night, but many times. Each musician has his or her own variation
of the tune, and some musicians are still remembered and spoken about today,
long after their passing, because of the way they played the dance. I love how
the musician actually spends a full minute and 20 seconds (1:20), playing an
extended introduction to the main tune. This gives audience and performers
alike plenty of time to make their way onto the basketball court and join lines
in readiness for the dance to begin.
To my great regret, I did not get the name of the female
playing the Tsampouna, nor did I take any footage of her during the dance,
which finished off the evening's entertainment. However, as chance would have
it, she happened to walk past my camera just before I turned it off at the end
of the dance. I have captured a frame from the video and added it as a still
image just before the final credits appear as a way to acknowledge her
performance.
A comment added to one of my other videos suggests the
musician is Eva Kratsa. Another source thought she lived on the island of
Mykonos.
I hope you enjoy the music and the occasion.
More Videos
